Best 6.5 x 55 commercial round?

[flytie]

Dear All, having recovered from another bout of spinal surgery, and very kindly been taken stalking by friends, I have now applied for my FAC. I have applied for a 6.5 x 55, and aim to buy a moderated tikka lite stainless. Does anyone have one of these in 6.5 x 55? What ammo performs best? Bear in mind I do not reload my own yet, so factory loads only please. I will mainly be after roe, munty, some fallow and foxes.

Many thanks, ft.

[Baldrick]

I believe that StuartP on here has one of the above. I'll be buying my 6.5x55mm soon, and there are a few ardent fans of the calibre on here who'll be able to advise on the best production round for your needs.

[chrisv]

Not sure what will work best in your Tikka, they tend not to be too fussy in 6.5. I always think you're missing out on a lot with a 6.5x55 if you don't homeload because the factory ammo has to allow for old, weak actions, not strong modern ones like the Tikka.

 

Having said that, Hornady produces the Light Magnum, which is a 129 grain SST (Ballistic tip,not everyones favourite) which manages 2664 fps and 2032 ft/lbs (test figures). This beats the standard 140 grain soft point Interlock, 2525 fps/ 1982ft/lbs (factory figures). But if you're not shooting long distances the SP would do everything you want.

A friend of mine finds the factory Federal good.

Chris

[CharlieT]

Sako & Federal are excellent in mine.

[flytie]

I won't be shooting much over 150 yards hopefully as it will be lowland deer and the charlies on the shoot I belong to. I am going for a 6 x 42 Schmidt/Habicht (depending on the deal) so shooting off a gnats knuckles at 300 yards is not an option. I will need a lot of practice on the range too before attempting anything other than close/ish stuff.

 

Ft

[Dunkield]

Federal Classics 140grn in my Tikka :blink:

 

I have also tried Seller & Beliot, terrible, PPU not good in soft point but the FMJ's shoot well, and Remington's possibly the worst of the lot.

 

I can't justify Federal Premiums so I have never tried them but I would imagine they would shoot very well.

 

FT (good to see you back on here) my mate will be selling his S&B 6x42 soon if you are interested let me know and I will put you in touch.

[flytie]

Federal Classics 140grn in my Tikka :blink:

 

I have also tried Seller & Beliot, terrible, PPU not good in soft point but the FMJ's shoot well, and Remington's possibly the worst of the lot.

 

I can't justify Federal Premiums so I have never tried them but I would imagine they would shoot very well.

 

FT (good to see you back on here) my mate will be selling his S&B 6x42 soon if you are interested let me know and I will put you in touch.

Stuart, You have no idea how good it is to still be getting around!

 

I am trying to make up for lost time and fit in as much as possible before I end up in neurosurgery yet again. I am going for a package from Litt's of Newport because the deal they offered me was the best around. I have tried a few 'scopes on friends rifles including one of the new swarovskis, marvellous but more than I want (or can afford) to spend. I am going to buy new because most of the second hand ones I have seen have slight dings on them and I think I would rather trust my money with something that has a guarantee!

 

Have you settled on 140grn as the best for everything? It seems to me that once you zero your rifle it would be best to stick with it, is this what you do?

 

Ft

[njc110381]

I'm thinking of getting a T3 Hunter in 6.5x55 when my FAC arrives. The chap who is helping me with my rifle shooting (I'm clueless when it comes to rifles!) has told me that the 140grn bullets seem to do the best job in the 6.5. As he is a friend of Stuart, maybe they've compared notes :blink:

 

One thing to note is that I've had a chat with GMK (the importers of the Tikka range) and have been told the guns will soon be available with factory threaded barrels, so a moderator can be fitted without the need for screwcutting and a re-proof. I'm going to wait until I can get one of these, as they should be available by the end of the month.

[flytie]

I'm thinking of getting a T3 Hunter in 6.5x55 when my FAC arrives. The chap who is helping me with my rifle shooting (I'm clueless when it comes to rifles!) has told me that the 140grn bullets seem to do the best job in the 6.5. As he is a friend of Stuart, maybe they've compared notes

 

One thing to note is that I've had a chat with GMK (the importers of the Tikka range) and have been told the guns will soon be available with factory threaded barrels, so a moderator can be fitted without the need for screwcutting and a re-proof. I'm going to wait until I can get one of these, as they should be available by the end of the month.

 

Many thanks, that's well worth knowing! As I am waiting for my FAC application to be processed, and I live in the west mercia constabulary area, it could well be some time before it arrives. Apparently the office staff are leaving in droves and there is a huge backlog already. I do not think our FLO (mark hudson) knows weather he is punched, bored or countersunk with all he has to do at the moment. Still, he is a good lad and I will exercise my famous, huge reserves of patience while i wait, gnawing the skirting board, for the postie to arrive with it

 

Only reason I asked about sticking with one round is all the web sites your read with folks saying they use 80grn for fox, 120grn for roe etc etc. I would have thought re-zeroing would be a pain.

 

Ft

[Dunkield]

The chap who is helping me with my rifle shooting (I'm clueless when it comes to rifles!) has told me that the 140grn bullets seem to do the best job in the 6.5. As he is a friend of Stuart, maybe they've compared notes

He was a 160grn fan, but has since come round to my way of thinking so much so he bought (stole!) my remaining 140grn Sierra Gameking heads off me.

You can shoot down to 85grn or up to 160grn with the 6.5, but the 140 will stop anything that walks in the UK, and I would include boar in that, but others may disagree.

Federals site seems to be down at the moment, I was going to link it into here, they only make 6.5 rounds in soft point in 140grn now so they have obviously settled on that weight as the best all rounder as well.

[moses]

I use federal 140grn sp power shocks in my sako 6.5x55.

 

I tried winchester super x 140grn also but, I get better groups with federal although not by much.

 

I have taken fallow,roe and muntjac cleanly with these rounds and i'm pleased with their performance.

 

The federal cost me just under 20 quid a box and I think they are the best you can get for the money.

 

good luck with your FAC

 

moses

[northernchris]

I have used Norma 120 gr BT factory ammo in my Sauer 202 which was pretty good but not near as good as home loads.

 

Chris

[henry d]

Federal Classics 140grn in my Tikka

 

 

Mine too !!

[trakker01]

any onet tried privvy partisan ?? 139g sp ..

[henry d]

No but I used the FMJ`s at Bisley and wasn`t that impressed.

[Dunkield]

I used the softpoints and they were horrible (in my gun)

The FMJ's shoot very well (in my gun)

 

You have to try them for yourself.

 

My gun is a M695 with stainless, normal profile barrel.

 

 

 

Incidently, Federal 140's flattened 6 hinds for us in Scotland over the weekend, so they seem to work all right

[Big Dog]

Federal Classics 140grn SP in my 6.5x55 Steyr Pro-Hunter in SS Barel. I have never used anything else yet but will be reloading this weekend.

 

I think this is a great gun and it come factory screwed.

 

The only thing I may change is the trigger. It is single set or fwd set and therefore I would never use this in stalking. I would like to adjust the trigger and standard, no can do.