Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Please tell me about the 6.5 cal 156grain Norma Oryx

I've been running the 140 berger in my 6.5-06 and will probably keep running the 140 accubond in my daughter's 260. I have recognized that while the berger performance is pretty spectacular on lighter skinned game, that I am wanting to heavy it up a bit for elk. So my question is, at say 2750 fps or so, how does the 156 grain Norma Oryx roll on larger game?

Real well. Oryxes usually won't exit, but they will end up under the hide on the far side, because they open up pretty widely and make a big hole.

If you are not among those who think animals won't die unless there's an exit hole, then the 156 Oryx will kill animals a lot bigger than deer very well.

Thanks JB, thinking that should be just what I am looking for.

Have you tried Barnes?

How does the 160 Woodleigh compare to the Oryx?

Anyone ever shot anything with them?

I killed a whitetail with the 160g Woodleigh in 6.5x284 two seasons ago. I have posted on here about the performance. In short, hit her through the off side shoulder with huge exit hole. She died pretty quickly.

When I get a 6.5 again, the 156g Oryx or 160g Woodleigh will be my bullet. I like the 0.509 BC on the Woodleigh also.

MattMan,

While I haven't used the 160 6.5 Woodleigh, I have used both Woodleighs and Oryxes of the same weight and diameter in order calibers. They tend to perform very similarly, in my experience, which isn't surprising due to their similarity in design and construction.

Should add that I've never had an Oryx not shoot well.

A good friend sold his 260 and gave me some he had loaded already. Figured I'd see how they shot yesterday..

Off the hood of my truck put three into .6 at 100!!!
Then put 4 into a 1.5" group at 200!!!!
300yds went 3 into 4" group, not to shabby for off the "hood" and a pretty warm barrel by then!!!!

I saved the last case to measure,pull bullet, and weight powder charge and try and determine what powder was used..

I'm actually very excited about how it shot yesterday.. I can hunt elk in thick stuff and timber allday here on the wetside and will work on a load for next year..

I'm impressed with how they shoot.. Did not run them through a chrony. Rem mtn rifle.

My CZ-550 in 6.5 eats Norma Oryx ammo extremely well. Kills deer extremely well too.

BIG MUSHROOMS!

Now I can't locate the dang things. They are for fall of 2011 so may just order on midway with a Jan expected date. Anyone know a place with them in stock? Have to try that one.

Several guys on my hunting team use the Norma Oryx (6.5 x 55, .308, .30-06, and 9.3 x 62).

I have dug out quite a few of those Norma 156gr 6.5's from very dead moose, and every bullet looked like an advertisement.

Oh, and did I mention the moose were dead?

John

grafs
midway
midsouthshootingsupply
ableammo
cabelas
blackhillsshooterssupply
camfour
huntingtons

Where's a good place to get load data for the Oryx?

Don't know how you could go wrong with them. I've had generally outstanding results from short barrel 6.5x55 and standard C&C bullets. Pushing a bonded version of the same even faster should be awesome. Of the 3 big mule deer and one elk I've hit with 156-160gr. bullets out of the 6.5 I've never seen one take a step.

http://www.norma.cc/sortimentladd.asp?Kaliber=6,5x55 Swedish Mauser&Lang=2

Went with the 160 Woodleigh for now as Midway had them. I'll give the Oryx a run as well, but for now, I didn't see a box avaiable anywhere. Woodleigh's seem to have a nice bc and comments seemed positive.

It was nice to see the 7mm hunting bergers in stock at Midway and ordered up some of those as well to run this winter after we get done punching tags.

From everything I have read (and personally observed), I think one would have a hard time find any difference between the bullets once they hit game.

Overall, the Oryx might be more accurate on average, but either could be best in your rifle.

Go forth and slay lots of things!

John

I've got some of those woodleigh on the bench as well, but I'm not sure how they will do in the 9 twist of my latest. I will find out though!