243_stalker 0 Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Ive been banging my head against a wall for a week or so and have decided to go for the FAC variation for a 6.5 x 55 rather than a .308 for the Red Deer. Tell me I have made the right move ??? what grain / make do you use on the Reds, I would like to use the Tika T3 6.5 x 55 for foxes through to Reds...whats your thoughts please. not bought the T3 yet but the variation is in for the 6.5. shooting out to a max of 200 yards, has the 6.5 x 55 got the punch required ??? Quote Link to post
bullxryno 21 Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Ive been banging my head against a wall for a week or so and have decided to go for the FAC variation for a 6.5 x 55 rather than a .308 for the Red Deer. Tell me I have made the right move ??? what grain / make do you use on the Reds, I would like to use the Tika T3 6.5 x 55 for foxes through to Reds...whats your thoughts please. not bought the T3 yet but the variation is in for the 6.5. shooting out to a max of 200 yards, has the 6.5 x 55 got the punch required ??? a very good friend of mine has a 6.5 and yes you have made the right choise i have shot this rifle and it is very good round!! iv seen him shoot a red at 370 yards and pull it straight down!!! he has this rifle in a sako model not sure which one but i know its a very good rifle!!! hope you get the rifle you want mate happy hunting Quote Link to post
dicehorn 38 Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Ive been banging my head against a wall for a week or so and have decided to go for the FAC variation for a 6.5 x 55 rather than a .308 for the Red Deer. Tell me I have made the right move ??? what grain / make do you use on the Reds, I would like to use the Tika T3 6.5 x 55 for foxes through to Reds...whats your thoughts please. not bought the T3 yet but the variation is in for the 6.5. shooting out to a max of 200 yards, has the 6.5 x 55 got the punch required ??? a very good friend of mine has a 6.5 and yes you have made the right choise i have shot this rifle and it is very good round!! iv seen him shoot a red at 370 yards and pull it straight down!!! he has this rifle in a sako model not sure which one but i know its a very good rifle!!! hope you get the rifle you want mate happy hunting Another vote for the 6.5 x 55 had mine for 7 years and shoot 60+ reds a year - however not stupid enough to take shots out to 370 yards - have too much respect for the deer I shoot (generally to 200 yards) My rifle is a Blaser R93, my two fellow stalkers have the same calibre both in Styr pro mountain - between the three of us shoot over 200 pa. I reload for their 6.5 s using 120 Nosler BT and one at 129 Hornaday SST If I had to change calibres it would have to be a 308 as both these calibres are slow rounds that have great knockdown power without the meat damage that faster bullets tend to do. A friend of mine whom I am about to mentor is getting a 243 - I will bet within 12 months he will put in a variation for 6.5 or 308 Quote Link to post
mole trapper 1,693 Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 good choice, mine is a Steyr Prohunter stainless, brilliant round, i use Lapua ready rolled 156 grn megas, there aint nothing going to survive that. Added bonus is the recoil is user freindly also. Quote Link to post
243_stalker 0 Posted February 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Ive been banging my head against a wall for a week or so and have decided to go for the FAC variation for a 6.5 x 55 rather than a .308 for the Red Deer. Tell me I have made the right move ??? what grain / make do you use on the Reds, I would like to use the Tika T3 6.5 x 55 for foxes through to Reds...whats your thoughts please. not bought the T3 yet but the variation is in for the 6.5. shooting out to a max of 200 yards, has the 6.5 x 55 got the punch required ??? a very good friend of mine has a 6.5 and yes you have made the right choise i have shot this rifle and it is very good round!! iv seen him shoot a red at 370 yards and pull it straight down!!! he has this rifle in a sako model not sure which one but i know its a very good rifle!!! hope you get the rifle you want mate happy hunting Another vote for the 6.5 x 55 had mine for 7 years and shoot 60+ reds a year - however not stupid enough to take shots out to 370 yards - have too much respect for the deer I shoot (generally to 200 yards) My rifle is a Blaser R93, my two fellow stalkers have the same calibre both in Styr pro mountain - between the three of us shoot over 200 pa. I reload for their 6.5 s using 120 Nosler BT and one at 129 Hornaday SST If I had to change calibres it would have to be a 308 as both these calibres are slow rounds that have great knockdown power without the meat damage that faster bullets tend to do. A friend of mine whom I am about to mentor is getting a 243 - I will bet within 12 months he will put in a variation for 6.5 or 308 thanks for the reply...Tikka t3 is what i am looking at ....is the pro hunter worth the extra £250.00 Quote Link to post
