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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Rifles
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Robie
.275 member


Reged: 04/04/03
Posts: 61
6.5x55 or .270 Win
      #4071 - 27/08/03 04:44 AM

I am looking for a light rifle for use on open-plains / mountains after deer sized game, and reindeer. The 6.5x55 as well as .270 are both classic, and I prefer 150-160 grs bullet weight.
Is the 6.5x55 to light for African game (Thompson gazelle etc)??
Robie

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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39248
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Robie]
      #4076 - 28/08/03 08:17 PM

Robie

I don't think there is much difference between the two. Personally I would go for the 6.5mm but that is just a personal preference.

Tommies? They are vey lightly built and a .243 would kill them well enough too. Same for the duikers, impala, warthog etc. Big Five on this forum - he has been away for a while I understand - uses a .243 CZ on everything from warties and blesbok up to and including eland. I took my eland with a .30-06 but personally do like a little more weight as insurance, like an 8 mm up to .375.

Everyone always quotes Bell and his famous 7x57mm but he also used a .256 Mannlicker Schoenauer, which is in non-British parlance a 6.5x54 mm MS - the same amost as the 6.5x55. He liked to reserve his "big" 7mm for elephant so preferred his meat shooting of buffalo to be done with the 6.5. (note something people always fail to mention he actually used to recommend a 318 WR and a .450 as the ideal battery).

If you take a 6.5 mm (or a .270) do you plan to take a heavier calibre?

What are you planning?



--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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Robie
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Reged: 04/04/03
Posts: 61
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: NitroX]
      #4081 - 28/08/03 11:22 PM

NitroX
I will bring a 8x57IRS., unless I manage to put the .338-06 together.
Robie

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WyoHunter
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Reged: 20/04/03
Posts: 37
Loc: Central Wyoming, USA
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Robie]
      #4102 - 02/09/03 12:21 PM

Robie... I agree with NitroX that both cartridges are about the same. My personal favorite would be the .270 Win using 130 gr bullets for light boned game such as antelope and 150 gr premium bullets for the larger game. The 150 gr Nosler Partition, Failsafe, BarnesX or Speer Grand Slam would give you very good penetration from any shot angle. My personal favorite is the Nosler Partition that I have used for the last 26 years in 6 different calibers with very good success.

--------------------
Hunting's a lifestyle and a passion not a competition!

NRA Life Member

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AdamTayler
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Reged: 22/03/04
Posts: 688
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Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Robie]
      #12636 - 28/03/04 03:22 AM

My pick would be the 6.5x55. One of my hunting partners uses this in a Rem 700 and it drives tacks. As for performance, the two bull moose that I saw him take dropped without going more than 50 ft.

--------------------
It's the journey, not the destination.

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Gibbs505
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Reged: 09/08/03
Posts: 442
Loc: BC, Canada
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Robie]
      #12673 - 28/03/04 08:29 AM

I just love the 6.5x55 and I have two of them, one in full militry wood!
They are tack drivers and could be used for most non dangerious game in my opinion!

--------------------
So I can't spell, so what?

Those who beat their swords into ploughshares, will plough for those who don't!

Those who fail to learn from history will be doomed to repeat it

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atkinson6
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Reged: 26/01/04
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Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Gibbs505]
      #12680 - 28/03/04 02:15 PM

The 270 will out perform the 6.5 anyway you cut it, it holds more powder and is the more powerful of the two..not to say the 6.5x55 isn't a suitable caliber, it is, but the .270 is simply more gun by a substantial amount...

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Gibbs505
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Reged: 09/08/03
Posts: 442
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Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: atkinson6]
      #12682 - 28/03/04 02:21 PM

I certainly respect your opinion but I donot see ant real need for the 270 over the 6.5x55. If I need a more powerful light to medium cartridge then my 6.5 I will go to a 30 cal or 338 cal. Maybe a magnum, or maybe a 06.

I have never shot s 270 and one of the reasons is that I have heard ongoing critism of the 270's accuracy and that it is finiciky over ammumination.

I hasten to add that I am NOT speaking from my own experance with the 270.

--------------------
So I can't spell, so what?

Those who beat their swords into ploughshares, will plough for those who don't!

Those who fail to learn from history will be doomed to repeat it

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475Guy
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Reged: 22/08/03
Posts: 1088
Loc: Kali, US
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Gibbs505]
      #12690 - 28/03/04 02:46 PM

Well, most 270's are sticklers for the right reload. One accuracy load will work in one rifle but is the complete pits for another in the same make and model. The main reason for the 270 was to try and best the 30-06 in every hunting situation. I think that you just take the rifle you just like the most and go with that.

--------------------
Lo do they call to me,
They bid me take my place among
them in the Halls of Valhalla,
Where the brave may live forever.

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Bakes
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Reged: 31/01/03
Posts: 589
Loc: QLD
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: atkinson6]
      #12751 - 29/03/04 09:28 AM

Even with the swede's modest speed, wouldn't the 140gr 6.5 bullet out penetrate the faster 130gr .270?

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atkinson6
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Reged: 26/01/04
Posts: 678
Loc: Idaho
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Bakes]
      #12928 - 02/04/04 02:53 PM

Bakes,
Not applicable with todays bullets, a failsafe, BarnesX, GS Customs, Northfork, or any good super premium will penitrate more the faster you drive it, at least up to a point....Not so with the old standard soft points..

