Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 6.5X55 ? ? Maybe Not.

I'm still impressed by the KOOL factor; 6.5X55 SWEEDE

SWWEET !

Yep, the 6.5X55 is a loony cartridge that does work most anyday most anywhere. You do your part then it will provide meat in the freezer.

Jwall, regret selling my K1A....and it was well under MOA...good looking and like all others, did DRT kills on deer.

Having 2 6.5s built now, but SA bolts....on '08 brass

If T3s came into the US in that round, they'd sell a few...and might have saved me mucho.

Order one from across your northern border and pay the import fee.

Hey Bob...you diggin me?

All I meant was, I wasn't EXPECTING the bang at that second.

I was NOT surprised to kill the buck.

Man, I dish it out..... I HAVE to take it.

Having TWO 6.5s built ? Surely WE don't NEED two or more of the SAME caliber guns !

Come to think of it, I have multiple 270s & 30 cals...hummm

I also have an 8 mm Rem Mag... Need ? ?

Maybe I don't NEED a 6.5X55 TIKKA (specifically)

Maybe I just WANT one.

Can a loony just want a cal/gun he doesn't NEED?

Maybe that's what makes us loonies! !

Well....1/2 yr before Rem came out w/the 260, I fathomed a 6.5/308 would be the cats meow and had to have one so commissioned Pac-Nor to chamber one up. I keep coming back, used many other rounds inc. it's rivals the Swede and 7/08. No 277-08..yet

SO, since my older boy has a rifle, figured my younger son needs hit own also....and why not have another even if duplicate of mine....just a different stock...pics will be up in about 2 weeks....

Someone up there in Arkansas bought my K1A Swede....probably never should have sold that rifle....it might liked to have had a Kepplinger trigger, but OEM was not bad, and it showed me a 1.1" 200 yd group......6.5s can be addicting. Be forewarned!

FWIW, alot of guys here shoot 7/08s running 120s. They work well. But when you look at the 260/120, it holds up better w/higher BCs. I shoot 130ABs alot and will try some 120 Barnes and 130 Bergers...just for fun.

But yeah you are right, if a man has ONE 6.5, no NEED for another....of anything Lol.

I'm a fortunate guy in that I own a .25-06, a .257 Roberts, a 6.5X55, a .260 Remington, a .264 Magnum, a .270 Win a .280 Rem.....and of these the 6.5 X 55 is the top of the list....at least for deer size targets. I'm a believer in the 120 grain bullets but heavier is fine as well....

I consider the 6.5 x 55 and the .257 Roberts to be near identical performers and that says a lot for both of them.....

IMO there just isn't a better round for deer size game no matter what one drags out of the woodwork...

Yeah, the 7mm 120s aren't nearly as AERO as the 6.5 120s

NOW.. I would NOT go so far as to say you don't NEED anything else beside a 6.5! !

I haven't YET compared the BC or SD of the 6.5 - 140/150 to the 270 - 150-160. Seriously I 'think' the 270 bests it. Will look in near future.

YES, MANY of us are BLESSED to have much more than we need. I'm one of the US.

I want my boys to have a few of my guns each. But EVERY gun I own is worth more today than when I bought them. Maybe NOT the best investment but they have NOT lost value.

There are many ways to LOOSE you rear end in investments, I don't think firearms is one of them. Others mileage may vary.

Jwall, not sure, but what I do know is, I would never bet any animal fairly hit w/a 150/160 partition from a 270 will last long

Vapo- to your point, before the advent of the latest bullets in 6mm, I always said to others, a 25-28 bore spitting a 120 on the low end at 2700 on the low side MV is a good floor for deer.

Nowadays, I have just as much confidence in a 243 w/95 BTs or Barnes 80-85s.

Jwall no doubt firearms don't 'capitulate' as much as stocks, etc. in value

I have narrowed my # of rifles down so low it's pathetic and MANY a fine rifles/accurate and good looking to boot, have been sold and traded over the years. YET, for financial reasons it was often out of necessity to sell them for either re-investing to my next 'want' to try another flavor.....or simply to pay some bills.

Good guns and scopes are never a bad place to park $$$ as it's not fiat currency. Now if guns/hunting someday gets outlawed, or the transfer...or any big taxes on that...then things change.

Thankfully, so far the above has not been an issue.

My favorite Deer rifle is a M-70 PF 6.5x55. It is very accurate and I like those long Lapua Mega bullets. Actually I shoot 140gr Sierra's and they kill Deer right now. The long heavy round nose bullets create a lot of curiosity. I'd like to shoot an Elk with one some day. Ken

Yeah, 6,5 BUT if they're outlawed...the price might skyrocket? If you catch my drift.

I can't recall all those I traded/sold to get something else.

Everyone I traded/sold brought me to something else I wanted or like better...EXCEPT I sold a Win 70 Featherweight (81 model) to get a 'weatherloss'. I have regretted that ever since.

jwall I think you are right. I bought a model 70 in 6.5x55 in the last year and have been shooting it a little bit to work up some good loads etc. It is a pretty rifle and shoots fine but to date I am somewhat underwhelmed and don't see it doing anything my 270 mt rifle can't do. I don't even see the big to do about the BC. Using my hornady handbook using a 140 gr 6.5 vs a 150gr .277 both started at 2600 fps and there is less than 1" difference at 500 yrds using a 200yd zero. Wow! Like I said it is a pretty rifle and I had the urge but now I am feeling pretty redundant with a pet 257 , the 6.5 and a 270. Not sure what I was thinking/ expecting

And now Braretta does not import the Tika in the 6.5

bangeye - pm me details of the M70. bll length, rot, WEIGHT, etc. I might be interested.

I do NOT think the 6.5 is BETTER than a 270. I think anything a 6.5X55 can do the 270 can do FASTER, therefore hit harder.

I have 243, 6mm, the 6.5 is a niche, I don't NEED to fill. I just WANT one.

Thanks

edited to finish, fat fingers submitted prematurely.

AND I know the 270 can start a 150 at 2900 +, SOOO who wins then.


Now Guys, I AM NOT trying to start a PIZZING contest, so I'm not issuing any challenge.

I want a 6.5X55 just cause. I would really like it in a Tikka T 3 Lite SS, but if Bangeye's Win 70 isn't TOO HEAVY, I could live with it. I will not have a SHORT MAGAZING in any manuf.

Try and find a Sako or Tikka, you will not be disappointed. On the odd chanch a Steyr. Classic and old Swedish 96, if in good shape they will be accurate, look at the disk on the stock butt. If a 1 or 2 good to go.

Thanks for the info.. Any rifle must NOT be heavy.

Got a question for you, J. Wall.

Did that bullet hit anywhere close the the spine of that deer?