6.5x55 any good for deer

[Turpentine21]

Just so happens I learned that the hard way a couple weeks ago. I was out Mule Deer hunting with the .308 AR10 I built loaded with Hornady Superformance 150gr SST factory ammo when a 6x6 Elk presented itself. At 300yds all the shoulder shot did was make the poor fella limp. The 250yd hit through his spine ½ way between shoulder & head fortunately dropped him like a sack of potatoes. Had I had my 6.5x55 with the 140gr Berger VLD Hunter round I've developed, I have little doubt his heart would've been pulverized with the 1st shot.

One is a light for caliber short bullet. The other a heavy for caliber long bullet. There's a substantial difference in sectional density and penetration potential there. That 150 Sst isn't great on penetration on heavy game. It works fine for whitetails at sane velocities. If elk were in the cards I'd prefer a substantially heavier bullet in the 308.

 

[akdad]

Hespco,
Congrats on the deer but I don't think that rifles enough for elk you better trade it to me

 

[Hespco]

Hespco,
Congrats on the deer but I don't think that rifles enough for elk you better trade it to me

Maybe Santa will bring you one for Christmas.

 

[Wilderness Blacktail]

just had a successful hunt with a 6.5Creedmoor. Nearly everyone in camp had a 6.5CM. 12 deer shot, all one shot kills at ranges out to 275yds. So your 6.5x55 pushing a bullet faster than the Creedmoor can, has to be able to perform to your expectations. Let me also add that all rifles in camp were 1:8 twist and there was quite the selection of bullets being used, from Hornady ELD and ELDx, Nosler partitions and accubonds, Hammers, Barnes, Swift......

Nice! 2900 with the 127LRX is totally 6.5Creed territory with a few diff powders tho.

 

[MTsmith]

I personally have shot two elk with 6.5x55 swede, multiple antelope, multiple mule deer and whitetail deer. It is more than adequate for western hunting purposes. The creed essentially just was reinventing the wheel. With handloads, a 140 grain accubond at 2780 fps kills very effectively.