Author Topic: 6.5X55's First Score (Read 2722 times)

WyoStillhunter · « **on:** September 28, 2008, 06:32:49 PM »

In the morning: worship services at the cathedral.

At 1:00 p.m.: blessing of the animals on the Cathedral green. (Mind you we gave thanks that God created animals that provide us with food.)

At 6:00 p.m.: my first antelope with the 6.5X55.

I glassed from the cabin and spotted a small band loafing at the extreme left/middle of this view of Sheep Mountain.

This is pretty open country so I had to stalk clear out of the right side of the picture and get behind those humpy looking hogbacks. Then I could go clear across to the left without being seen.

Here is a view from behind the hogback on a pretty fall day...shirt sleeve weather with light breeze.

When I peeked over the crest only one antelope, a big doe, had not crossed the fence onto private land. She was completely at ease but walking toward a low spot to go under the fence about 75 yards from my position above her. Just as she turned sideways I fired kicking up dust beyond her. I thought I had missed as she dived through the fence and out of sight. Then I saw the band milling around to my right, on the private land. They kept looking off further to the right where I couldn't see. Hmmm.

Well, nothing to do but follow up the shot and see if maybe I didn't miss after all. Those other antelope were looking back at something and I was beginning to suspect I knew what it was.

I found one little blob of lung material the size of a fingernail on my side of the fence. Now I knew what the other antelope were staring at. So I made a judgement call, left my rifle on the public land, crossed the fence and found my antelope about 60 yards beyond.

The moral of this story is, "Follow up every shot no matter how the game reacted." My shot was a perfect double-lung pass through without hitting major bone. The exit wound was over 2" in diameter.

(Rem. 700 Classic, Weaver K3, 140 gr. Hdy. Spire Point over Reloder 19)

Brithunter · « **Reply #1 on:** September 28, 2008, 10:02:23 PM »

May I offer congratulations on a successful hunt and thank you for the wonderful photos

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2008, 01:23:31 AM »

Thanks. Your post reminds me that not all folks live at altitude. The cabin is at about 8200' elev. In the course of the hunt I probably dropped 100', went up 300', back down, and up the 100' again. It was a good tune up for elk hunting.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2008, 04:31:14 AM »

Nice.
Con grats.
Like the Ruger. I've been looking for one for a while. I'm jelous.

Sweet 6.5 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2008, 05:50:19 AM »

Hi

Good hunt!

7500! I will have to get a gun bearer !

Cheers
Sweet

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2008, 07:44:19 AM »

When I retrieved the carcass today I took along the GPS. As a matter of fact the cabin sits at 8200'. The most direct route I could take to the kill site metered 0.97 miles. It was a beautiful morning with frost in the low places and nothing (coyotes, birds, etc.) had tampered with the carcass.

Now it's back to work until next week.

nomosendero · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2008, 04:22:23 PM »

Congrats & thanks for the pictures.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #7 on:** September 29, 2008, 05:53:35 PM »

Very nicely done!! Also, the 'show and tell' is terrific!

Hope my Ruger works as well as your Remington!

Regards,
Sweetwater

canon6 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 02, 2008, 12:10:55 PM »

Well done , I do miss the antelope hunting in Wyoming. Doug

Brithunter · « **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2008, 09:37:31 PM »

Hey we all live at altitude, just different ones

I will admit that I would most likely have problems with those altitudes that you hunt took place. My fitness level certainly could be better

but of course living at sea level would also make some difference. In fact our house sits in a pocket and is actually 2 feet below sea level it's also very flat here there is a range of hills ot the north of us called the Wolds which are about 7 miles away but they are hills and only a couple of hundred feet high at most. Hmm will have to get a map to find out just how high.

May I wish you good luick with your Elk hunting

james · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2008, 03:35:01 PM »

EXCELLENT. I love the mtns when the aspens start turning. You used my favorite caliber too.

Cougarz · « **Reply #11 on:** November 12, 2008, 05:38:45 PM »

Very cool, congraduations.

How do you like the 6.5X55 as an antelope cartridge? I've had a sporterized 96 Mauser for some time and other then punch holes in paper (which it does rather well) I have yet to take it out hunting.

