270/308 OR 30-06?

[gbal]

Well,maybe Terry-but someone raised the issues ....point is to be fair to the 6.5x55 a a stalking option,not so far from the OP?Might as well get it sorted:adopted 1894 by both Norway and Sweden as military cartridge,(at 45000psi),the Norwegians retaining the original in their Krags,but the Swedes later loaded to a higher pressure in their Mausers.In 1990,the NRA of Denmark,Norway and Sweden adopted the common spec 6.5x55 SKAN,as you mention;and this remained in active Swedish service until fairly recently. Surplus Swedish Mausers brouht the cartridge to the US after WW2,and it is now well established and regarded there,as in Scandnavia for deer,and elk.

 

Ackley did try Ackleyising the 6.5-06,but curiously he found no gain compared to the same barrel originally chambered in the 6.5-06,indeed the original had somewhat higher velocities- records are incomplete, but he did not seem to pursue this,with other 6.5s. Maybe the powders available then were not slow enough.Who knows.

 

What is known incontrovertibly is that the 6.5x55 Swedish has been Ackley Improved by (UK) 1000 Bench Rest shooters,with considerable enhanced velocities in custom actions.It's a good cartridge,but ettered now by the still shootable,hotter 7mms,mainly on BC grounds.

 

6.5x55 remains a good deer cartridge,maybe best suited to easy carry rifles,where it's lighter recoil suits.

Amen,but not RIP.

gbal