6.5x55 vs 25-06

[Jeron Kahyar]

I tried a search but came up short handed. I know there is always a this vs that thread going but I haven't found one with quite what I’m looking for.

So here goes. I'm looking into purchasing a new rifle and have narrowed it down to 1 of 2 cartridges, the 6.5x55mm and the 25-06. Now I’m just can't seem to decide which one, so was hoping to get some opinions.

Rifle will be used for mostly Deer with a good helping of Yotes. I do hunt elk/moose occasionally and would like it to be capable of taking along (I do have others to fit this role if need be). All shots on game animals are under 300M and most less than 200M. I do like to have some fun at the 500M mark with paper/steel though.

Looking to get a relatively flat shooting round without any sort of magnum and nice low recoil to shoot it all day.

Quick link to a ballistics chart for some of the weights I expect to try out in each caliber.

Ballistics Chart

Any thoughts you have would be great. Any thoughts of which rifle you may think is good in these calibers would be good as well. I have a few in mind but having more rifles to look at is always nice.

[catnthehat]

Owned and shot both a lot, still have a few 6.5X55's.
many prefer the 25'06 however.

For super long range accuracy the 6.5 bullets have it, for normal hunting ranges the jury is out, both do well, but I like big bullets , so prefer the 6.5
Cat

[Bolete]

The 6.5 would handle the bigger game better - heavier bullet. The 25-06 would be closer to a true varmit rifle if you shoot a lot of coyotes.

[foxhunter540]

i'm with cat on this 6.5 little bigger bullet for that carry along for moose and elk i have both guns and love shooting them nice light recoil

[Mayhem42]

Well, this holds a bit of close one to me, I personally shoot and hunt with land cannon's...not a secret. My dad use too and now has nothing but two 6.5's, his dad before him, gave up everything for his 6.5x55 fwt (which I have and acquired one more for yours truly); my brother and niece use them religiojsly on the Van Island.
My granddad faught for seaforth highlanders and fought on many fronts and taught shooting and judging distances at night. He always said you cannot beat the 6.5, and on the swede frame was extremely under rated...I have seen this round take some animals probably to far away, I have watch an old man put 3 rounds into a moose's head/neck that was wounded at over a thousand yards. I still prefer my 416 wby, but I know two old men, one still with us that long prefer the 6.5x55. Excellent round, well proven the world over, inherently accurate, and if you use 215 primers and reloader 22 one hell of little whump hahaha...(Dad forgot his ammo one time)

My opinion, not that it matters, my dad and his dad's opinion..6.5x55

[flipper62]

Go with the 6.5x55.
No if and or but it has the 25-06 beat hands down for larger game. There are 95 grain V mas bullets available as well for varmints. Hornady sell a 140 SST in their Superformance line, my Tikka shoots a 3 shot 5/8" group at 100 yards with load.

[Traps]

I recently looked at both and I was going for the oh six. I ended up instead with the swede, it more versatile and it has much less muzzle blast. It also doesn't make as much blood shot meat as the 25.

[Jeron Kahyar]

Thanks for all the replies. I am currently leaning towards the 6.5.

Anybody with some experience with this caliber and shooting the longer 140/150gr bullets? Will a 1-9 twist stabilize them?

Thanks
JK

[DaleJ]

6.5 bullets in 140/150 gr need 1:8 twist to stabilize. 1:7 twist will stabilize everything. If buying a newly manufactured rifle 6.5 X 55 SE ammo is loaded to higher pressures than the 6.5 X 55 Swede ammo.

[Jeron Kahyar]

Originally Posted by DaleJ

6.5 bullets in 140/150 gr need 1:8 twist to stabilize. 1:7 twist will stabilize everything. If buying a newly manufactured rifle 6.5 X 55 SE ammo is loaded to higher pressures than the 6.5 X 55 Swede ammo.

That's fairly disappointing to hear. I was really liking the look of the CZ 550. It runs a 1:9 twist and I'm hoping to shoot 140's for the larger game.

[6.5 shooter]

I am shooting 140 gr. Bergers out of my Sako grey wolf with a 8.5 twist and no problems. I also shoot a 95gr. Hornady V-Max as well, really accurate and heck on yotes but, not to fur friendly.

