Author Topic: Been surprised by a smaller than 30 caliber? (Read 2316 times)

buckfever 1 · « **on:** November 22, 2008, 04:23:58 PM »

I had bought a 6.5x55 on a whim and it has really impressed me. I have total confidence in it's ability to hit and bring down any size deer I hunt in the USA or Canada. Not much kick and lays out the game. I am sure surprised and very happy not to mention it came with a eye poppin Turkish Walnut Stock! Tikka T-3. I like many different brands so no one brand guy. I am totally pleased with this caliber. I reload and it is a very efficient cartridge. I am sure you guys have other caliber like the 7mm-08 and the 25-06 that get the job done. Do you have a caliber that surprised you for your type of hunting? Buckfever

Brithunter · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2008, 10:35:39 PM »

Glad you like it

I was however wondering where you have been to only just find out about a smaller than .30 cal

after all the 6.5x55 has only been around laying the beasties down for 110 years or so

and yes it seems to perform far better that the paper figures suggest it should.

Don't know what bullets your using but I can tell you that the Speer 120 grain flat based bullet is effective and accurate too boot

. The Nosler 100 Grn balistic tip is very destructive but an excellent varmint bullet providing you don't wan the pelt! The Hornady 160 grain RN bullet really hammers game so I now reserve that bullet for the heavier Deer ans use the 120-140 grain bulltes on our Muntjac and Roe deer.

Sweet 6.5 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2008, 05:55:26 AM »

8 one shot kills with my 6.5x55

2 x bluewilde beast
1 x warthog
5 x impala

Yes I have been suprised by this little rifle.

buckfever 1 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 27, 2008, 05:11:52 AM »

I am surprized no one has talked about the 7mm-08 or 25-06 both stellar calibers. Not to mention the 257 Roberts or a lever 30-30. Buckfever

Drilling Man · « **Reply #4 on:** November 27, 2008, 06:03:14 AM »

I think the under 30 that surprised me more than any other is the 280 Rem... I built mine in the late 70's or so, and it's been a great cartridge for me!

DM

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2008, 12:08:40 PM »

Quote from: buckfever 1 on November 27, 2008, 05:11:52 AM

I am surprized no one has talked about the 7mm-08 or 25-06 both stellar calibers. Not to mention the 257 Roberts or a lever 30-30. Buckfever

My Roberts is my favorite rifle.

hillbill · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2008, 12:36:18 PM »

me and my son have been useing the 30-06 for a few years now but this year i switched to a 6.5x55 rifle i finally finished.we process all our own deer after the kill and i cant really tell any difference in damage to the vital organs and meat twixt the 06 and the 6.5. the two deer we killed with the 6.5 and one with the 06 didnt really show any diff in how far they went or the size of entrance and exit holes in comparison to the dozen or so deer we killed previously with the 06.one thing i do know is that the 6.5 uses way less powder with the same results. at the price of powder that aint hurtin my feelings none.im thinking the 6.5 is going to be my go to gun but there is no way ill git that 06 away from my son. he is 12 and has made 4, 1 shot kills with it plus some coyotes so he is pretty much in love with it.so im pretty happy with the 6.5 and am going to stik with it awhile.

BBF · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2008, 07:40:56 AM »

223 Rem from a 788. Layed out Fallow and Pacific Black Tails as if a lightning bolt hit them.

Ahab · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2008, 07:25:40 AM »

Yup, .257 Weatherby Magnum!

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2008, 05:05:46 PM »

I have a love affair with the 7mm's, started with the 7x57 went to the 7mag and now is on 7mm-08 and 280. Took 2 deer with 7mm-08 last year and 6 with the 280 this year. Farthest I had to go this year was about 30-35 yards for 1, the rest were right where they were hit. The 7mm-08 last year was 1 laid down and the other went 10 yards. Got 3 -280's and 3 -7mm-08's and am still waiting to get a 7-30 waters done and another barrel for a 94 Win in the same caliber is waiting for a smith that can get the barrel off the 30-30. Have 2 257 Roberts, 2 25-06's and a 257 Weatherby that still need to be used on game, well, one of the Bobs got a whitetail 2 years ago. Wanna hear about the over 30's now?

DP

jro45 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2008, 05:04:43 AM »

Yea I have one of those Weatherby 257 Mag. Its a great Rifle

One Eye · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2008, 05:57:32 AM »

Yes. I have been really impressed with the performance of the .243 on whitetail deer. A hunting buddy uses one and he has let my daughter borrow it twice. She has 2 one-shot kills and both deer died on the spot. The damage to the vitals was unreal.

I have been a .300 Win Mag shooter for over 20 years, but these smaller calibers really have me intrigued. I am not on the search for a new .243 for the daughter as well as something for me

Dan

Don Fischer · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2008, 06:19:22 AM »

More suprizing to me is the need for most of N. Amer. for over 30-06. That is curently my heavy cartridge and I've never use it on game. Many years ago when I though I needed horse power, I bought a brand new Ruger in 7x57. I was suprized then, not any more. My favorite today is a 6.5x55, that may change tonight! Who knows?

charles p · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2008, 11:56:28 AM »

How many pair of shoes does your wife have? You need to own a fraction of that number of deer rifles. I have ten and add about one per year. My wife can not contain herself to one pair of shoes per month, so new rifles are justifiable based on the 1:10 shoe ratio.

