30-06 vs 6.5-55
- Thread starter huntersmith
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
One of the interesting things about military rounds developed in the late 19th Century and the early 20th Century is just how adaptable they are to various types of shooting and hunting. This has certainly proven true of the .30/06. the 7X57, and the various 6.5s. After Bell's successful exploits in the commercial ivory trade with the 6.5X54, the usefulness of 6.5 cartridges on big game should never be in doubt, particularly with the improved bullets we have today. Given a suitable bullet, there is no reason why a 6.5X55 shouldn't be as versatile as a .30/06, after all, its the handloader who determines the versatility of his rifle.
But once I was exposed to a quality rifle chambered for the .30/06 it quickly become my favorite, but that almost didn't happen. Like many, when I was starting out, I tried to get by with a milsurp 98 of questionable lineage, perhaps it was an ex-Columbian service rifle, but despite its weight, it kicked like a mule, wouldn't group into 3", and the steel butt plate did nothing to mitigate my discomfort. When I got my hands on an affordable 6.5X55 Husqvarna M-38, it was like a gift from the gods. It was more accurate than the '06, shot just as flat, and the recoil and blast were not just manageable, they were gentle. But sometimes when I get an idea in my head, I just can't let it go, and I was determined to master the .30/06, believing that the acquisition of a good sporter is all that stood between be and becoming a great hunter and marksman. After all, the guys in the magazines all used M-70s, or Weatherbys, (or Dubials or Mashburns, or Champlins) and they were no tougher than I was at 19.
Before long I had a M-700 Remington in .30/06; the M-70 had by then fallen from favor at my favorite gun shop, so the Remington was the rifle to own. With a combination of a caseful of H-4831 under a 165 gr Hornady SPBT, and topped with the ubiquitous 3-9X Bushnell in Weaver mounts, I could do no wrong. It boomed pleasingly and shot well. One day a fellow shooting at the next bench complained about my muzzle blast . . . he was shooting a MK-V .300 Weatherby, and between the blast of my rifle upsetting his nerves, and my groups upsetting his self confidence, he wasn't having a particularly good day, but I never looked at the .300 magnum the same again after that. The Remington shot MOA out to a quarter mile without much input from me, and I seldom had the opportunity or inclination to take it farther. From there on out, the .30/06 was my cartridge.
Had I in fact found a sporter of similar quality in 6.5X55, say a commercial Husqvarna 1600, or perhaps a SAKO, I may have forever shunned the '06. The fact of the matter is, that the 6.5 is a better choice as an all around cartridge for those less recoil tolerant than myself, and a little less thick headed. I wanted the .30/06 to be my cartridge, and I persevered until it was.
But once I was exposed to a quality rifle chambered for the .30/06 it quickly become my favorite, but that almost didn't happen. Like many, when I was starting out, I tried to get by with a milsurp 98 of questionable lineage, perhaps it was an ex-Columbian service rifle, but despite its weight, it kicked like a mule, wouldn't group into 3", and the steel butt plate did nothing to mitigate my discomfort. When I got my hands on an affordable 6.5X55 Husqvarna M-38, it was like a gift from the gods. It was more accurate than the '06, shot just as flat, and the recoil and blast were not just manageable, they were gentle. But sometimes when I get an idea in my head, I just can't let it go, and I was determined to master the .30/06, believing that the acquisition of a good sporter is all that stood between be and becoming a great hunter and marksman. After all, the guys in the magazines all used M-70s, or Weatherbys, (or Dubials or Mashburns, or Champlins) and they were no tougher than I was at 19.
Before long I had a M-700 Remington in .30/06; the M-70 had by then fallen from favor at my favorite gun shop, so the Remington was the rifle to own. With a combination of a caseful of H-4831 under a 165 gr Hornady SPBT, and topped with the ubiquitous 3-9X Bushnell in Weaver mounts, I could do no wrong. It boomed pleasingly and shot well. One day a fellow shooting at the next bench complained about my muzzle blast . . . he was shooting a MK-V .300 Weatherby, and between the blast of my rifle upsetting his nerves, and my groups upsetting his self confidence, he wasn't having a particularly good day, but I never looked at the .300 magnum the same again after that. The Remington shot MOA out to a quarter mile without much input from me, and I seldom had the opportunity or inclination to take it farther. From there on out, the .30/06 was my cartridge.