Choose the 6.5 and don't even look back at the 25-06

[Traps]

http://www.riflebarrels.com/products...wist_rates.htm

Looks like some 140's are ok for a 1:9, but this is mainly determined from bullet length, so bullet dependent.

A 130 grain TSX bullet is 1.326" long and they recommend a 1:8.5 twist.

The 140 in partition, hornady interlock, aframe, speer deep curl, and Sierra gameking would work, it probably wouldn't work for the 140's in accubond and hornady amax.

If it were me I'd look for a 1:8 twist rifle and shoot lighter barnes bullets.

[Faststeel]

Originally Posted by Jeron Kahyar

Thanks for all the replies. I am currently leaning towards the 6.5.

Anybody with some experience with this caliber and shooting the longer 140/150gr bullets? Will a 1-9 twist stabilize them?

Thanks
JK

The 550 will handle any bullet you care to feed it, them Euro's make rifles very well. FS

[Faststeel]

dick 284 is an accomplished shooter and loves 25-06. he shoots moose and elk with his rifle and kills em dead with the 100gr TSX bullets. You wouldn't be anymore inclined to take a marginal shot with a 6.5x55 over a 25-06. I have both of these calibers, my 25 was in a HB sako, a Tikka SS over Lam. and my 6.5 is in a Steyr Prohunter.
Usually when a fellow has never taken a game animal with a 25-06 and does so he seems some what surprised just how well the smaller diameter bullet kills.

For me I like the seemingly way less recoil produced from the Steyr but then again I'm over 55 and who needs any extra recoil, not me.

A bud of mines wife shoots a 257 Roberts and she has hammered big mulies with 1 shot with a 117gr bullet, deader than a smelt. So in terms of doing the job one shouldn't feel too undergunned with a 25-06 esp. if you practice and and practice and practice. FS

[Jeron Kahyar]

Originally Posted by Faststeel

Usually when a fellow has never taken a game animal with a 25-06 and does so he seems some what surprised just how well the smaller diameter bullet kills.

For me I like the seemingly way less recoil produced from the Steyr but then again I'm over 55 and who needs any extra recoil, not me.

A bud of mines wife shoots a 257 Roberts and she has hammered big mulies with 1 shot with a 117gr bullet, deader than a smelt. So in terms of doing the job one shouldn't feel too undergunned with a 25-06 esp. if you practice and and practice and practice. FS

I defiantly wouldn't feel under-gunned with the 25-06. I have hunted the past 4 or 5 years carrying a .257 bob and actually quite like it. Have shot everything from big mulies to gophers with it. And have witnessed a moose fall to it as well.

However Im now in the market for a new rifle. Have always liked the look of the 6.5mm and the 25-06. Just not sure if I really want to go with another 25 caliber or something fresh and new. I’m still really leaning on the side of the 6.5x55mm.

Hoping this will fit the role of going out for a week with a Elk or Moose tag as well as hoping to stumble on that trophy whitetail/Mullie. When that doesn’t work out you call a couple Coyotes in. All one trip and all one rifle (I don't like taking a lot of different rifles along if i don't have to).

I have no trouble shooting the larger "cannons" however I much prefer a nice light recoiling cartridge. Who really wants to have a swore shoulder and a minor concussion at the end of a fun day at the range? Not me.

[Faststeel]

Well in a new rifle in a 6.5x55 choices are rather limited Tikka make them. Likely CZ as well or most other Euro manufacturers. FS

[DaleJ]

Originally Posted by Faststeel

Well in a new rifle in a 6.5x55 choices are rather limited Tikka make them. Likely CZ as well or most other Euro manufacturers. FS

Or re-barrel an action you already have. Lots of twist options when you take this route. A 257 cal bullet of 135 gr. would be just as effective as a 264 cal 140 grain. Imagine what you could do with a fast twist 267 Roberts Improved with heavy bullets. I have a 1:8 twist 25 WSSM set up for 1000 yard benchrest that does very well the day before the shoot, but not so good during the shoot.

[Jeron Kahyar]

Originally Posted by DaleJ

A 257 cal bullet of 135 gr. would be just as effective as a 264 cal 140 grain. Imagine what you could do with a fast twist 267 Roberts Improved with heavy bullets.

Who makes a 135gr projectile for the .257 cal?

Edit: This could make the decision even harder now...