balistics 6.5x55

6.5x55 is one of the oldest rounds around. It is older then .30-06 Springfield.
Ballistically very similar to .260Rem.
It was used for long range target competition for long time till new calibers or wild cats came.
Still excellent cartridge for hunting and long range shooting.
 
6.5x55, think of it as a cross between a 243 and a 270 Winchester. Low recoil and flat shooting, good for most types of game

Winchester, Remington, Federal, Hornady, all load factory ammo for it, also add Norma and probably Lapua
 
todbartell said:
6.5x55, think of it as a cross between a 243 and a 270 Winchester. Low recoil and flat shooting, good for most types of game

Winchester, Remington, Federal, Hornady, all load factory ammo for it, also add Norma and probably Lapua
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exactly what i want out of my seventh rifle , should make a good varminter . but can you buy ammo just anywhere ?
 
as a varmint cartridge I beleive there are better choices, especially if you shoot factory ammo. Most every load made is a 140 or 155 grain. If you handload or know someone who can do it for you, there are a few good picks in the 85-100 grain range
 
id like a versatile varminter something that can handle whitetails as well. price is also a factor there are what appear to be very good deals on rifles of this caliber at trade ex canada 200 -300 range.
 
Great cartridge. Can handle anything from varmints to moose (160grn round nose). You wont be dissapointed. Its a close second to my all time favourite the 7x57.
 
The 6.5x55 is a dream come true IMO. Low recoil and can handle varmints to Moose easily. Then you can take the same rifle/calibre and shoot long range matches and beat a .308 Win @ 1000yds. A well thought out caliber and designed over a 100yrs ago.

Still my favourite.:rockOn:
 
Low recoil, knocks stuff flat. Keep in mind that North American ammo (not counting Light Magnum) is loaded to fairly low pressures due to the number of old rifles out there. That said, it's still more than adequate for most game. Power can be boosted a lot by handloading, but recoil also increases, though it's still quite mild.
The factory .260 Rem is more like a 6.5 x 55 handloaded. They can do this because it's generally only seen in new rifles. Also an excellent round, perhaps a bit better choice for non-handloaders.
 
The way I see your question, you want a rifle and factory ammo that is good for "varmint shooting" (which may need a little more definition) and "deer shooting".

From what I know of the 6.5X55, AND FACTORY AMMO FOR IT. It would be a great deer, bear, pronghorn cartridge. And a suitable elk and moose round in the right hands and circumstances.

But they don't load a factory bullet that would normally be considered a good "varmint round".

If you handload (and why wouldn't a "gun nut" like yourself), you could find some options that would work for you.

The .243 was designed and is loaded with factory ammo for just the purpose you are looking for. I think the .243 is a better varmint round and not such a good deer round. I would probably say the 6.5X55 is a better deer round and not the best varmint round.

Robin in Rocky
 
My Lee manual lists starting loads for 85 and 100 gr bullets that start around 2900 fps and go up to 3300fps. I've loaded up some starting loads in 85gr for my 6.5x55 (also a Tradeex Rifle) though I probably won't try them until later in the summer after I fix a hairline crack in the tang. My experiences with a Husky Swede 38 convinced me that these rifles can shoot far better than I can aim them and are well worth collecting and shooting.

Good Luck,

Frank
 
let me clairify when i say varminting i mean coyote nothing smaller, at ranges no further than 300-350 yards. as for hunting bear or moose with it im sure it is a more than capable cartrige, but ill use my 7mm for that.:)
 
I have loaded 85gr HP for my M38 and it did not really like them, at 100yds it was pretty good but after that they were all over the place, 120gr Nos BT are awesome and 140 Sierra game king are perfect. For deer hunting its perfect!
 
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