for european deer up to and including red deer (inside 250m), are there any real world differences?

and what would be the preferred bullet weight for the 7mm, for the application above?
(is the 140gr too light)?

Not claiming to be an expert in the field, but if you ask about real world difference, I say "no".

Look at the power levels and trajectories of the guns, they certainly are in the same league.

As to bullet weight I don't see much reason to go above 156grs (10g), however except for roe I think I'd stick with over 100grs.
Norma's and Lapua's loads would be excellent. Even the Lapua Mega which is too soft for bigger game works very well on deer in my and my friends' experience. We take annually several heads of roe in Estonia, and the most commonly used gun is the .308 loaded with the 12g (185grs) Mega.
I have no experience with Sako's bullets in their 6,5mm load but given the light weight of deer I would not expect problems.

Some say that on sika and red that the 6.5x55 struggles as the heavier weight bullets can't be driven at a high enough velocity through a standard 60cm (24 inches) or less barrels.

My advice? The 140 grain in the 7x57 is better because it is faster. I use the same weight at similar performance levels in a 270 Winchester. The 6.5x55 doesn't really do anything that the 7x57 doesn't do better.

quote:

for european deer up to and including red deer (inside 250m), are there any real world differences?

For deer in the states up to 300 pounds live weight I say no! They are equivalent cartridges.

You wont notice any difference .

From how they work on moose both should be fine on deer.

I like both rounds, but am biased toward the 6.5 because of the wider range of bullet weights available, and the abnormally low felt recoil in relation to its performance. Lou

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
Some say that on sika and red that the 6.5x55 struggles as the heavier weight bullets can't be driven at a high enough velocity through a standard 60cm (24 inches) or less barrels.

so what if it only does 2650 instead of the advertised 2690fs(Norma)
i wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

quote:

The 6.5x55 doesn't really do anything that the 7x57 doesn't do better.

no, but here are some other facts to consider

*they don't make affordable 7x57 bolt rifles.
*the 7mm-08 does the same thing, but it just doesn't feel right, some way.
*the 6.5x55 is one of the 3 most popular cartridges here.

quote:

Originally posted by Steffen-9.3:
for european deer up to and including red deer (inside 250m), are there any real world differences?

and what would be the preferred bullet weight for the 7mm, for the application above?
(is the 140gr too light)?

Not any you would notice if using bullets of the same construction and SD in both calibers.

I would use the 160-grainer in 6.5mm, and a 160 or 175 in 7X57mm. This is for Hirsch, but for the smaller deere, a 140 would be adequate.

I don't think there are any real differences on use of smaller big game. I don't think the 140 gr is to light.

i shoot whitetails with both. i use 175 grain hornady round nose bullets in the 7x57 loaded between 2500-2600 fps. shoot the hornady a-max out of the 6.5 at 2550 fps. that a-max is a deer killer when not driven to excessive speeds. both are great. i am not a fan of the 7x57 with light bullets. might as well have a 270. penetration with the 175s is crazy.

Here in New Zealand, the biggest game animal is the Wapiti/Elk and shading down through red deer to sika etc. I shoot both calibres.

One comment above about affordable 7x57mm rifles. Affordable 7x57mm ?. My 7x57mm is built on a Brazilian 1908 with the original barrel. After purchase of the original military rifle, barrel cutting/recrowning, bolt reshaping, rebluing, scope mounts etc it cost me a total of NZ$425 - scope is extra. I did the woodwork - lovely figured original walnut stock so I kept it. Granted, it is just a reshaped military stock but the whole rifle is just right for me and the NZ bush hunting environment. I spent over 20 years in the NZ Military and to me, a rifle is a tool not a display item. What does it like ?, Sierra 140 GameKings driven by N204 at 2760fps and Remington 150 Corelockts at 2700fps.

My other two rifles are both 6.5x55mm, one on a Brazilian 1908 as above but with a Parkerhale 22" 6.5mm barrel - this one likes the Sierra 120gr, and the other on a 1935 VZ33 action with a Swedish M38 6.5mm barrel - this one likes the Hornady 129gr. Both have since been comandeered by my two sons for their use !.

Point of all this?, I am happy with the performance of either calibre - lethality, penetration and accuracy - on any of the game animals in NZ. I used both .303British 150gr and .308Win 150gr for several years and was happy with them as well. The key is bullet placement, and I have never felt that going to a heavier bullet - say 160 gr in 6.5 or 175 in 7mm would serve me any better than what I use now.

quote:

Originally posted by Steffen-9.3:
for european deer up to and including red deer (inside 250m), are there any real world differences?

and what would be the preferred bullet weight for the 7mm, for the application above?
(is the 140gr too light)?

best BC for 284 is 140 grain bullet (barnes x excepted)7MM Mausers kill Elk every year, which are as big or bigger than Red deer.

quote:

Originally posted by Steffen-9.3:
for european deer up to and including red deer (inside 250m), are there any real world differences?

and what would be the preferred bullet weight for the 7mm, for the application above?
(is the 140gr too light)?

