Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 6.5x55 Bullet for Elk

ive killed 1 elk with my 6.5x55

it was a huge cow and i used a 120 ttsx through both shoulders at a tad under 300 yards. she flopped for 50 yards then dead.

wife shot 1 med. cow 125 yards 6.5 creedmoor 130 accubond did not exit off shoulder, but killed it. flopped about 30 yards.

hope it helps and good luck

a 140 federal blue box soft point would work well me think

Nothing wrong with dropping antelope in the barrow ditch if legal. Which it is no where..... Larry probably needed the electric fence to corral the goats for a shot!
Back to O.P. My bro used a 140 gr. partition on a nice hefty cow and at 200 yards she plopped right over.Through meaty part of one shoulder out the off side. Even 2800 fps muzzle velocity from his tikka it was very effective.

140 Accubond, 140 partition, both a better bet. The 140 BT will work in a pinch if all goes well. However there is less room for error.

I agree with your choice of bullets and would go on to say that I think that the 1st shot with a small diameter bullet on larger game should be aimed to break the shoulder and anchor the animal, so that a 2nd shot can be taken to terminate the animal's life.

Killed lots of Elk with a Partition, there is not a better bullet, right behind it is the AB, leave the ballistic tips for practice or at home. Make sure you hit them in the right place no matter what bullet you use.

I have had outstanding results with the 140 AB in my 6.5x55 with Red Stag. I would not be comfortable using a BT on anything bigger than deer.

Go get em!!

Most likely due to a law that 156gr (10 grams) is the minimum for certain animals over there.

At one time Federal had the 6.5x55 figured out pretty well with the 140gr partition in the Federal premium ammo line. While I shoot the 120gr Ballistic tips in reloads, I keep a few boxes of the 140gr Partitions just in case I decide to elk hunt with it, or loan it to someone.

Funny you mention it but that is the same combination I use in my wife's 6.5x55 but I handload both bullets instead. Years ago I used that Federal 140 gr Partition load in a couple of 6.5x55's I had and it was a great load. Too bad they dropped it, they chronographed a bit over 2600 fps which is where we are right now with the handloads.

HI Guys,

I can't comment on having shot Elk with the 6.5x55, none hear in Australia. However the 120 grain ballistic tips work very well on Pigs, Red-Chital Deer and knock feral donkey's on their butt. If that was all I had in my 260 and I saw an Elk, reckon I would pull the trigger based on my experience to date FWIW.

Nosler does not recommend Ballistic Tips of any caliber for elk. I talked with Nosler about 3 months ago. Their advice is Accubonds or Partitions.

My Tikka's in the Swede, both shoot 130 Accubonds and 140 Partitions very well. I would tend towards the Partition as it has served me well in the past.

I'm surprised no one has suggested a 130 TSX. My guns shoot that bullet well, too, though I've not taken game with it. Has there been issues with expansion?

When shooting a .277 130 TSX out of a 270 WSM, game dies as if struck by lightening, but I also realize the Swede would not generate nearly the fps which could hamper expansion. Is this a known issue I don't know?

My 6.5x55 loves the 155 Mega and I carried it on an elk hunt. Unfortunately no legal Bulls showed up so I could test performance.