6.5x55 for Mule Deer

[Buckfever]

I am thinking of using my 6.5x55 with a 120 gr. Barnes for a Mule Deer hunt.  It is the most accurate firearm I own.  I practice at an outdoor range and am comfortable at 300yds.  If the shot is further I will probably not take it.  I have a 30-06 and I could use it with 150 gr.
bullet.  It has a little more oomph! but it is not as accurate as the 6.5x55.  Both are T3 Tikkas.  I wonder if I am selling short the 6.5x55 and being concerned about how far it is a good choice for a big Mule Deer?  I have found that once you get lucky and find a really accurate firearm it instills a calm feeling of confidence, that's just a great deal!  So tell me guys what would you use?

buckfever

[james]

I use the 6.5X55  and 120 grainers for whitetails and antelope but take a .308  or 06 for mulies.  I too would give up power for accuracy but I would hate to pass up a long quartering shot on a trophy buck. I am of the Robert Roork persuasion who said "use enough gun".    For mulies I would at least try the 140 gr 6.5 as it has a higher bc and better penetration on larger animals.  That being said, the 120 gr will drop a any buck with the right bullet placement.  I took an antelope at 385 yards this year with a 120 gr Hornady and it was a complete pass thru, right behind the shoulder. The buck just reared up and fell over backwards. Good luck on your hunt.

[beemanbeme]

I use a 140gr bullet in my .260. I'd give myself some insurance and go with the heavier bullet.

[nomosendero]

My Wife used the 6.5X55 with the 130Accubond to great effect in WY. last fall. It looks like this will be her new all round bullet.

[Doesniper]

Your 6.5 X55 loaded with a 120g Barnes will be plenty good enough out to 300 yards.

[Mikey]

The 6.5x55 is certainly capable for Mule Deer and if you are comfortable with 300 yd shots I think you are in great shape for a hunt.

I prefer a heavier bullet in the 6.5.  I like the Sellier and Bellot 131 gn soft points and would recommend those or a 140 gn bullet load for a higher bc and better carry.  HTH.  Good luck.  Mikey.

[Siskiyou]

I have taken a Mule deer buck with the 6.5X55.  But I have not used or the Barnes 120 grain bullet.  I have killed deer using the 140-grain Nosler Partition (PT).  I was very impressed, but the very positive reports on the Barnes Bullet and the increased muzzle velocity over the 140-grain bullets make it a very good option out two three hundred yards.  When launched at approximately 3000 fps it is flatter shooting, and develops more energy then my 140-grain load launched at 2600 fps.

The high Ballistic Coefficient of .264 bullets compared to many other diameters gets my attention.  A sample Barnes 120-grain Triple-Shock BC .441, Nosler PT 120 grain BC.449, Nosler PT 140 BC .490, Remington 120 C-L BC .439, and the Remington 140-grain C-L BC .465.

The only negative report I have ever heard on a .264 diameter bullet was an imported 85-grain bullet driven at over 3000 feet per second.  I have heard this story many times but in short the hunter filled his first tag, and then shot at a second buck at long range trying to fill his second tag.  He believed he hit the second buck, but could not find a blood trail.  One of the problems is getting on the right trial when shooting at deer at long range.  The hunter felt the bullet never open properly, but that does not match up with results he received on deer #1.

The technique I use to recover deer when shooting deer at long range in broken topography is to mark the location I shot from with surveyor flagging.  Take a compass bearing on the location the deer was at when I shot.  In broken country your shot might be 300 yards but by the time you cross a couple of gulches, walked around a rock outcropping you have walked a longer distance when getting to the location of the animal.  The back reading on the flagging has helped me recover a number of deer.

Currently I have three different bullets loaded for my rifle and they all land in the same group at 100 yards, the 120 gr. Remington, the 140-grain Remington, and the 140-grain Nosler PT.  No manner what rifle I am using I tend to go with the heavier bullet, and the 140-grain bullets will be used for my deer hunting. 

If I had a supply of 120-grain Barnes Triple Shock bullets they would be loaded in my rifle next season based on the reputation of the bullets.

