6.5x55?

[jimbo1]

hi has anyone used the 6.5x55 for hunting? ive heard it said that its virtually the same ballistically as the 270 win but a lot less recoil and maybe a little better accuracy? thanks guys :)

[eric2381]

I have two of em. My dad and one of my brothers have one each as well. The 6.5x55 is a great hunting round. It really isn't in the same class as a 270, velocity wise. But the difference in trajectory in a hunting situation isn't enough to matter.

Get one and try it. The 129gr hornady SST and the 140gr Sierra game king are great bullets in it.

[KegRiver]

I have two of em. My dad and one of my brothers have one each as well. The 6.5x55 is a great hunting round. It really isn't in the same class as a 270, velocity wise. But the difference in trajectory in a hunting situation isn't enough to matter.

Get one and try it. The 129gr hornady SST and the 140gr Sierra game king are great bullets in it.

Pretty much what I had in mind to say. Only I no longer own one. I gave mine to my Son-in-law and Daughter.

[catnthehat]

I love the 6.5X55!
I have been pushing that cartridge for more than 30 years!
it's one of the reason us North Americans ( Can/U.S.) used to suck for years at International 300 meter Free rifle competitions - the Europeans were using the 6.5X55 and 6.5X53^ and we were trying to compete with the 308!
The 6's and 6.5's that we have now were not out then, and our 308, as good as it is, recoils more and is not as accurate a bullet those ranges.

Anyway, my main hunting rifle is a 6.5X55O/U, and I also have a 300 meter free rifle in 6.5X55 in the basement.
I used to use the big 160 bullets for everything from deer to moose in my bolt guns, but my O/U is regulated for 140's so I use them now.
Cat

[sureshot]

I have a old husquvarna 6.5x55 but I can never find ammo for it. And I don't know how to reload.

Andy

[jimbo1]

thanks guys, yeah it looks as if it might be about 400ftps slower than 270 but apparently quite a lot of people have used it for elk and moose with sucess, yeah andy that was one of my concerns with ammo availability

[222rem]

And I don't know how to reload.

Andy
That is no excuse, reloading is easy, fun and it gives you sense of accomplishment .

[North of 53]

The 6.5x55 is a great hunting round,I use mine all the time on deer. You can run a 140 gr bullet at 2700-2800 very easily. That is about the same as a 270. I run a 6.5x 55 B.J.I. model and can run 140s up over 2900. I tend to run slower for most of my shooting just to have more barrel life. All I can say is pick up a 6.5x55 and get shooting you will never look back.

[eric2381]

Although ammo isn't as easy to find as 270, in good shops it is usually available without issue.

Handloading does bring it to it's potential, especially in a strong action.

I would like to try the 129gr sst or the 130gr AB with RL17

[catnthehat]

I have a old husquvarna 6.5x55 but I can never find ammo for it. And I don't know how to reload.

Andy
I'm sure there is someone near you that can get you started, but if not, P7D usually has lots of factory ammo, as does Wayne at the Dapp Corner store!
Also, WSS usually has some....
Cat

[catnthehat]

thanks guys, yeah it looks as if it might be about 400ftps slower than 270 but apparently quite a lot of people have used it for elk and moose with sucess, yeah andy that was one of my concerns with ammo availability

The only reason that the 6.5X55 is loaded down so much is because of the notion that the older guns would not handle the heavier charges.
However, the '96 is often made in Europe in cartridges like the '06.
You can also find Hornady Light Magnum and +P loads for the 6.5X55.
Most of the loading manuals show the 140 grain very near the .270.....
Cat

[sureshot]

That is no excuse, reloading is easy, fun and it gives you sense of accomplishment .

LOL I know it's hard to do with a little guy running around.

[eric2381]

We have 2 96 mausers, a Tikka T3 and a Shultz and Larsen 98 Mauser in 6.5x55. The 96 mausers have handled heavy loads of imr4831 and RL22 with no issues.

There's lots of good 6.5s for sale at tradex usually.

[duffy4]

O really didn't need to read this thread. I have all the guns I need and a few already that I have not shot or hunted with.

Yet I have a desire for a 6.5X55. More particularly I would like a Win. M70 in a Featherweight in 6.5X55.