Brummy 9 Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 I use a Sauer 30-06 with 180Gr Federals for all deer. Quote Link to post
SNAP SHOT 194 Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 and one at 129 Hornaday SST the 6.5 is an excellent calibre and the 129 grain sst is an excellent bullet to go with it, you will have no problem taking reds with it... you have indeed made the right decision...... Quote Link to post
sorel-2007 0 Posted February 11, 2009 Report Share Posted February 11, 2009 Had a 243 for last 7 years. Shot Red Fallow Roe and Munties. Great round. Fancied a change and got a 300 win mag. An awsome round once you get used to the recoil. Best decision I've made in a long time. Just as fast and flat as the 243 but in a 308 round with 125grn head. 3600 fps in 308 and 125grn. That's awsome. Polaxes them. Quote Link to post
njc110381 0 Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 I shoot a 6.5, as does my ex-mentor and his mate. His longest shot I think is around 250 yards with his, they don't run far unless they are spooked before they are hit (even my .375H&H let one run about 50 yards after a solid heart shot with a 270grn SP so I guess nothing stops them if they feel the need to run). I think the 6.5x55 is a great choice. It's not a hugely powerful round but it does the job on everything we have in the UK. You don't need a win mag to take Deer (although if they're your thing then why not, dead is dead right?). Ammo wise, I'm using 130grn Barnes TSX in a fairly mild home load. My old mentor shoots 160grn soft points fairly hot. His mate uses 140grn Federal soft point factory ammo. All do the trick. I'm the new boy to the scene so I can't shout too much about the TSX because I don't have enough experience. Both my mentor and his mate have shot hundreds, and neither of them have felt the need to change calibre Quote Link to post
FATCOCKNEY 0 Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 I GOT SAUER 202 6.5X55 SHOOTS ANYTHING FROM FOXES TO REDS 120 NOSLER BT HOME LOADS NEVER FAILS FLAT FAST SUITS ALL DEER IN UK Quote Link to post
dicehorn 38 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I GOT SAUER 202 6.5X55 SHOOTS ANYTHING FROM FOXES TO REDS 120 NOSLER BT HOME LOADS NEVER FAILS FLAT FAST SUITS ALL DEER IN UK Hi Tell me, what powder are you using with the 120 nosler? I spent a long time using different powders to propel the 120 before I started using N160 as have two of my stalking chums in their 6.5 s Peter Quote Link to post
FATCOCKNEY 0 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I GOT SAUER 202 6.5X55 SHOOTS ANYTHING FROM FOXES TO REDS 120 NOSLER BT HOME LOADS NEVER FAILS FLAT FAST SUITS ALL DEER IN UK Hi Tell me, what powder are you using with the 120 nosler? I spent a long time using different powders to propel the 120 before I started using N160 as have two of my stalking chums in their 6.5 s Peter RIFLE IS SAUER 202 OUTBACK EXTREME 6.5X55 NOSLER 120 BALISTIC TIP BOAT TAIL HOGDON VARGET POWDER 38.7 GRNS PLEASE CHECK HOGDON RELOAD SITE INCH HIGH AT 100YRDS INCH LOW AT 200YRDS WORKS WELL FOR ME Quote Link to post
jonher 0 Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 243_stalker I'm British but I live in Oslo, Norway. The 6.5x55 over here is used for game as small as hare and capercaillie up to moose, so I don't think you'll have any problems taking a red with it. If you interested in bullet choice, the Lapua Mega is very popular over here and is used on roe, red, boar and moose! I don't think you'll regret a 6.5x55, I have a Tikka T3 Varmint Stainless in 6.5x55 and I'm very happy with it. At 200 yards it has the punch but you have to do your part with the shot placement Enjoy... it Ive been banging my head against a wall for a week or so and have decided to go for the FAC variation for a 6.5 x 55 rather than a .308 for the Red Deer. Tell me I have made the right move ??? what grain / make do you use on the Reds, I would like to use the Tika T3 6.5 x 55 for foxes through to Reds...whats your thoughts please. not bought the T3 yet but the variation is in for the 6.5. shooting out to a max of 200 yards, has the 6.5 x 55 got the punch required ??? Quote Link to post
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