[PeterCartwright]

I haven't looked at a Barnes bullet chart for awhile, so I presume you're referring to one of the copper bullets (like TSX, for example)?  Let us know if you manage to stop that .264/120gr. bullet in a muley.  I'd also love to see an accompanying photo.

I haven't hunted mule deer since I was a kid living out west, but I'm a big 6.5X55 fan.  I'd think the Swede loaded as you describe would be darned near perfect for that kind of work...just like the similar .270 Winchester.  Give us a field report after next season?

[wareagleguy]

I have two deer this year shot at over 400 yards with my 6.5x55.  I load with 100gr Nosler partitions and 43gr H380.  Both deer had complete pass through.  Both deer didn't go 20 feet.  A good bullet is the ticket.

[superdown]

Considering they shoot a heck of allot of moose each year with it in Europe i wouldn't worry to much about it and most of us allready know that shot placement is the key a well placed shot with a good bullet is lot better than a gut shot with something larger your not confident with . jmho happy hunting ,superdown

[Sweetwater]

During the 18 years I hunted in Wyoming, I used or witnessed the use of everything from a 243 in a Winchester carbine to some super thunpers with 28in barrels. A lot of the old timers still use their 250Savages and 30-30's for Mule Deer and even Elk. I was using different loads in my 8mm Persian Carbine for the early part of that 18 years - up until the year I shot a Muley with a 150gr Sierra, a Whitetail with a 200gr Nosler Partition, and the biggest bull Elk of my life (so far) with a 175gr Sierra. This was all in the same season. Actually on the same long weekend. It was a spectacular weekend, but what it taught me was I needed to listen to Dad even after all these years and just develop one load that was dependable all the time. At that time, I chose the 200gr Nosler Partition and even harvested Antelope with it. I never had to wonder where it was going to go or recheck the sights to make sure they were right for the load, because it was always the same load. Oh, and yes, it is definitely enough gun.

I would encourage you to shoot the way you are fixed up. You are comfortable with it, and when that first animal hits the turf, you will have your confidence factor for the future. You will not be sorry with the 6.5 - it will deliver the goods when you do your part. Mule deer are not all that hard to put down, when you do your part. I've seen them flattened by 243's and 257's, but run away from a 30-06 or a 7mm rem mag. There is no magic, just plain and simple markmanship and common sense. I've seen whitetails dropped at 400yds with a 257Roberts, while others got away from much heavier calibers at "much" shorter ranges.

Do your part and let the 6.5x55 perform - it will.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Jaydub in Wi]

Judging from your statements about accuracy and confidence, I would take it if I were you. The TSXs will work fine on mule deer. I used 120 grain X bullets on whitetails out of a 264 and based on those results , I think you'll do fine.good hunting

[davem270win]

120 Barnes 6.5 works just fine on Whitetail deer in a 260 Remington.

[Cappy]

My wife who is recoil sensitive shoots 120gr Speer Hot-cor's at 2750fps (mild load) out of her 6.5x55. She had no problem dropping the mulie she shot with it. 110yds 1/4'ng away slightly and it was a complete pass through.  Load for another buddy and we have shot several large northen Alberta whitetails some up over 300lbs at ranges from 50 out to 200 yards with the various 140gr Hornadys and they were all pass throughs as well.  Using the Barnes you will have no problem getting the penetration you need at any reasonable ranges so long as you place you shot where it should go.

[Guy Pike]

My Husqvarna 1640 in 6.5x55 would be my "one gun" arsenal if it came to that. It made the other 34 rifles in the house "wants" and not "needs".

[jnclement]

It's just a mule deer, not a cape buffalo. If a 6.5x55 can kill a jillion moose, it can kill a muley, despite what all the gun rags say.

[onesonek]

The 6.5x 55 with 120 tsx's is plenty for deer imho.  I just built a 6.5 wildcat, that is similar in performance as the 55. I'm going with the 120 TSX or the 125 NP, or 130AB,,,,which ever shoots most accurate.