I'm no Euro hunting expert, but from what I understand a Red Deer can crowd 500 lbs. A good quality 140 in the 6.5x55 would work, though in a 7x57 I might opt for good quality 150-154. Real world difference? I highly doubt it.

I'd probably take my 6.5x57 on such a hunt...

I would feel comfortable with either, using a moderately heavy to heavy bullet.

I have seen a red deer shot by a 6.5 (120gr ballistic tip I think). In my books that is the wrong bullet for the job but that deer dropped on the spot! The damage to the chest cavity contents was rediculous! There was still some shoulder damage on the exit side but not too severe. One specimen does not constitute proof but still.....

What are the three most popular cartridges in Norway? (Well, the other two, anyway).

quote:

I'd probably take my 6.5x57 on such a hunt...

Now you see, I like both the 6.5 Swede and the 7x57, so bring them together and we have the 6.5x57 and one could chamber the Lee Enfield with the rimmed version. The best of all worlds!

I've been experimenting with 6.5mm and 7mm loads on our Whitetail, Axis and Fallow deer for 9 years, and my #1 best "go to - go for" load would have to be a heavy bullet in a 6.5x54mm, 6.5x55mm, or 6.5x57mm. Anything a 160 or 175 grain bullet does in a 7x57mm, a 160 grain class bullet from a 6.5mm seems to do better. This is based upon the carcasses of 14 deer.

LLS

For stalking and within 150 m, both would do, provided you carefully place an adequate bullet (if is fails, prepare for what may turn into a lengthy tracking session). For longer range and especially for drive hunting, they're definitely on the light side. Above 200 m, I'd set the entry level at .30-06 and ideally, pick a .300 Win Mag. Running shots at drive hunting are best taken with a 9,3x62 or 9,3x4R.

quote:

Originally posted by 303Guy:
What are the three most popular cartridges in Norway? (Well, the other two, anyway).

.30-06 is the most popular.
6.5x55 and .308win is at a split second.

As with everything it hinges on bullet usage and performance.

I've used both extensively and haven't noticed any difference. The 6.5x55 might not be able to drive a 140gr as fast as a 7mm 140gr but it can drive an equivalent SD bullet just as fast.

I use 120gr BT and 125gr partitions in my 6.5 - the latter is an absolutely fantastic open hill load for reds in Scotland. The 120gr BT kills fallow as well if not slightly better than my 30-06 with 150gr sierra pro hunters at the same velocity (near 2,900fps).

140gr bullets in my 7x57 (and 7mm08) have worked extremely well on numerous fallow and a few reds. The 140gr partition doesn't need huge velocity to expand and penetrate very well indeed. I've not noticed any difference in killing power on reds or fallow twixt my 7mms and 30-06. I repeat that I think bullet construction and performance is a greater factor.

quote:

Above 200 m, I'd set the entry level at .30-06 and ideally, pick a .300 Win Mag. Running shots at drive hunting are best taken with a 9,3x62 or 9,3x4R.

This is interesting! The very few reds I have seen taken seemed very tenacious! The longest range shot was with a 7mm-08 at 230m with some 140gr premium bullet - the only one to down on the spot. Another red was shot in the same area with a 120gr 6.5 which also went down on the spot but I did not see that one. Having been present when feral goat were being shot with a 25 and a 308, we were unable to distinguish the hits. Not in wound size nor strike effects. But bullet construction made a difference! My interest in this thread stems from my use of a 303-25. I am nervous to use it on reds but it is my go-to rifle. (Some of our reds are crossed with wapiti too). I think I will stick to my 303 Brit with 180grs when hunting for reds! (And pigs!)

Steffen I have the highest opinion of the 7x57.
Personaly I have used it for 10 years with great success.
I have to admit the I was influenced by my grandfather who has a childlike faith in this caliber... but I have shot more mule deer, fallow deer, mouflons or hogs than with any other caliber.
I use 154 gr. Norma Oryx.
In my hands it is a very deadly tool...

I'm another who has had equaly good results with both calibres, and I have a rifle in 7x57 and and one 6.5x55.
Putting a slightly different slant on the question, which one of these, if I had to give one up, and heaven forfend, would it be? The answer is the 6.5x55.
The answer is not a simple one, it has as much to do with the quality, handling and liking for the the rifle chamberedin 7x57 as it does the calibres.
Were I fortunate enough to have rifles in both calibres made by,say, Westley Richards then oh dear what to do?

I have a 280 & a 260, close enough. The more I shoot my 260 the more I think it would be a better dual purpose varmint/deer round than a 243. Either are good deer/antelope rounds.

quote:

Originally posted by 303Guy:
[QUOTE]I think I will stick to my 303 Brit with 180grs when hunting for reds! (And pigs!)

Agreed !

owning both and hunting with both, I feel they are pretty much interchangable on American Deer...regardless of size...

quote:

Both have since been comandeered by my two sons for their use !.

My son borrowed my Ruger M77 7X57mm in 1976. He is still has it "borrowed" it. Got me a No. 1A to replace it, however.