550 FS in 6.5x55 for larger game

[Matt85]

hello all, im looking to pick up a 550 FS in 6.5x55 as my "do it all" modern hunting rifle. one thing does concern me though, while my primary use for this rifle would be black and white tail deer I would like the ability to take an elk. ive heard it has had great success taking some large game such as moose but these are more rumors then any actual proof. has any one here used a 6.5x55 swede cartridge to take elk? did you use a heavier bullet or did you stick to the 130-140 grain range?

thanks
-matt

[bobanddog]

Put in for Mountain Goat and Bighorn Sheep tags and use it for them.  I can't think of a better description of a 'mountain rifle' than such a cartridge in a nice compact full stock with a low magnification fixed or variable power scope on it mounted with quick-detach rings and iron sights as a back-up.

As far as elk are concerned, I would prefer something bigger.  I'm not a 'magnumitis' case, I own no magnums.  I've just seen elk take off and cover ground so fast, or put terrain and cover between you, as to be out of effective range before you could ever cycle the action and get off a well aimed second shot.  If your best, most well aimed first shot didn't cut the mustard, and you can track and catch up to them, will you be able to pick out the same animal with confidence from a herd of thirty?
   

[SkodaBrno]

It depends on how confident a hunter you are. My minimum for Elk would be a .270, but a 30-06 looks even better since you can go up to a 220 grain bullet. I believe the max for the .270 is 160 grains. Without getting into the whole .270 vs 30-06 debate, I'd go with the heavier bullet for an animal the size of an Elk IF shot placement is an issue.

[AZ_CZ]

It's all shot placement and terminal velocity/energy. If you shoot anything in the right spot with the right bullet going fast enough it will die. The exception is dangerous game when you have to factor in will it die fast enough.

The swede is plenty of caliber for elk if you take the right shot and limit you range. Plenty of moose have died to prove it. I would have got one years ago but shots can easily stretch out 300 yards in the desert. Plus I love my 308 calibers.

I say buy IT then get a 300 mag later if you feel under gunned, that Will "do it all". I would also recommend the 375 HH mag but don't want to start a caliber war. 

[ZG47]

The 139/140gr bullets actually have a tendency to go straight through red deer (especially chest shots on spikers) because they are designed for moose (elg) and Scandinavians are quite happy to use the 6.5x55 with 139 to 156 grain bullets on moose. Sierra bullets might be a little softer than the others but ... in the end, it is where you hit them that counts the most.

NB The 6.5x55 with 120gr projectiles will do everything that the .25-06 can do, with less noise, less muzzle flash, less powder and longer barrel life. Add another 19 to 36gr of bullet weight and you are into a whole different level of performance.

[AZ_CZ]

Should have mentioned this caveat to keep in mind. When you are looking at ballistic tables USA manufactures reduce load the caliber due to old surplus rifles. European products run hotter. In a new CZ action you could shoot any modern load safely.

[ZG47]

Should have mentioned this caveat to keep in mind. When you are looking at ballistic tables USA manufactures reduce load the caliber due to old surplus rifles. European products run hotter. In a new CZ action you could shoot any modern load safely.

Also undersized U.S. barrels from independent makers, 7mm* and 6.5** in particular. Even CZ doesn't make 7mm barrels smaller than .285 groove / .275 bore ; except for 7mm Rem. Mag. which has a .284 groove BUT .277 bore.

*Maximum outside bullet diameter for original 7x57 roundnose military projectiles is: 7.25mm / .2859 inches. Nick Harvey of Australia, possibly the oldest working gun editor in the world (and a highly successful roo shooter before concentrating on journalism) recently wrote about a very accurate Ruger 7x57 bolt action with .2865 groove diameter factory barrel.

**Norma gunsmiths, to the best of my knowledge, still do a steady trade correcting undersized U.S. chambers in rifles marked 6.5x55.

NB I concede that Europeans can be just as bad with tight barrels for U.S. chamberings, my own .30-06 is mostly restricted to boat-tails for that reason and the long-withdrawn Mateba competition revolver is another good example of such nonsense.