This is one of my favorite rounds and I know that it is popular in Norway, Finland, and Sweden. How popular is this round in the rest of Europe?

FWIW, I'd have to say that it's popularity has been decreasing the last decade or so in Norway. At least judging by the hunters I know. Many of them still own a 6,5x55, but none of them use it on moose anymore. They've all "converted" to 308Win., 30-06, or other calibres for the most part.

In Sweden the old 6,5 has lost some of its popularity lately due to fear of a "lead in bullets" ban. But there are of course many in frequent use, I've got one but now use it for small game only.

It has following here in Northern Ireland, as it"s a great all rounder and legal for all deer in the UK and Ireland. Until recently, Southern Ireland had a maximum calibre of .270, making the 6.5 popular there as well.
Two friends of mine who stalk fallow are now exclusively using the 6.5.
good shooting

Hardly anybody (but myself and other die-hard rifle nuts) shoot the 6.5x55 in my neck of the woods. More popular .264 calibers include: 6.5x57(R) and 6.5x68.
- mike

Seen in the hands of some target shooters but never encountered in the field.

quote:

Originally posted by Wachtel:
In Sweden the old 6,5 has lost some of its popularity lately due to fear of a "lead in bullets" ban. But there are of course many in frequent use, I've got one but now use it for small game only.

Surely you will have the same problem in any calibre??? solid copper bullets are avaiable for the 6.5 as they are for most other calibres.

I thought about th 6.5 after shooting the PH's in Africa. It's one of those calibres that can be many things and do them all quite well. My hang up was the military calibre concerns for some countries so I think that if I go down the route of a 6.5 calibre it will be the 6.5x284

Rgds,
FB

Fallow Buck, the problem is that we have a minimum weight (9 or 10 gr) with a minimum energy at 100 meters. It's difficult to meet this with the 9 gr bullet in 6,5, requires a long barrel. A 10 gr solid copper bullet in 6,5 will be too long.

In Italy has good poularity for its high precision. In fact there are a lot of competition "hunters stye shooting", that means shoot on an animal target with calibers loyal for hunt (no 22 or 17 calibers for example), and many of the best shooters use it. it was so superior to many other calibers that some organizator was thinking to make a 6.5x55 category.
I love it, is my favourite for roe deer and fallow deer also.

As Wachtel writes, there's a ban of lead in bullets on it's way in Sweden. (Actually, they decided on it and then afterwards decided to do some studies on the subject so there's still some hope that there won't be any ban.)

But to qualify as a class 1* weapon the bullet must be constrycted to expand and have a weight of 9 grams (139 gr) and deliver 2700 joule at 100 metres or have a weight of 10 grams (154 gr) and deliver 2000 joule at 100 metres.

This has proven to be quite difficult with full copper bullets while still stay within the pressure limit for the 6.5x55.

*) Class 1 is the heaviest class (of 4) and is needed for the largest game in Sweden. For example elk (moose), bear, fallow-deer, red deer and wild boar.

Normas 140 grain Partition load arn\t loaded hard enough for moosle loads,it for red deer and such , that is because of the pressure the NP has, and that would be to hard for the ammo. Mistake if im wrong ,but i have heard it from a source there.

cool:

Reminds me of a team of Sweeds I took on a monteria.
I first laughed at them when I saw the tiny 6.5 x 55 they brought to take red deer. But after the 1rst day and the 27 deer they killed, i stopped all sarcasm.

Its a great little killer ,but i prefer a little bigger diameter and bullet weight though.

the swedes call a guy who use a 6,5 a good shot,and that is true, however jan Ã…kerman wrote that a novice should use the biggest cartridge he could for the first animals to be more confident with the shot .

He liked the 10,75x68 for those and as you got more expirience you should use less bullet . My minimum is either 30-06 or 8mm57 of the standadrd cartridges. but thats my opinion.

In Iceland it popularity is increasing. I was told at a gun store the have completly sold out 6.5x55 the summer.

This numers are from the UST, they controls the reindeer hunting.

in 2005, 754 reindeers were killed.
Cal used, numer of users.
.243win : 175
6,5x55 : 125
308 win : 105
270 win : 62
7m rem mag : 55
300 win mag : 50
30-06 : 49
6,5x284 : 40
7-08 rem : 28
7x64 : 6
6,5-06 : 6
6,5x68 : 4
6,5x57 :3
300 weatherby : 3
7mm STW : 3
25-06 : 2
300 H&H : 2
300 WSM : 1
338 WM : 1
6mm Rem : 1
others and maybe not reg : 39

quote:

Originally posted by sherpi:
In Iceland it popularity is increasing. I was told at a gun store the have completly sold out 6.5x55 the summer.
(...)
others and maybe not reg : 39

Indeed, I have missed the 8x58 RD in the list. I would have expected some rifles still in use...

Carcano

I have had a 6.5 x 55 for about 3 years now, and have never found it lacking.

The home load by choice is a 140 grain SGK, fired at moderate pressure.
This has prooven to be a flat shooting , hard hitting load for all of my needs in this country.

We have a small group of converts in the local area, but have several other associates around the country who also sing the praise of this neat calibre.

So much so, that I was toying with the idea of taking it on safari for plains game in Africa next year.

With a slightly heavier bullet weight (156grains say), I don't think I would be under gunned for anything except Eland and kudu.

I have shot a swede for the last 6 years (custom job by PRS in Scotland) and CANNOT fault it in any, I`m well into 3 figures for deer, my personal load is the 120g nos BT or the 129g hornady or any of the 140`s orrrrrrr it doesn`t really matter what goes down it provided that i point it straight they always fall over. The funniest thing about this caliber is the perceived "small-ness", a case in point is a trip i made to Canada in 05 Bear hunting, i arrive in camp and we chat about stuff then the old caliber thing pops up, i says 6.5 swede they say "what" so i toss a few rounds about some wag pipes up about shooting rabbits with bigger bullets i say i will be fine, we go to the range next day to check zero, i`m on, matey closes his eyes and pulls trigger on his 300 win mag (we are shooting over bait!!) any way out we go he gets his bear on 2nd or 3rd day and thats fine apart from the bad shot and trying to find it in the dark! i get my bear on the last evening of the hunt, it was 63yards to the bait pile and a single 160g round nose through the shoulders and it dropped to the shot i radio in to say i`ve got one they come and get me and start asking which way it ran ETC,ETC. I say it didnt, its over there pointing to a tree, we go over and sure enough its dead and still has a donoght in its mouth.

6 months later i went to Montana on a spring Bear hunt, same rifle but 140g Nos part again last day ( i like to get my moneys worth!!!!!) we spot a bear "out there" we make a hellish drive about 6 valleys distant and then some hill running down and come parallel but i have to shoot across the valley laser says 340y i have NEVER even thought about shooting that distance (when i booked my trip the guide told me to zero on at about 250 and i practised alot at that range and a bit more) so i new what to do, 1st shot went high into the dirt, I saw it kick up the gravel, can you do that with BiGGER calibers? 2nd shot centred both shoulders and sent the bear into a somersault absolutley dead.
Do i need another caliber NO do i need another rifle, maybe, only if it a single shot.
I should be going back to Montana in 10 days time for another Bear hunt and to assist the outfitter, but i have torn my achillies tendon and can only dream of what could have been ( i`m going back twice next year so i still have something to live for!)


B

I have a 6.5X55 and I cannot fault it. I normally shoot Hornady 129 gr Interlocks which is extremely accurate in my gun. I have got some 140 and 160 grain rounds to try. It really does dispatch a deer with authority, I had one run on me once after the shot, but the eight feet or so that it travelled did not cause any trouble.

John