6.5x55 or... trying to dial in my next purchase

The 6.5x55 is one of the best long range calibers. Case capacity is bigger than a Creed and if you ever handload, you can get more performance out of your rifle. More than a Creed.

I have shot the 6.5x55 (handloaded) back to 1000 yards in competition.
 
I can definitely understand your desire to upgrade and set yourself up for success. That being said, the grass isn't always greener. The rifle and cartridge you have right now are more than adequate for the task at hand. It may serve you better to order up a nice laminate stock, bed it properly and perhaps invest in a beginner hand loading setup. 6.5x55 was the first cartridge I ever loaded myself and it was a very forgiving start. It couldn't help but shoot straight. Some guys fall into the loop of constantly upgrading gear thinking if they just switch out one more thing that deer or elk is going to be even deader. At the end of the day it's money spent on a hobby which is fine in its own right. Other posters have covered this phenomenon quite well.
 
I have actually hand-loaded using a friends lee press. I loaded using 7828ssc, Large rifle primers with 140gr nosler Partitions at the end.
I pressed up 10 rounds in nosler casing and 10 in ppu's. Unfortunately due to life being busy, I wasn't able to get this done till late August.
I did not feel comfortable enough with the load to sight in for either load and fell back to the factory 140gr accubonds which got the job done on the MD and Elk I harvested in Sept and Oct.

I think it's great to have tried reloading but I don't want to make the investments and I really don't want to hassle my buddy to remove his 300wm setup.

So I am at the point where I either just be happy with my 140gr accubond factory loads knowing they are under powered or I go to a 308 where I have more selection in factory ammo.

I think I'll keep hunting with the 4 boxes of ABs that I have and make the decision to change at that point. Over the next couple years I hope to have more opportunities on big game where I can get more comfortable with my 6.5x55's performance on big game in a variety of situations.

The biggest thing for me is an ethical kill. I want it done asap for the animals sake. If the 6.5x55 is not meeting those requirements I'll have to sell and go up to a 308.

All the animals I have shot have been 15yds (elk), 40 yds (WT buck) and 90yds (WT buck). So I put more weighting on a tough bullet vs. long range performance.


Thanks to everyone for the responses. I'll be referring back to this thread over the years to help in my decision-making.
 
I've been hunting with a tika t3 with a 4 power Leupold scope in thick stuff and open fields for years. Spend some time practicing with it so you know when to give it an inch of day light on shots past 400m. Happy Hunting!
 
So I have a bit of the same dilemma. I have a RH Tikka T3x SS in 6.5x55 with a Vortex 2.5-10x44. It is my all-round deer, elk, moose rifle. It replaced my Rem 700 mountain rifle in 280. I love the Tikka, sooooo accurate even with factory ammo. I shoot Norma 120gr ballistic tips for deer, and I keep another 5rd mag on me with 156gr round nose in case of elk, moose. Many times I am shooting prone on the open fields so I like running the RH action, works well for a lefty.

The problem I have run into being a Lefty too is hunting in tight quarters in the woods. Here in AB you can go from unlimited shooting distance on the prairie to tight woods on the same piece of land. That's why I got a LH Ruger scout in 308. I run it with irons in the woods. Its a wonderful rifle for those 0-200yd shots where I love the LH for those standing off hand shots. With these 2 rifles I am more than prepared for any scenario out here. I have a super accurate Tikka for long shots and a Ruger for the woods.

I know you are looking for 1 rifle to do it all. I ended up getting 2 rifles to solve my issue, and I now have a backup rifle in case I need it out in the field.
 
I'm hunting the west kootenays of bc so it is thick. My elk was shot at 15yds and I feel that 200 may be the max shot I'll ever have.

I'm battling hard to stick with the Swede as deep down I know that it will do the job as long as I do my job...as the ol cliché goes.

I'll stick with the 140 AB's and resist the urge to keep reloading as it's more of a nice to have than a need to have.

If in the years to come I find that the 6.5x55 let me down then I'll be picking up a 308.

Somw pretty cool new rifles in stainless with nice stocks and muzzle breaks. For my area it'd be the perfect rifle.
 
Dapesche said:
I have actually hand-loaded using a friends lee press. I loaded using 7828ssc, Large rifle primers with 140gr nosler Partitions at the end.
I pressed up 10 rounds in nosler casing and 10 in ppu's. Unfortunately due to life being busy, I wasn't able to get this done till late August.
I did not feel comfortable enough with the load to sight in for either load and fell back to the factory 140gr accubonds which got the job done on the MD and Elk I harvested in Sept and Oct.

