Would a man with a 6.5x55 be under gunned?

[Slamfire]

Them Brownies any meaner'n the Polar Bears they shoot with 6.5x55 over on the other side of the world?

[Dobermann]

I have just got a my 6.5x55 after a long wait and this is the results off a bench. I am not a great shot but it does answer the question of accuracy of the 6.5x55. An amazing caliber. IMHO

Regards

Dob

[Sweet 6.5]

Hi Dob

Great shooting!
What make rifle did you get and are those hand loads you used?

For all of you that said he is not - I hope you are
right, I have a kudu hunt end of April and I am going to use
my 6.5x55.

[Dobermann]

Hi Sweet 6.5

I was trying for over a year to get a H&S HTR but it proved too messy with importers changing so I went for a custom,
Barnard action, 26" Border Barrel fluted, Jewel Trigger, McMillan A5 Stock. It is very rugged but shoots well, Hand loads are
142 Sierra MatchKing. Still developing best 5 shot group so far is .15" average is .35" as opposed to my .270 that finds .75" a real challenge.
Any advice on powders greatly appreciated have to my hand loads done in the UK as it is not legal in Ireland.

Regards

Dob

[S.S.]

Absolutely not..
I love a 6.5x55..
I am also becoming quite fond of a 6.5x50 (6.5 Jap.) too.
Trying to save up a bit to have a custom rifle chambered for it..
My Arisaka is a blast and I want something more modern too
in that caliber.

[kombi1976]

By all accounts the 6.5x55 is much more than adequate for the sort of shooting your friend wants to do.
If he starts handloading he'll find it an even better cartridge.
My best mate has a a sporterised Carl Gustaf M96 in 6.5x55 with a 6x40 Tasco scope and uses it mostly for varmint and small game.
His typical load is a 49gn of ADI AR2209 behind a 100gn Nosler Ballistic Tip clocking around 3020fps and it's savage horror on hares and rabbits.
It's so mild and accurate he shot a rabbit offhand @120m the othernight when we were spotlighting.
I firmly believe that if you only have one rifle the 6.5x55 is the one to own.
As much as I love 7x57 the flexibility and ballistic efficiency of 6.5mm are superior.
I even know one guy who took 6 water buffalo with a Swede using 140gn Sellior&Belliot factory loads!
Not my choice of a buff rifle but definitely up to all the rest mentioned.

[7x57mm]

Years ago I read a story in Outdoor Life about a fellow who sporterized a Military Swedish Mauser into a light carry rifle and then took a walkabout across the south part of Alaska. It was a hell of a story, but the part I remember most is that he felt adequately armed with his rifle.

[swampthing]

If you want to really see it harvest all out of proportion, load the bullet backwards. Decent sized blunt nose. If you play with the powder charge a bit 100yds should be a cinch.
   Penetrate she will.

[S.S.]

Bet that blunt nose rides rough in a cross wind though ?

[DakotaElkSlayer]

  As for the fellow who is looking for one rifle, does he handload?  A non-handloader might be better off with a .260.  Only have one season/two deer under the belt with the 6.5x55, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it on elk.  Penetration isn't a concern with the 6.5x55...  I am moving to Idaho in a couple of weeks, and my 6.5x55mm will be my do-it-all cartridge.  Ordered a 9.3x62mm just in case, though.

Jim

[Slamfire]

As long as you stay in the lower 48, or Southern Canada, the 6.5 will be totally adiquate.  In Alaska it would do for the Caribou, and Black Bears.  But is would be a little light for Alaskian Moose.  Not so much for the Biggest Moose in the world, but for those Brown fellows that hang out in the same locations.  Brown Bears/Grizzlies, just in case some folks don't understand.

The Swedes use the 6.5x55 to take on Polar Bears, and they are pure carnivor and stalk anything they see. Any bear that feeds on an occasional walrus is pretty darned tough. They are also the size of the fish eatin' griz. 

[whynot]

My Swede loves Reloader 22 with the 160gr. round nose. I love the low recoil, even with the large bullet.