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I have been using my 6,5 a LOT on pigs, it has completely replaced my other rifles wich really surprise me. Every time I go hunting I enjoy more and more my small rifle (it's a Sako Finnlight 85). Saying all this, I have been using several loads and bullet weights. I have noticed that heavy bullets on the 6,5 really makes a DIFFERENCE when hunting pigs !!! I have been using Norma ammo with the 156 grains Vulkan bullets and honestly I am speachless. They ALWAYS make two holes and leave a good blood trail. My hunting buddy only use his 30-06 (before trying the 6,5 I also use the thirty ought six) and there is NO field difference in killing power which not stops to amaze me..but as I said, I started noticing this thing when I started using the heavy bullets, not before. The lighter bullets kills them also but not near with the same contundence (sp?) I know many hunters in the States prefer velocity and they use lighter bullets but I recommend giving a try to the heavy pills. I am going after pigs once a week and honestly the soft heavy pills MAKES THE DIFFERENCE !!! L | ||
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I like heavy bullets as well. I use the 155 Mega. Where I'll be hunting is wooded so shots won't be far. I used the Mega 2 years ago on a whitetail and it worked great. | |||
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Lorenzo: European hunters have known this for decades....speed isn’t necessarily the magic word in hunting; its HEAVY bullets for calibre such as 155-160 in 6.5x55, 170-175 gr. in 7x64, 196-220 gr. in 8x57 and 270-300 gr. in 9.3x62 and very often you will also get great accuracy with the heavy bullets. | |||
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I've never used my 140 gr 6.5x55 for anything but deer so perhaps you could answer this . How does a premium 140 such as Nosler compare to a standard 156 ? Is the Vulkan a premium ? | |||
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Lorenzo, 6.5x55, 160 gr. Hornady R.N.'s & H-4350 - Wow! Will shoot from stem to stern through any Pig I've ever seen. Penetration is incredible.  Cheers, Number 10 | |||
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Coming from you Lorenzo, it gives heavy weight to the words posted. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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The 156 Norma was my "go to" Deer load for some time. Very European-looking load...1/2 the cartridge length was exposed bullet! | |||
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 EXCELLENT post, Lorenzo! Albeit I do not use one, it is my understanding that for moose (and even bear!) the most common bullet weight in the Nordic countries (SWE, NOR, FIN) is, indeed, 156grs (the legal minimum is 9g or 140grs). The results speak for themselves. As the caliber used to be the Swedish military round, it is little surprise that Norma was for a long time the ammo manufacturer with the most potent loads for the 6,5mm. For sure, they have not become any worse. You use the Vulkan; but the Oryx is really known ans the "poor man's premium" bullet. Today, another popular choice is the Lapua Naturalis. Since the factory load is not moose-legal in Finland, it is often handloaded. I'm also keen on hearing about experiences regarding lighter premium bullets (e.g. Nosler Partition, AccuBond, Barnes X, North Fork) in comparison to heavier bullets. It occurs to me that there are fewer heavy bullets on the market. Then, again, how many good bullets does one need? - Lars/Finland A.k.a. Bwana One-Shot | |||
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Back when surplus 6.5 rifles hit the market I had a couple with 28in barrels. They preferred the 160gr roundnose and I never recovered a bullet from anything. Should I ever get another, it will digest nothing but heavies. I tried 140s but was unimpressed with velocity vs shear killing power of the heavier bullets. Andy We Band of Bubbas N.R.A Life Member TDR Cummins Power All The Way Certified member of the Whompers Club | |||
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Most moose hunters here in Norway prefers the 155-160 grs weight in bullets, most of them using the Mega and the newer Oryx. The only other usable bullet has been the 140 Nosler Partition(in productio ammo)which has a superb precision in most guns, but a less satisfying penetration. The last years some of my buddies have started to use 140 A-Frame's and 140 Woodleigh Weldcores. Both shoving good effect and superb penetration. Better bc stretches the 6,5's long range capabilities  M | |||
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Thought I would share the link to this thread on a 6.5 bullet test. Interesting stuff while we are on this topic. He re-posted the pictures on page 5. http://www.24hourcampfire.com/...php/topics/1481504/5 | |||
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Ah yes a heavy for calibre man. A man after my own heart. Aim for the exit hole | |||
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Scott , according to that test the 140 Nosler Partition is equivalent to the 156 Mega in expansion and penetration ! Keep the info coming ! | |||