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #12 on:** November 13, 2008, 03:42:16 AM »

I like it as an antelope cartridge. Over the winter I want to develop a load for 120 gr. bullet. I think that will be a little better match for antelope than the 140 gr. bullet.

I also have a box of 160 gr. RN bullets which should yield a servicable elk load. We'll see. I have had the Swede for less than a year. There are plenty of options to explore.

That said, the 140 is probably the best "all around" bullet for this cartridge.

Brithunter · « **Reply #13 on:** November 13, 2008, 03:57:10 AM »

Ahhh I found that IMR 4350 works very well with the Speer 120 grain bullet

this load has taken anumber of deer here, both Munjac and Roe Deer.

rickt300 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 14, 2008, 04:36:44 AM »

Those views of Wyoming really bring back memories. When I used it a lot my 6.5x55 load was a mild 42.5 grains of 4350 under either a pre interlok Hornady 140 grain Spire point or an early Nosler partition with the groove on it. It was my open sight rifle for a while but later I put a Weaver K3 on it also. I took my second largest Wyoming Mule deer with this gun, a sporterized M96. I could have loaded a bit hotter but saw no need as it shot flat enough and the bullets went thru everything I shot at.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** November 14, 2008, 05:10:01 PM »

Congrats, thanks for the pictures -- that is a beautiful place -- and if it is not too late, good luck elk hunting!

One Eye · « **Reply #16 on:** November 25, 2008, 10:53:55 AM »

Quote from: WyoStillhunter on September 28, 2008, 06:32:49 PM

I found one little blob of lung material the size of a fingernail on my side of the fence. Now I knew what the other antelope were staring at. So I made a judgement call, left my rifle on the public land, crossed the fence and found my antelope about 60 yards beyond.

Thanks for sharing the pics and a great story.
I was wondering about your comment about crossing the fence onto the private land. When I went mule deer hunting in Colorado, our guide was adamant about not crossing fences. He said that trespassers could be shot and the landowner would not spend one minute in jail. He said that it was "still like the Old West" when it came to trespassing out there. He said that all of the landowners would allow you to retrieve game, but that it was imperative that you gain permission first. Is it different where you were at?

Thanks again for the great pics.
Dan

one eye joe · « **Reply #17 on:** November 25, 2008, 01:36:17 PM »

Got to love the 6.5. Used mine a couple of times on Wyoming Antelope. Try the 120 Ballistic Tip over RL22 or IMR4350. I was getting just over 3,000fps at my altitude (Dallas, TX area). Figure it was a bit faster up there. Put the goats down at least as well as my .25-06 ever did. Nice pictures of pretty country.

gunner69 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 05, 2009, 04:33:22 PM »

Nice fotos, I have been using 4350 for most of my loads. Both 120 and 140 grain bullets. Both my 6.5x55 rifles seem to like the heaver 140gr bullet.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #19 on:** July 06, 2009, 04:22:08 AM »

Quote from: One Eye on November 25, 2008, 10:53:55 AM

Quote from: WyoStillhunter on September 28, 2008, 06:32:49 PM

I found one little blob of lung material the size of a fingernail on my side of the fence. Now I knew what the other antelope were staring at. So I made a judgement call, left my rifle on the public land, crossed the fence and found my antelope about 60 yards beyond.

Thanks for sharing the pics and a great story.
I was wondering about your comment about crossing the fence onto the private land. When I went mule deer hunting in Colorado, our guide was adamant about not crossing fences. He said that trespassers could be shot and the landowner would not spend one minute in jail. He said that it was "still like the Old West" when it came to trespassing out there. He said that all of the landowners would allow you to retrieve game, but that it was imperative that you gain permission first. Is it different where you were at?

Thanks again for the great pics.
Dan

Your guide exaggerates a very great deal. One can't shoot trespassers in Colorado any more than in California. In fact I heard of a fellow who got into very serious trouble for just pointing a gun at some thieves who were in the process of driving off with his stock trailer. He held them at gunpoint for the sheriff and was charged with "felony menacing with a firearm" while the thieves went free. Now your dog is another matter, stockmen will shoot dogs on private land or public.