That is yesteryears thinking...

I have shot a lot of .270s and most shot very well indeed, as much so as any other caliber and they kill as well as a 30-06, in fact there is precious little difference in the .270, 06, 280, 7 mag and a host of others except in the minds of some folks.

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AdamTayler
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Reged: 22/03/04
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Loc: B.C.
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: atkinson6]
      #12935 - 02/04/04 04:01 PM

Ray

If there is not much of a difference with these calibres (from 6.5 to 7.62) and todays bullets are of greater construction and performance, does sectional density have any relevance any more?

--------------------
It's the journey, not the destination.

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39248
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Robie]
      #12936 - 02/04/04 04:11 PM

Both of these sound great too. I have been up late at nights reading Aussie PH John Dawkin's book "Rogues and Marauders" where he used a 8x60 mm as his plains game rifle. Same as the 8x57mm.

Along with a 9.3x62 and a .450 double.



--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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ridgerunner_ky
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Reged: 23/01/05
Posts: 44
Loc: Kentucky, U.S.
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Robie]
      #25278 - 28/01/05 03:47 AM

I just bought one of the new 270 WSM a couple weeks ago. Got it zereod in but haven't killed anything with it yet.
A friend of mine has one of the new 270 wsm's identical to it,he had it in his truck with him during deer season and it went off, shot a hole through his block. He was using factory loaded "failsafes" . If it will shoot through a truck block I would guess penetration would be pretty good on plainsgame if I were guessing. Luckily for him he was driving his old truck and not his brand new one.
We joke with him and tell him that he should of tagged it in as a 4,000 pound doe!!

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vapodog
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Reged: 28/12/04
Posts: 237
Loc: Nebraska USA
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Robie]
      #25279 - 28/01/05 07:42 AM

Robie
In reply to:

I am looking for a light rifle for use on open-plains / mountains after deer sized game, and reindeer. The 6.5x55 as well as .270 are both classic, and I prefer 150-160 grs bullet weight.
Is the 6.5x55 to light for African game (Thompson gazelle etc)??



The .270 with 160 particians will do anything in plains game you need to do. Either of these two cartridges can be improved upon with a .300 Mag but of the two.....the .270 works for me.


--------------------

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Riodot
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Reged: 30/07/05
Posts: 29
Loc: Casa Grande, AZ
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: ridgerunner_ky]
      #37906 - 21/09/05 06:55 AM

Ridgerunner

That can happen when you have a loaded rifle in the truck. Always a bad idea. I saw it happen once years ago and never hunted with the guy again.

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26514
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Robie]
      #37909 - 21/09/05 08:04 AM

Robie
In reply to:
-------------------------------------------------------------Robie-------------------

I am looking for a light rifle for use on open-plains / mountains after deer sized game, and reindeer. The 6.5x55 as well as .270 are both classic, and I prefer 150-160 grs bullet weight.
Is the 6.5x55 to light for African game (Thompson gazelle etc)??


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Both are excellent- while I favour the 6.5, it is a handloading proposition unless you've a stock of Norma ammo.
: My new barreled action (1896 m1912) shortened to 22" bl. gets 2,966fps with 129gr. Hornady Interlocks and 2,890fps with 140's, both using Reloader#19. For an exceptional 6.5mm bullet that will go lengthwise through a B.C. Bull Moose, the 120gr. "XLC"FB is hard to beat - and it will break 3,100fps+ if you want it to. (24" bl. Barnes Manual) The 140gr. "XLC" are listed to 2,925fps for even deeper penetration and a BC of .522.- Amazing for less than 50gr. of powder.
: There isn't any "game" difference between that and what the .270 will do, except the .270 requires a bunch more powder. It's only advantage is in good factory ammo availability.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Geronimo
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Reged: 14/04/04
Posts: 83
Loc: Michigan,USA
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: DarylS]
      #37920 - 21/09/05 09:58 AM

FWIW, my son used a 6.5x55 in Zim this summer and made some rather impressive kills. He made one shot kills on Wildebeast(2), one dropped on the spot, the other ran about 200 feet and dropped. He also killed 3 Impala, a Duiker, a Reedbuck, and a Zebra. All were one shot kills except the Zebra, which required a finisher because the first shot was a bit too far back. One of the Impala was shot at 220 paces and the Reedbuck was shot at 270 paces. The load was 140 gr. SAF over RL 22, MV was 2800fps. As many have said, the 6.5x55 seems to kill all out of proportion to what one would expect.

Geronimo

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Ratel74
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Reged: 03/09/05
Posts: 77
Loc: USA
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Geronimo]
      #37961 - 22/09/05 03:33 AM

I am very biased towrds the 6,5 x55 SE. I have made some great shots with mine in a very short period of time. I shoot the Norma 156 grs Oryx and has show increadible accuracy. I have had clients use the 6,5x55 and the 6,5x54 in Africa with excellent results too.

Aleko

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Northman
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Reged: 06/09/05
Posts: 54
Loc: Troms, Norway, 72*North
Re: 6.5x55 or .270 Win [Re: Ratel74]
      #37973 - 22/09/05 09:06 PM

If you handload, I would go with the 6.5-06. If not, 6,5x55.

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