Had I in fact found a sporter of similar quality in 6.5X55, say a commercial Husqvarna 1600, or perhaps a SAKO, I may have forever shunned the '06. The fact of the matter is, that the 6.5 is a better choice as an all around cartridge for those less recoil tolerant than myself, and a little less thick headed. I wanted the .30/06 to be my cartridge, and I persevered until it was.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Decent for varmint or small deer.
Anything less than 90grains of powder isn't much of a big game rifle.
Anything less than 90grains of powder isn't much of a big game rifle.
140gr 6.5mm has a higher BC and higher SD than a 180gr .30 , 140gr partitions in 6.5 is more than capable to take down a Moose.
Having said that, either one are excellent rounds . I have both and i wouldn't hesitate to take either of them Moose hunting, My opinion.
Having said that, either one are excellent rounds . I have both and i wouldn't hesitate to take either of them Moose hunting, My opinion.
- Location
- Golden Lake
I have both. A Model 70 Winchester Featherweight in 6.5x55 and a Thompson/Center Encore in .30-06. Both are accurate and deadly on deer/moose.
The only difference I've noted is that when shooting into a cardboard box packed full of magazines/newspapers the .30-06 loaded with a 150 gr bullet at @2800 fps will knock the box over while a 120 gr 6.5x55 at @2800 fps will just leave the box standing.
Not that that would make a darned bit of difference to an animal!
The only difference I've noted is that when shooting into a cardboard box packed full of magazines/newspapers the .30-06 loaded with a 150 gr bullet at @2800 fps will knock the box over while a 120 gr 6.5x55 at @2800 fps will just leave the box standing.
Not that that would make a darned bit of difference to an animal!
dgradinaru
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- British Columbia
Both would be capable with moose and bear hunting. But like said above, for the 6.5x55 you will have to have a very good shot placements.
This year I used a Swedish mauser sporter with the 140gr serria bullet @ approx. 2600-2700fts, and I harvested a nice 5x4 mule buck, 1 shot was in the neck and the 2nd in the shoulder. When trying to find the bullets it seemed like the bullets did a very bad job. It seemed like they disappeared. None were pass through. I guess the bullet fragmented.
that being said, the 6.5 will do the job with also a good bullet.
The Barnes 130gr tsx, Nosler Partition 140 gr, and the hornaday Interlock 160gr seem to be the best bullets for the 6.5
check out the 6.5 bullet test in the ammo forum its very informational.
This year I used a Swedish mauser sporter with the 140gr serria bullet @ approx. 2600-2700fts, and I harvested a nice 5x4 mule buck, 1 shot was in the neck and the 2nd in the shoulder. When trying to find the bullets it seemed like the bullets did a very bad job. It seemed like they disappeared. None were pass through. I guess the bullet fragmented.
that being said, the 6.5 will do the job with also a good bullet.
The Barnes 130gr tsx, Nosler Partition 140 gr, and the hornaday Interlock 160gr seem to be the best bullets for the 6.5
check out the 6.5 bullet test in the ammo forum its very informational.
I have hunted extensively with the 30-06 and the 6.5x55. Several moose have tipped over when the 6.5x55 spoke, and it is quite capable for the job.
However, as pointed out already, the venerable '06 has a bit more punch, and is just a bit more versatile overall, than the 6.5x55.
I have never seen any difference in the results on moose between the '06 and any 30 cal Magnum inside of 400 yards.
I have 3 -30-06 rifles at present, and only 2 - 6.5x55's, as if that means anything, lol.
If one is recoil sensitive, then the 6.5x55 fits the bill well, since it is a mild mannered chambering that performs very well indeed.
[A decent bullet, like the 140 Partition, is a wise choice]
If the recoil is a non-issue, then the '06 gets my nod, by a small margin.
Regards, Dave
However, as pointed out already, the venerable '06 has a bit more punch, and is just a bit more versatile overall, than the 6.5x55.
I have never seen any difference in the results on moose between the '06 and any 30 cal Magnum inside of 400 yards.
I have 3 -30-06 rifles at present, and only 2 - 6.5x55's, as if that means anything, lol.
If one is recoil sensitive, then the 6.5x55 fits the bill well, since it is a mild mannered chambering that performs very well indeed.
[A decent bullet, like the 140 Partition, is a wise choice]
If the recoil is a non-issue, then the '06 gets my nod, by a small margin.
Regards, Dave
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Both classics for a reason. They do the trick on big game. Hard to say more than that.
