Buffalo Barbie, 6.5 X 55 "CZ 550" and Elk.

[Just Duke]

Buffalo Barbie and I were reloading a day or so and she ran acrossed some 6.5 projectiles I had left over from canceled Grendal builds and was saying "This would not recoil much would it."
No it wouldn't recoil much. I said.
The projectiles we have a 120 grain Sierra's.
Would it take Elk? she said.
Not sure but the CZ550 is chambered in it and is very reasonable in price.

OK, so I'm sure a well placed shot would do it.
What would you guys say?
TIA,
Duke




http://cz-usa.com/assets/product-images/339/08CZ550AMERICAN__png_800x500_q85.png

[NickSS]

I have a 6.5 X55 CZ 550 and it is a tack driver from the first shot. I mostly use 140 gr bullets for hunting but have used 120 gr Remington bullets that they used in their 6.5 Magnum. They work on elk if you avoid a shoulder shot quite well. I like the 140s better as they penetrate anything and do a lot of damage beside.

[tophet1]

The only animal I have shot similar in weight to Elk is a mature Male Gemsbok. That was with a .308 and 165 Woodleigh. In a 6.5 the 140 would be the better choice but if Buffalo Barbie is a good shot, or you are hunting cows, then the 120 would be fine. No need to push velocity as you will get better penetration without it.

[Lloyd Smale]

Id probably step up to a 140 or at least something more stoutly constructed then a sierra 120. Im sure it would kill elk just fine with a perfect broadside shot but id want a bit more insurance. It would make a great whitetail and mule deer bullet though.

[Just Duke]

Thanks guys. We found some data for the 125 grainers on the Hodgden site.
Looks to be a fast one too! :Fire:
Lucky I have 6 - 8 pounders of Varget left.


120 GR. NOS BT Hodgdon Varget .264" 3.000" 35.0 2579 36,800 CUP 39.0 2812 45,300 CUP


Looks like 2700 would be a good velocity for this one.

[waksupi]

120 is too light for elk. Use 160 gr. bullets.

[spqrzilla]

6.5x55 mm is one of those cartridges that punch above their weight. This is mostly because the bullets are so long, and so have a great deal of penetration.

I've shot cow elk with my 6.5x55 using 140 grain Sierra Gamekings. They worked well. I also respect the 160 grain roundnose bullets out there.

The 120's are a bit light in my opinion, but that does not mean that they cannot do the job.

[Just Duke]

Thanks for all the input.
The wife and I are thinking more towards a .270 for her now after some research and posts here.
I have never had to chase wounded game and don't ever want to.
Blake Stephenson told me about the Winchesters in the "Control Round Feed" and the price is way less than the CZ's.

[Jack Stanley]

Duke , I'm not an elk hunter by nature but I seem to remember people killing elk with a two-seventy using hundred thirty grain bullets regularly . It seems to follow that a six point five , hundred twenty grain at similar velocity would do as well .

Jack

[Larry Gibson]

The Sierra 120 SP is a very thin jacketed bullet. I use it for rock chucks in my 6.5-280 and as a combo varmint/antelope bullet in my 6.5x55 at 2900 fps. It opens very, very quickly. Ergo I would not use it for elk. In the 6.5x55 the 129 gr Hornady SP is about the lightest i would go for elk. I prefer the Hornady 140 gr SP at 2750 fps which is proven deer/bear/elk capable. The recoil of that 140 gr bullet load was/is manageable with very good accuracy for my wife and daughters.

Larry Gibson

[9.3X62AL]

My go-to bullet for the 6.5 x 55 is the Nosler Partition 140 grain spitzer. 2006 season, one went through-and-through a muley buck, and the buck stacked up 20 yards later. With decent placement, I'm sure it would do well on elk--and doesn't push back very hard, even at 2700 FPS. Marie shoots it offhand and benched quite easily.

The CZ-550 is a hell of a fine rifle. If you can find a late-series CRF M-70 at or under a CZ's pricing, snag it--but they are scarce in my area.

[DanWalker]

Ditto to what AL said. If she can shoot, you'll have a dead elk pretty shortly. ANYTHING shot through the lungs dies.
Hit them in the keister or guts with anything, even a super duper ultra mag and they'll run for miles.