Dave

[superdown]

what case is your wildcat based on ?, superdown

I just built a 6.5 wildcat

[onesonek]

The 57R,,,nothing extreme by any means,,,using 6.5-257 Rob. AI dies, out of an Encore 17" OTT , Pac-Nor Blank

Dave

[superdown]

sounds cool you should do a range report in the Tc forum unless you have already and i missed it. superdown

The 57R,,,nothing extreme by any means,,,using 6.5-257 Rob. AI dies, out of an Encore 17" OTT , Pac-Nor Blank

[onesonek]

No I haven't yet, just started getting fireforming loads made up, now that the weather is not winter like. But I will post on it soon as get hunting loads worked up and shot. Might be a couple weeks as my range, (otherwise know as a gravel pit) is nothing but slop waiting for the frost to go out and drain.

Dave

[thesteeleboy]

Im going to no doubt make a lot of you guy's mad at me but, I hunt deer with a 6-284. This is a 284 case necked down to 243 dia. I shoot a 105 gr. Hornady A-MAX, loaded with 54 gr. of RL-22 AND A col - 3.030. This load chronograph's at 3530 fps ave. and the bullet has a .500 BC . I live in Utah and have been an avid hunter all my life. I own a lot of different calibers ranging from a 20 BR up through 300 Remington Ultra Mag. I feel almost embarrassed to say the 6-284 is my favorite deer and elk gun. I'm sure the roof will come down on me, with all this talk about 140 gr. bullets being to small and such but, after 30 year's of killing Deer every year and more Elk than you could load on a flat bed ford, I can honestly say I have never saw any caliber do a finner job at killing animals in their tracks than the load I have worked up for this rifle. Ive got to admit at close range, and at these velocities the bullets tend to come apart, but still leave an exit wound. I think it was P. O. Ackley that refered to this bullet failure as projected missles. When shooting a Deer or Elk sized animal at close range, and watching it drop in it's tracks, it's time to gut. After opening the diaphram the first thing you notice is all the blood coagulated like jello, that is from the shock. Animals killed in this manner dont feel a thing and are dead before they hit the ground.The farther you shoot them the better they hold togeather. If there was such a thing as a perfect load, witch there isnt, Any given bullet would enter the body, preferably at a high rate of speed, and expell all of its energy within the animal with enough forse to break ribs and possibly a piece of a bullet exit wound. Guns that shoot streight through an animal, in my opinion do not expell enough energy in the animal, at times to drop them in there tracks. Well there it is guy's, Ive opened pandoras box, beat me up, I can take it.

[Sweet 6.5]

 
You asked for it - it is not the energy that kills - a 300 ultra mag with a 150 gr @ 3450fps and a 375
with a 300gr @ 2500 have +- the same energy (4000 ft-lbs) and believe me you are on your own
if you try to take a cape buffalo with the 150gr.
Oh yes - calc. the energy you generate the a bow and arrow and tell these hunters they need more energy
and they have to keep the energy in the animal before they can hunt deer!

Just me opinion.
Cheers
Sweet

[thesteeleboy]

I would be more than happy to contact them. How many Deer have you killed with a bow that dropped in their tracks ? I'm guessing none. That is exactly my point, yes the animal is going to dye, but you had better dam well be able to track it. My point was killing an animal in it's track's, If you go out and poke a spear through a cape Buffalo, you better dam sure run. I dolt care if your hole is 2" around, you had better be fast on your feet. there is no substitute for proper bullet placement, I don't care how big of a hole you put in it, the internal damage is what kills the animal. you can cut 2" holes in both side's of any animal and it will run off never to be seen again, or you could poke a small explosive down an animal's throat, detonate it and watch it die in front of you without any noticeable damage to the exterior of the animal. I would not hunt a cape Buffalo with the gun we are talking about, but I don't think that is what we were talking about. You my friend are the only one that has left for Africa.

[thesteeleboy]

I apologize for posting again so soon Sweet 6.5, but I forgot to ask you a couple question's. With your scenario of a 375, shooting a 300 gr. bullet at 2500 fps producing 4,000 pound's of energy, How much of it's energy is is expelled as it punches a hole through the animal, and how much is waisted out in the dirt on the other side. If all were looking for is exit wounds, let's start shooting full metal jacket's, While you are enlightening me would you please be so kind as to tell me just exactly how many ft. lbs. of energy it takes to kill a Caribou.
My point is, with any given round, the more energy spent inside an animal, the less your chances of having to go look for it.