I had my hands on one a few years ago at a gun auction but did not have the $ to keep in the bidding. I have not seen one for sale since.

I still see one in my future.

[1100winger]

over the years I have had more than a dozen of them; now down to a Sako that is pure fun to shoot. Highly accurate - moderate recoil. It prefers 140 grain pills at around 2650 and it has tipped over everything BC and Alberta have to offer without claws or teeth. Tradex would be a great source for an inexpensive firearm. The 6.5 is a perfect blend of good bullet weight and velocity.

[Dacotensis]

I have used a 6.5 x 54.
It was my first rifle and is it a flat shooter.
I took deer out to 400 M with no compensating on the sights.
It didn't have a scope so it was a favorite for moose in the bush as well.
Very fast bolt action and very smooth to work.
It has the side load which will accomodate I think 5 rounds.
I'll never get rid of it.
Sorry Duffy

[Pudelpointer]

I have used a 6.5 x 54.
...
I took deer out to 400 M with no compensating on the sights.


Bullet drop (if zeroed at 200) is likely > 2 foot drop at 400. Buy a rangefinder.


Just sayin.

[catnthehat]

I have used a 6.5 x 54.
It was my first rifle and is it a flat shooter.
I took deer out to 400 M with no compensating on the sights.
It didn't have a scope so it was a favorite for moose in the bush as well.
Very fast bolt action and very smooth to work.
It has the side load which will accomodate I think 5 rounds.
I'll never get rid of it.
Sorry Duffy
That would be the 6.5X54 Mannlicher Schoenauer in a Krag action?
That would be a heckuva shot from what I have seen from my experiences hand loading for this cartridge and rifle!
Cat

[eric2381]

Has anybody experienced a 6.5 bullet NOT penetrating right through a deer?

[densa44]

I promised my 10 year old son that I'd buy him a rifle if he did well in school. At the time all I could afford was a Carl Gustaf 6.5x55 from the gun store in Bently AB. I don't think that the gun had ever been fired, the firing pin was not assembled correctly. Patrick at Pro Line Shooters had it working in no time. He put a nice scope on it too for junior.

With reloads that we made ourselves at 200M he tried hitting a 3 quart milk jug filled with water. With me spotting and him shooting after 3 shots I saw no hits and he claimed that he hit it every time.

After a walk out there we could see three holes side by side through the red top of the milk container! WOW.

He still has the rifle and won't part with it even though he has a full gun safe.

I think it is an excellent caliber, the Finns shoot Moose with it and I'm sure that it would work very well.

[1100winger]

Has anybody experienced a 6.5 bullet NOT penetrating right through a deer?
With my first husky I used the 160 grain load from Imperial; that soon became my loaner rifle and I witnessed a large bull toppled over - the shot was from brisket to the back of the bull. End to end - I don't think it slowed much but did its job and we harvested a nice bull.

[eric2381]

With my first husky I used the 160 grain load from Imperial; that soon became my loaner rifle and I witnessed a large bull toppled over - the shot was from brisket to the back of the bull. End to end - I don't think it slowed much but did its job and we harvested a nice bull.

Went right on through?

Those 6.5 bullets sure penetrate, eh?

Anybody else with a story about the performance of the 6.5 bullets?

[catnthehat]

I once built up a M38 for a friend's son, and naturally loaded it with 160's because that what the carbine was originally twisted up for.:)
His first kill wasa big mule buck at 258 paces - toppled it in its tracks, pass through.
The second was a big cow moose at just about 100 yards IIRC, one bullet, down.
In fact, i don't think he ever has taken a second shot on an animal with that rifle, and has been using it for about 15 years!:sHa_shakeshout:
Cat

[eric2381]

I killed around ten deer with mine when I was younger. All one shot kills with the 140gr SGK. All pass throughs.

My brother has had to shoot a few of his deer a second time with his, but he's a poor shot!:)

I haven't shot mine in years. I reblued it and refinished the stock. It's been sitting on my gun rack. Ask my 3rd old daughter which gun is hers when she gets big and she'll look though all of em and point out the 6.5 every time.

My Shultz and Larsen 98 Mauser 6.5x55 is gonna go into the gun smith this spring and get reamed out to 6.5 Gibbs. That oughta be fun!