Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles If I have a 6.5x55...

Definitely this. ^^^^

Good stuff Geedubya. As usual, your photos and subjects are outstanding. Thanks.

Here is my 6.5X55 built on a 1909 Argentine Mauser action,[img]https:/[url=https://postimg.cc/vgWpNQ4X][img]https://i.postimg.cc/yd5sWxsq/6-5x55-5.jpg[/img]/i.postimg.cc/fLsgChC3/6-5x55-6.jpg[/img][/url]

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I have no ideda why some of the pictures came through and some didn't.

Damn, that's a really nice rig.

If we had adopted the 6.5x55 instead of being contrarian, the Swede would be our 30/06. However, I suggest a cheap .308 or .30/06 as a backup when traveling.

Nope, 6.5X55, 190 yards, 140 grain Core-lokt, one shot one dead elk. Sample of one! You don't have to convince me.

For a sometime Elk hunter the Swede would be plenty. But also with fewer opportunities for an out of state hunter and Murphy's law which seems to follow us nimrods around I would get a back up rifle. Anything between a 270 and 375 will do or even a second 6.5.

Nice rifles GWYA and CSpan.

6.5x55 SE is a good one for most any field challenge. However in my opinion the 308 Win is the undisputed versatile cartridge to own as you would have all the trimmings of the 6.5x55SE in the game field as well as the heavy punch of the 30-06. Beauty would be operating a SA with a little cartridge packing a big punch.

Those 156’s shoot nice out of those Sako’s? I picked up a couple boxes to check them out in a Finnlight in a Swede

if you have a swede you don't need a 243 either

Many years ago the 338 mag was my elk rifle. Then wen to the 30 mags, then 7mag. Read about how "Karamojo Bell " ( Walter Dalrymple Maitland ) took elephant & over 400 head of every size of African plains game with the 6.5x54 MS driving a 160gr RN at barley 2250 fps. He averaged 1 1/2 shots per animal. Meaning many were taken with one shot. This was just before & after 1900. His exploits are well documented.

In 1893 the 6.5x55 was developed & has been successively taking Scandinavian moose ever since. Also taking heavy game around the globe. US hunters are just now beginning to comprehend the capability of the 6.5 bore.
My 338 , 30-06 etc just sets while I take mature muley bucks & elk each year with one of my 6.5's. Mild recoil , flat trajectory , & deep penetration with the correct bullet for the game hunted. One of the mono copper bullets is my choice for elk.
The 6.5CM or the 6.5 PRC are not new just a reincarnated versions of earlier 6.5's.

Absolutely correct!! I have a Ruger 77 first year production 243 I bought new in 1967. . If it wasn't for the nostalgia I would have re-barreled it to a 260 years ago.

Matty-I totally agree on the Swede. But that being said, it's all most blasphemous to not own an '06. Go with the '06 my man.

Yes. But will one be enough?

Sure miss the RWS 6.5x55 DK ammo!

I realize that perhaps it may no longer be imported into the US, but RWS still makes this ammo, and it is readily available here in Sweden.

I haven't used it, but I've heard a number of reports that it seems to perform much like a Nosler Partition bullet. Usually VERY accurate.

John

Yes, they do definitely still make it. I live in Romania. Reloading of metallic cartridges is not permitted here. I shoot the RWS DK 140 grain loads in my Browning A-Bolt and it gives me groups around 1/2"-5/8" at 100 meters. I'll be hunting Roe deer this spring with that Swede. RJ

I like the 6.5x55 and think that the 140 grain Partition would be a great choice for elk within whatever you consider to be a reasonable range. The 130 grain AB would be a great all-around choice too.

In a strong action, I don't think that there is any reason that the 6.5x55 can't be safely loaded to higher pressure/performance than most factory ammo, as most of it is loaded to be safe in the weakest common rifles chambered in 6.5x55, the Norwegian Krags.

Why would you not want to have at least one 30-06 in your home? It is the classic do-it-all cartridge in the U.S. I don't shoot many rifles in 30-06, but I almost always bring one with me whenever I travel more than a couple of hours from home to hunt, as a spare or loaner.

Because I live in crappy ohio where I can't use a 3006 and I don't need a fifth deer rifle