[JeffinNZ]

+1 with Dan and Al. The Swedes have been tipping over moose with the 6.5x55 since Adam was in short pants. Nosler partition in right place. Lights out!

[nicholst55]

W.D. 'Karamojo' Bell used a 6.5 of some persuasion to kill a whole bunch of elephants, back in the day. He used a .275 Rigby (7X57mm Mauser) as his 'heavy' rifle!

[JeffinNZ]

Well there you go then Duke. Tell Barbie she can level the next elephant she runs into!! LOL.

[MT Gianni]

Duke , I'm not an elk hunter by nature but I seem to remember people killing elk with a two-seventy using hundred thirty grain bullets regularly . It seems to follow that a six point five , hundred twenty grain at similar velocity would do as well .

Jack

Jack O'Conner said later in life that the 150 gr was probably a better Elk bullet in the 270 than the 130.

[Four Fingers of Death]

You can't go wrong with either the 6.5x55 or the 270. I'd be practising with the light bullets and hunting with heavier stuff.

As to the rifle, the new Winchesters are reasonably expensive here (but I must say nicely done), if they were the cheaper rifle where you are I would get one of those.

Barbie is a classy lady and she would love a pre 64 270, I'm sure. They are a rifle! I have one that is a year younger than me, being built in 1949! It is awesome accurate and a joy to use.

The 6.5s are almost a cult here they are so popular.

[jameslovesjammie]

Duke,

New M70's around here are priced at a 900 and up. CZ 550's are running around 700+. Both are excellent rifles.

I'd also look at the T/C Icon in .270. Excellent bluing, excellent wood, interchangeable bolt handles, scope rail milled into the top of the reciever (which is milled from 1 piece of metal), 5R rifling...a really classy looking rifle at a good price. Plus there is a $150 rebate on them now through TC.

[Doc Highwall]

Question Duke, if Buffalo Barbie shoots an elephant what will be her new name?

[Just Duke]

Question Duke, if Buffalo Barbie shoots an elephant what will be her new name?

She just told me she don't shoot Elephants. She really likes them.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I forgot to mention, we have Sambar deer here, which are Elk sized and the 270 is minimum legal calibre. I suppose when the rules were drawn, there wasn't the vast range os calibres available here. There are some very powerful 6.5s out there and as the 6.5 Swede is the main rifle used to floor oodles of mooses every year, it would be up to the job. Their long thin bullets allow them to punch about their weight it seems. There is a 6.5mm around which is based on the 30/30 case and blown out. I would love one of them for my Encore.

[StrawHat]

Back when the Swedish Mauser were being sold for under $100, the 6.5 was touted as the "poor man's 270". My brother uses one for caribou and larger deer. I believe he uses the 125 Nosler Partition and maybe the 140 NP. The Swedes have been using it for moose and bear and while I may think it is a small bore, the performance certainly is impressive.

[Just Duke]

Thanks all. We decided to go with the .270 Winchester Featherweight.

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/WINCHESTER%2070/M707.jpg


Caliber / Gauge 270 Win.
Item Number 535109226
UPC 048702114694
Action Type Long Action
Magazine Capacity 5
Barrel Length 22"
Nominal Overall Length 42 1/2"
Nominal Length of Pull 13 3/4"
Nominal Drop at Comb 1/2"
Nominal Drop at Heel 1/2"
Nominal Weight 7 lbs.
Rate of Twist 1 turn in 10"
Metal Finish Polished Bluing
Wood Finish Satin Finish
Stock / Grip Grade I Walnut

[Four Fingers of Death]

Good choice Duke! That rifle will handle pretty much anything the pretty lady is going to hunt!

[frankenfab]

I was hopin' you would go with the CZ. I had a 550 in .22-250. It was a LAZER BEAM. The set triggers are really nice. I miss that gun dearly.

[Gee_Wizz01]

Duke;

You made a great decision, the M70 and 270 are great rifles and a great caliber. On the other hand so are CZ and 6.5X55. You couldn't go wrong either way. I am partial to M70 featherweights, as every one I have shot is very accurate.

G

[Freischütz]

I don't know how well the 120 gr hold together on larger animals, but I do know the 140 gr work very well. I shot several caribou with the standard Hornady 140 gr in a M96/38. The ranges were < 100 yds. All shots completely penetrated the animals.