- Location
- Western Manitoba
Looking through Nosler 7 information - for 6.5x55 with 23" barrel for coyotes and such have 120 B-tip @ 3000 fps (H4350 and RL19), for deer/moose have 140 Accubond or Partition just under 2800 (H4831 and H1000). For bigger stuff (like polar bears), I believe Norma and Woodleigh list 160 Round Nose. 25-06 with 24" barrel tops out with 120 grain Partition at 3,175 with Retumbo, then 3,096 with Magnum, so about 100 to 150 fps faster than same weight in 6.5x55. 140 grain 6.5mm has S.D. of .287; 120 grain .257 has S.D. of .260.
I don't believe one will do anything the other can't. I'd go with the 6.5x55, but mostly because of the Norma brass, Nosler bullets and Lyman reloading dies that I already have because of the four that I already own. Full disclosure - I've never owned, never used a 25 caliber of any sort. I do have and use .224, .243, .264, .284, .308, .312, .323, .338, .366 and .458.
When I had just one rifle it was a 308 Win. Then got a 22 rimfire. Next added was a 338 Win Mag. Then got a 243 Win ("for the wife" Ha!) Left to their own devices in the gun cabinet, they started having puppies and things got a bit carried away...
I don't believe one will do anything the other can't. I'd go with the 6.5x55, but mostly because of the Norma brass, Nosler bullets and Lyman reloading dies that I already have because of the four that I already own. Full disclosure - I've never owned, never used a 25 caliber of any sort. I do have and use .224, .243, .264, .284, .308, .312, .323, .338, .366 and .458.
When I had just one rifle it was a 308 Win. Then got a 22 rimfire. Next added was a 338 Win Mag. Then got a 243 Win ("for the wife" Ha!) Left to their own devices in the gun cabinet, they started having puppies and things got a bit carried away...
Last edited:




















