I think it's great to have tried reloading but I don't want to make the investments and I really don't want to hassle my buddy to remove his 300wm setup.

So I am at the point where I either just be happy with my 140gr accubond factory loads knowing they are under powered or I go to a 308 where I have more selection in factory ammo.

I think I'll keep hunting with the 4 boxes of ABs that I have and make the decision to change at that point. Over the next couple years I hope to have more opportunities on big game where I can get more comfortable with my 6.5x55's performance on big game in a variety of situations.

The biggest thing for me is an ethical kill. I want it done asap for the animals sake. If the 6.5x55 is not meeting those requirements I'll have to sell and go up to a 308.

All the animals I have shot have been 15yds (elk), 40 yds (WT buck) and 90yds (WT buck). So I put more weighting on a tough bullet vs. long range performance.


Thanks to everyone for the responses. I'll be referring back to this thread over the years to help in my decision-making.
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The Swede out performs the 308 in terms of down range ballistics. The high Section Density of the 140 gr bullet makes for excellent performance.

My 6.5 hunting rifle (a sporterized M36) put a 160 gr round nose through to the hide on the far side. I would use a Swede with a good bullet on moose without hesitation.

Moose can't get any deader with any other caliber.
 
47gr -RE#22 and a 140gr Partition has killed everything from antelope to moose for us. Several wild boar,elk + a book cougar.T-3
In guns with the correct twist [Swedish mausers etc ] 42gr of either N-204 or IMR 4350 and a 156-160gr bullet .........in and out hole on moose every time regardless of angle and you can right eat up to the bullet hole.The 156gr will shoot into one ragged hole out of my Win FWT 1-8" but not the 160gr /neither was good in the T3
 
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mbogo3 said:
47gr -RE#22 and a 140gr Partition has killed everything from antelope to moose for us. Several wild boar,elk + a book cougar.T-3
In guns with the correct twist [Swedish mausers etc ] 42gr of either N-204 or IMR 4350 and a 156-160gr bullet .........in and out hole on moose every time regardless of angle and you can right eat up to the bullet hole.The 156gr will shoot into one ragged hole out of my Win FWT 1-8" but not the 160gr /neither was good in the T3
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Interesting. The156gr bullet, was it the lapua?

I have 3 boxes of nosler AB to work through. Once that is done I'll make the reload decision.

Will keep waiting for a nice 308 LH offering as well.
Three year plan :)
 
I just bought a used Boyd laminate stock in a grey colour with a higher cheek rise.

hoping it will fit me better. Adds another pound so it's worth it.
 
Back in the day 156gr Sako bullets I bought 1000/$90 from Ammomart/Higginsons Powder. I think the T3 has slower twist.The Swedish mausers 1-7.25 or thereabouts. The T3 with 130gr Swift Sciroccos makes one hole 47gr RE#22
 
Dapesche said:
The biggest thing for me is an ethical kill. I want it done asap for the animals sake. If the 6.5x55 is not meeting those requirements I'll have to sell and go up to a 308.
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If the 6.5x55 wont meet your requirement neither will the 308 Win in regards to killing power. Ive used the 6.5x55 in the past and i actually prefer in over the 308. 140gr @ 2700 will do the trick on most game and if you need some more lead the 156 Norma and 160gr Hornady ammo is avalible and its loaded pretty warm. Around 2500 fps.

In saying that this year I've used my 338 Win Mag and i never noticed a difference in killing power compared to my standard cartridges within 200 yards.
 
dgradinaru said:
If the 6.5x55 wont meet your requirement neither will the 308 Win in regards to killing power. Ive used the 6.5x55 in the past and i actually prefer in over the 308. 140gr @ 2700 will do the trick on most game and if you need some more lead the 156 Norma and 160gr Hornady ammo is avalible and its loaded pretty warm. Around 2500 fps.

In saying that this year I've used my 338 Win Mag and i never noticed a difference in killing power compared to my standard cartridges within 200 yards.
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Makes me feel better about sticking with the 6.5x55.
I haven't harvested an animal with anything other than the swede so I have no idea the benefits of the extra ft.lb. of energy hammering the animal.
For me, I have to believe the energy would lead to a more devastating hit, but again, I have no first hand experience.
 
porpoise said:
I have the swede and i reload for it its great. You dont have to upgrade from the 6.5 if you got the creed, i would get one too if i had to shoot factory ammob
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Actually, the swede out performs the creed with heavy bullets. I wish I still had mine; great for everything from ground-hogs to moose.
 
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