[onesonek]

Im going to no doubt make a lot of you guy's mad at me but, I hunt deer with a 6-284. This is a 284 case necked down to 243 dia. I shoot a 105 gr. Hornady A-MAX, loaded with 54 gr. of RL-22 AND A col - 3.030. This load chronograph's at 3530 fps ave. and the bullet has a .500 BC . I live in Utah and have been an avid hunter all my life. I own a lot of different calibers ranging from a 20 BR up through 300 Remington Ultra Mag. I feel almost embarrassed to say the 6-284 is my favorite deer and elk gun. I'm sure the roof will come down on me, with all this talk about 140 gr. bullets being to small and such but, after 30 year's of killing Deer every year and more Elk than you could load on a flat bed ford, I can honestly say I have never saw any caliber do a finner job at killing animals in their tracks than the load I have worked up for this rifle. Ive got to admit at close range, and at these velocities the bullets tend to come apart, but still leave an exit wound. I think it was P. O. Ackley that refered to this bullet failure as projected missles. When shooting a Deer or Elk sized animal at close range, and watching it drop in it's tracks, it's time to gut. After opening the diaphram the first thing you notice is all the blood coagulated like jello, that is from the shock. Animals killed in this manner dont feel a thing and are dead before they hit the ground.The farther you shoot them the better they hold togeather. If there was such a thing as a perfect load, witch there isnt, Any given bullet would enter the body, preferably at a high rate of speed, and expell all of its energy within the animal with enough forse to break ribs and possibly a piece of a bullet exit wound. Guns that shoot streight through an animal, in my opinion do not expell enough energy in the animal, at times to drop them in there tracks. Well there it is guy's, Ive opened pandoras box, beat me up, I can take it.

First off, I'm hoping your velocity is a typo, as even with your long throat it seems you could be 4-500 fps over book. As for your choice bullets or hunting persuasion,,,,,each to their own. I still prefer a controlled expansion bullet maintaining some velocity and energy transfer through the complete passage and exit of the body,(I have my reasons, and we'll leave it at that). I know your way works for you and that's fine, although I have seen target style bullets fail to open at all. Again each to his own!
Other than that, it seems  with the tail end of this post , and more so your following post's, you're spoiling for a fight,,,,,Why?


Dave

[thesteeleboy]

I'm not a fighter but a lover Dave, and no there is no typo. This rifle was built on a Remington action, 30" Creager barrel with a 1 in 9 twist. I shoot a 105 gr. Hornady A-Max backed with 54 gr. of RL-22 powder, I use a Federal 210 match primer. The C.O.L. = 3.031 is .005 off the land's and while working my loads up for this rifle on 5 - 6 - 2004 at 7:00 am, Temp- 46 degree's , Baro. Press. -104.1, Humidity- 43%, Altitude- 4,900 ft. This rifle shot under 1/2 moa at 100 yds, and averaged 3,530 fps. I don't recommend anyone using this load as I carefully worked it up for this specific rifle . If I new how to run a computer better I would send you pictures of the groups it shoots but I'm a little illiterate as far as using my computer. Perhap's another time we will talk about my 6-short mag. Its actually my long range rifle with a 32" Creager barrel, and it out preforms this 6-284 hand's down, but that's a topic for another day. P.S. remember Dave I'm a lover not a fighter.

[Sweet 6.5]

How many Deer have you killed with a bow that dropped in their tracks ? I'm guessing none. 

I also think none? Is an impala a deer or antelope?

"You my friend are the only one that has left for Africa." You've got me again! Although I was actually
born here in Africa so I never left FOR Africa, I just never left Africa.

As for the buffalo and energy - I don't really care if the bullet takes all 4000 pounds of energy with as long as it punch a hole in both lungs and the hart of the buffalo .

Sweet

[thesteeleboy]

 
 Sweet 6.5
 I have enjoyed our {Friendly} little debate immensely.  Thank you for taking the time to reply.
May God bless Africa and yourself, and I hope life's trail's are happy one's.
Dale

[Sweet 6.5]