Thread: 6.5x55 factory ammo

Hope this is the right place for this .

What is the best option for 6.5x55 factory ammo .
My research tells me that the factories keep the loads very mild because of the abundance of old rifles in this caliber.
Is there a full steam factory load and what are its ballistics ?

Thanks

Ken

"Full steam" ammo is likely going to be European. Norma makes some. The calibre is still popular in Europe and modern rifles chambered for it are reasonably popular. The US doesn't really find it popular as a sporting calibre so you tend to find more old mil surp there hence the "softer" loads so they dont get sued.

My old one really liked the Sellior and Bellot, which was handy as it was also relatively inexpensive. (I dare not say cheap with ammo....)

https://www.norma.cc/us/Products/Hun...ler-Partition/

The privi partizan stuff is also pretty good.

I like the Norma Vulkan and Oryx 156 grain very accurate and performs well in my Sako 75

The Norma training ammo is cheap and shoots amazing in all the 6.5s I've seen, while its going along pretty slow it kills well.

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Originally Posted by BRADS

The Norma training ammo is cheap and shoots amazing in all the 6.5s I've seen, while its going along pretty slow it kills well.

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Yes and the brass is good for reloading I have quite a bit of it, The Lapua Match stuff is very good as well I heard that the 139 match load kills
deer well but have not tried my self.

Thanks for the replies fellas.

I’m trying to do my homework on a new barrel for my R93 and I’ve been offered a 6.5x55 barrel at a good price .
Its just not a caliber I have any experience with and my early research cast doubt on its ballistic performance because of all the rumours about it being loaded so mildly.
There seems to be talk on the interweb of over penetration in some cases due to heavy bullet weight to bore size and moderate bullet speed .
Any opinions on this or is it just interweb caliber bashing ?
Everything else seems to be in its favour , low recoil , availability of ammo etc .
Any thoughts or observations would be appreciated .

Ken

well they do use it on Moose over there

They are accurate, especially in the modern rifles my tikka shots really well,they are soft on recoil, deadly on deer size animals, have very good BC in a lot of different bullets available today. The 6.5x55 is also known for great penetration, hence its use on moose in Europe.

I use Federal Power-Shok
Kills quite consistently

Originally Posted by Ground Control

Thanks for the replies fellas.

I’m trying to do my homework on a new barrel for my R93 and I’ve been offered a 6.5x55 barrel at a good price .
Its just not a caliber I have any experience with and my early research cast doubt on its ballistic performance because of all the rumours about it being loaded so mildly.
There seems to be talk on the interweb of over penetration in some cases due to heavy bullet weight to bore size and moderate bullet speed .
Any opinions on this or is it just interweb caliber bashing ?
Everything else seems to be in its favour , low recoil , availability of ammo etc .
Any thoughts or observations would be appreciated .

Ken

They are an under rated calibre. It is well suited to NZ hunting. My one is very easy to shoot well. I would say grab it. My view is it is slightly narrower than a 7mm08 but far nicer to shoot and every bit as effective. It can be loaded with light bullets and used for varminting and would be nearly as good as 243 at that, and it can go to heavier ones. Most use around the 140gr with great success. They are an inherently accurate cartridge with the longer projectile being very stable in flight.

I would say grab the barrel before the owner comes to his senses and asks for a fairer price.....you wont regret it.

Thanks for the feedback guys .
I have purchased the barrel and now just have to wait for it to arrive .
While I wait I will buy a selection of ammo to try .
Does anyone have any experience with the factory offerings in the 120gr - 130gr projectile size ?

Ken

I used the fiocchi 140gr sst. Cheap and good from lock stock and smoking barrel. The ssts are good and didn't pencil through at lower velocity/longer range

Wild outdoorsman has them for $45 per box

Mine really liked Sellior and Bellot but they were 139s. I paid around $35 per box but that was a while ago now. The ones I have seen and used, dont seem fussy on ammo and were accurate with whatever I fed them.