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Partitions are always a good choice. It doesn't surprise me that it has similar performance. The Mega does look cooler in the 6.5x55. Just something about those round nose/semi-points. | |||
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mete, I don't know if the Vulkan are premium bullets or not...maybe someone from Europe can tell us that. I think Nosler Partitions are SUPERB bullets. If they made a 160 gr bullet fot the 270 they must provide the 6,5 mm fans a good protected point or semi round nose partition in 150 grains !!!!! That will be THE bullet for the 6,5x55 !!!! L | |||
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Lorenzo, Vulkans are non-premium. Alaskan is their round nose bullets, Vulkan is their protected point and Oryx is their bonded bullet. Here in the states, all Norma bullets are a little high. Online, a box of 156 grain Vulkans are $51 compared to $33 for 160 Interlocks and $39 for 155 Lapua Megas. I've never tried the Vulkan but they sure are a good looking bullet. My Swede is a CZ with a 9" twist so if I go heavy, I have to go Round nose or semi-point. I tried 160 Woodleigh protected points and they would not stabilize. | |||
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I went from the 30-06springfield to the 6.5X55 rem classic years ago, for deer hunting and have not noticed any difference in killing power. The Swede is more accurate, but i have noticed in trying 120,129,130, and 140gr bullets no difference also. If it was used against a tougher animal like pigs then i would go with the heavier bullets, but i would put the 130gr TSX against any 155 or 156gr bullet made today, but hey thats just me....  | |||
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I quit using the Barnes. I used them a lot on my 9,3x62 and my 30-06, sometimes with good succes and sometimes not. I think monolithics are for heavy boned animals, if they don't touch heavy bones they pass through sometimes without opening just like a solid. That's just my opinion.... My friends quit using the 130 TSX after wounding a loosing a couple of animals. Maybe we don't shoot very well but we hunt a lot year round (the few good things about living on a third world country  )We think that premiums or very tough bullets are not often neccesary for what we hunt down here, a good heavy for caliber soft bullet is all we need. Partitions are so good because they offer the best of both, expansion and penetration. My humble opinion. L | |||
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I've ended up using Woodleigh's in everything; 6,5x55, 30-06, 8mm-06, 8x68S, 9,3x62, 9,3x64 and 404 Jeffery With a heavy-for-caliber Woodleigh you get things done... M | |||
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X2 Also here when not using hyper velocity!!  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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I can not remember ever reading a negative post about the Nosler partition bullet. I'd prefer that they didn't shed the front core like they so often do.....but it sure don't seem to hurt their performance any. I has to be among the finest bullets ever designed! The last partition I fired was a 225 grain .358 caliber that hit a bull elk at 301 yards.....It passed through and anchored the bull within a few feet!.....hard to beat that! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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I shoot the 6.5x284 with 140 grain Hornadys and the 120 grain Barnes TSX and just finished building a 260 Remington that I'm trying out with 123 grain Lapuas. Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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I use Lapua Mega 155 grain in my 6.5x55, pushing them at about 770-780m/s. I've only used it on roe deer and wild boar so far but all have been complete pass throughs with very little meat damage. A lot of hunters on my moose hunting team use them to good effect also! | |||
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The reason for not having 150gr bullets are they do not meet the energy recuirement in scandinavia for moose,bear and boar. 140gr nosler partition and monometal bullets have to be (to) heavy loaded for meeting the recuirements. | |||
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Partition is very expensive to here. | |||
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Lorenzo, thats interesting, JJ Hack an African professional hunter believes the TSX and TTSX are perhaps the best bullets ever made. Thats shooting all types of plains game not just heavy boned animals. I dont know how your pigs are constructed but here in the U.S. the Russian species has a very tough cartiledge shield that can stop a lot of bullets from exiting. I dont shoot TSX's at deer any more(but when i did they worked well) because they are not needed, but if i needed a super penetrator in the 6.5X55 it would indeed be the 130gr TSX and i would bet all the empanada's in the world that it would open up and kill quite efficiently. Cant go wrong with a heavy for caliber bullet but sometimes a tough, light weight can kill very well, with a flatter trajectory....Adios mi amigo  | |||
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