Seriously, when I was in my 20's, I only shot 30-06. Then I went to a 7mm Rem Mag for "more range".
Except for one elk rifle in 300 WSM, all my deer rifles are smaller callibers. They are lighter, hit just as hard, shoot better and carry better in the field.

Pick a rifle that is fun to shoot and economical to reload, and you will become a better hunter. That's a guarantee.

hillbill · « **Reply #14 on:** December 31, 2008, 03:40:15 PM »

one of the reasons i went to a 6.5x55 is it will do the same thing a 06 will do with bout 20 grns less powder.mind yu now this is only used for whitetail deer, if i was goin for game over 400lbs id prob go back to the 06.

243dave · « **Reply #15 on:** December 31, 2008, 06:15:16 PM »

A 22-250 with 45gr barnes x bullets at 4000fps on whitetail deer. Amazing what those little bullets will do, they can break both shoulders !! After a couple kills I switched back to a sporter-weight rifle(varmint weight guns are no fun to sling and drag out deer). A 243 has always killed well for me. Shoot premuim bullets in any of the small calibers and they will probably surprise you. Dave

Sweetwater · « **Reply #16 on:** December 31, 2008, 08:39:05 PM »

Both my 6.5x55 and my 257Roberts are surprising performers. It's a tough call which one goes hunting on any given day here in North Idaho. BUT I've got a 35cal romance going so.....

Regards,
Sweetwater

nomosendero · « **Reply #17 on:** January 01, 2009, 04:22:44 AM »

The 25-06 surprised me with the destruction the light varmit bullets could deal out & how effective the 100+
grain bullets were for Deer, but that was 30 years ago. I havn't been surprised since then, but certainly
impressed.

I think it was in 1998 that I had a gunsmith sporterize a Swedish Mauser for my Wife. I have been impressed with the 6.5X55 round as well in many ways.

FLNT4EVR · « **Reply #18 on:** January 01, 2009, 05:47:28 AM »

I have a .260 Remington Mod 7 and realy love it. It will handle everything I am ever going to hunt ,from varmints to black bear.That being said, when I purchased the rifle the gunshop owner also showed me a beautiful 6.5 Swede . I chose the CDL REM because of it's compact size and light weight.To this day I still think about that Swede tho. I just may have to get 1 in order to ease my mind. I'm sure the wife will understand.

FW Conch · « **Reply #19 on:** January 01, 2009, 08:12:00 AM »

FLNT, I like the way you think ! The 6.5x55 Swede has been near "ballistic perfection" since day one &

deserves to live on forever !

Jim

FLNT4EVR · « **Reply #20 on:** January 01, 2009, 12:25:46 PM »

I whole heartedly agree.

harrys · « **Reply #21 on:** January 28, 2009, 09:41:49 AM »

glad to hear u like others ,,, my all time favorite is the 2506 have shot it for 35 yrs now and never a complaint,heck i have alot of 25 cals actually and they r all good shootin rifles 250-3000,257 roberts,, 25wssm.i like my 7mm stw very much to,, but if i had to keep just one it would be the ole 2506 and it's super accurate and not fussy about reloads of most bullet weights available.

BBF · « **Reply #22 on:** January 29, 2009, 05:07:41 AM »

After going through my reloading drawer and finding lots of brass, bullets and three sets of Dies I just ordered a new Savage 11 in 243 Win. Good Lord, I needed another rifle

Swampman · « **Reply #23 on:** January 29, 2009, 05:50:06 AM »

Quote

I have total confidence in it's ability to hit and bring down any size deer I hunt in the USA or Canada.

I have none

Skunk · « **Reply #24 on:** January 29, 2009, 06:40:07 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on January 29, 2009, 05:50:06 AM

Quote
I have total confidence in it's ability to hit and bring down any size deer I hunt in the USA or Canada.
I have none

You might if you ever tried one.

the jigger · « **Reply #25 on:** January 29, 2009, 07:47:43 AM »

My greatest surprise was the 250/3000AI. Half MOA at 200yds and minute of prairie dog at 300+.

Swampman · « **Reply #26 on:** January 29, 2009, 08:01:14 AM »

Quote from: Skunk on January 29, 2009, 06:40:07 AM

Quote from: Swampman on January 29, 2009, 05:50:06 AM
Quote
I have total confidence in it's ability to hit and bring down any size deer I hunt in the USA or Canada.
I have none

You might if you ever tried one.

I have, and I went back to the .30-06.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #27 on:** January 29, 2009, 10:09:02 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on January 29, 2009, 08:01:14 AM

Quote from: Skunk on January 29, 2009, 06:40:07 AM
Quote from: Swampman on January 29, 2009, 05:50:06 AM
Quote
I have total confidence in it's ability to hit and bring down any size deer I hunt in the USA or Canada.
I have none

You might if you ever tried one.

I have, and I went back to the .30-06.

Well, keep practiseing, you'll get there eventually...

DM