This new thread is not intended as a criticism of this calibre.

I have been offered an as new rifle in this calibre. However, I know virtually nothing about it.

On searching Hornady, Winchester , Reminton etc sites, some of the major manufacturers do not even make full factory ammo for it.

I gather the origins of the calibre were in Europe.

What are the calibres on either side of it, and what are the minimum and max bullet weights that can be shot with it?

I look forward to an education.

My eyes and mind are open!

I'm getting too tired to look it all up for you tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

In MHO, the 6.5x55 is one of the best cals for allround use in Aust. Just last Sat a mate took the head off a rabbit with one when he couldn't find some pigs.
I believe it was the Sweeds mil cartridge equiv to our .303 in useage. Used in long range target shooting, and dropping more Moose than you could imagin.
I had great success with cheap Mil ammo with the point ground off.
The only doubt I would have if I were you would be if the mil ammo had gone or you wern't going to reload. Even then I'd be supprised if Highland arn't flogging cheap ammo for them.
Later.

It'll be faster to point you in the direction of some reading material than to re-type it here.
Sensible Cartridges
feild and stream
6.5 swede

Robert

The 6.5x55 is a very good all round non dangerous game caliber ideally suited to Australia.

However although it is a capable Sambar taker given the right projectile/weight combination, the minimum legal caliber for Sambar is the 270 - if you are considering hunting them.

Factory ammo here in Aus is available from Winchester, Remington, Highlander and probably a couple of others I cannot think of right at this moment.

Thanks; very interesting reading.
A real sleeper if the author's text of the killing power with large SD , but relatively low grain weight, projectiles.

The 6,5x55 is the most common caliber in Skandinavia (Denmark, Norway,Sweden)
It was originaly military caliber in Sweden and Norway, But soon adobtet as huntingkaliber, and targetkaliber(mainly mediumrange, 200 - 600m.)
It is a very homogen caliber, capable of preforming exelent accuracy, with bullets from 6 - 10,1 grams(90-157 grains apx)
Most majore ammo producers are producing 6,5x55.
Norma, Lapua, RWS, Remmington, Winchester, Federal, Hornady, PMC, and a lot others.
Most used bulletweight for target is 8,4g(130 grains) and for hunting in skandinavia 10,1g(157grains)
The caliber has become known in US and Australia, mainly because some 300.000 Swedish M96 Mauser were sold as surplus,

A great round with a well deserved reputation but not necessarily the most popular sporting round in Scandinavia, especially for moose. Husqvarna made two 9.3 x 57 rifles for every one 6.5 x 55 from the inception of the Model 46 in 1927 to WWII. After the war, it competed with just about every caliber from 220 Swift and 270, 8MM Mauser, 257 Roberts, 30-06 and more in Sweden.

In Norway, the 30-06 is king. Not sure about Denmark but I think the 30-06 is tops there too.

Hard to beleive but then who would have thought Budweiser would ever be the most popular beer in Europe (even, dare I say it, in Germany!).

It has a certain mystique partly because it is so effective and partly just assumption that because it was a local military round, everyone must use one.

The 6.5 x 55 bore real sucks!

Since it is free, take it and put it in a box... send seafire an email, for his name and address and ship it to him... he will pick up the shipping charges... and then he will dispose of it for you... not to cause you any embarrassment with your neighbors or friends.....


seafire

quote:

Originally posted by tiggertate:
A great round with a well deserved reputation but not necessarily the most popular sporting round in Scandinavia, especially for moose. Husqvarna made two 9.3 x 57 rifles for every one 6.5 x 55 from the inception of the Model 46 in 1927 to WWII. After the war, it competed with just about every caliber from 220 Swift and 270, 8MM Mauser, 257 Roberts, 30-06 and more in Sweden.

In Norway, the 30-06 is king. Not sure about Denmark but I think the 30-06 is tops there too.

Hard to beleive but then who would have thought Budweiser would ever be the most popular beer in Europe (even, dare I say it, in Germany!).

It has a certain mystique partly because it is so effective and partly just assumption that because it was a local military round, everyone must use one.

I can guarant you that in all 3 countries the 6,5x55 is the most common caliber, with a markedshare of between 40-50%.
In Sweden up to 50% of all Mooses is killed by 6,5x55.(a funny thing about Sweden, it the further north, the bigger Mooses and longer shooting distances, the higher rate of 6,5x55, because of its very high SD. Just keep in mind that though 10%les muzzelenergy than 308, and 20% less than 30.06 it catches up with many 308 at 100-200meters, and many 30.06 at 200-300meters)
But it seems that it's popularity at present is dwindeling, because of a threadening ban on Lead in huntingbullets in Sweden, causing it problems to deliver the demanded bullitweight, and energy

The 6.5 X 55 is an ideal round for whitetails and mulies and also can work well for pronghorns and other big game including elk.....but most will prefer a larger caliber for elk.

For all it's good points it should be noted that at least in the US it's primarily a handloading proposition.....noty sure how it works in the lower part of the world.....maybe you can find better factory loads than we do here.

It's other bad part is that it's like a lot of cartridges built on medium length cases. This includes the 7 MM Mauser and family of rounds from it's case. It's too long to function well in a short action rifle and a bit short for a long action rifle.

Best if one blocks his magazine for this round

It's a fabulous round after all this and one that deserves all it's fans.

Bullets from 80 grains to 160 grains are available but I suspect 100 to 140 is far the most used.

My 6.5x55 is very accurate and shoots most bullets well. My sons have taken impala with it, one shot kills. Recoil is virtually non-existent, you can shoot it all day long and into the night with no ill effects so kids and women love it.

Exceptionally accurate , low recoil, FinnAagard called it the perfect deer rifle . I think it's at it's best with the 140 grain bullet for it's high BC and SD. In America it's a handloaders cartridge because they've lowered the velocity because of old guns.A modern gun with full loads and it's great !!!

I think the 6.5x55 is A great round. I have two, One in A Ruger 77 MKII, and one in A 96 Swedish mauser,The Ruger you can do what ever with it,the Mauser A bit less.I like the hornady 129 SP for deer, and have used A 100 grain nosler BT for Antelope. I realy like the 6.5x55.

I was skeptical till I got one. Now I would not take for it.

Its not very loud, it has no recoil, its accurate, and it penetrates extremely well. What else does a person need?

I have two 6.5X55's one in a 700 classic and one in an M96. There is plenty of ammo choices in every store i have ever been in. The 140gr Remington Core-Lokt factory load will do for most of the animals taken. I love this round and it is my go to for whitetail deer, always killing very efficiently with little noise or recoil. I personally wouldnt hesitate to shoot a moose with the right bullet of course.

Robert-
Few cartridges possess killing power beyond their physical size and paper ballistics. The 6.5 X 55 is one of them. Its reputation was made with heavy bullets possessing great sectional density driven at moderate velocities. It belongs with the greats like the 7 X 57, 257 Roberts, 30-06, 9.3 X 62.

.

Robert Cudlipp,

the cartridge is not a lightning, but the ammo factory do not load at maximum due to the old K.Gustavs rifles.

If you reload it can be hot and fast enough. Highly precise however.