ok, let me preface this by saying I like the 6.5x55 better than most anything else, but it does have limitations. Velocity is one of them; about the best you're going to get out of a functional, practical barrel length is 2650-2750 fps with a 140 gr. bullet. It's not a hyper-velocity round by any means unless you find a 100 grain bullet and then you give up a significant amount of the benefit of the wonderful sectional density and b/c you have with those sleek pencil bullets. One good thing about the caliber is the drop at range, which is every bit as flat shooting as a .270 Winchester if not maybe better.
Obviously, powder consumption is much less than the .25-06 as is perceived recoil in a same-weight rifle. The case holds about 8% less on average than a .308 Winchester. The 140 grain bullet really shines on penetration. Reports from Scandinavia report deep Mexican heart shots on moose that sometimes go all the way through from stern to stem while expanding all the way like nobody's business. Thor's hammer, indeed. Granted, Scandinavian moose are significantly smaller than the North American variety, but they're still as big as a medium size horse.
Now to the .25-06. Obviously it's gotten a lot easier to find in stores since Remington legitimized it in their rifles some years ago. You can even find it at WallyWorld (take that, Swede!) and it comes in several bullet weights for various game, from 87 grain to 120 gr and higher. Velocity, velocity, velocity. You have a substantial amount of powder behind a smallish bullet that steps lively to the tune of that big boomer. Your shoulder will readily remind you of that after a day on the bench with a light rifle. S/D and B/C aren't as snazzy as the 6.5, but they're wholly adequate, believe me. One thing the 25-06 can offer is versatility. You can hunt South Texas whitetails in the early morning with 120 grain pills then call in coyotes with the 87 grainers that afternoon. I've always been impressed with that aspect of it; you can do a lot with one gun.
NOW...I have a couple of friends who have novel solutions to this conundrum. 6.5-06. Talk about versatility, accuracy, and all-around shooting machines, that's it. Trouble is, you're in the same boat as the Swede shooter; lower availability of ready-rolls unless you make your own. In fact, no commercial loader (that I'm aware of) loads 6.5-06. Still more recoil than the Swede, but thereagain, you have something uniquely yours that you still can't buy shells for at Academy.
Come to think of it, .260 Remington is about the same thing, isn't it?
oops...nevermind.
Regards,
Rabbit.
"If we could just get everyone to close their eyes and visualize world
peace for an hour, imagine how serene and quiet it would be until
the looting started..."
