7x57mm Mauser & 6.5x55mm Mauser

sundowner

April 15, 2003 20:12

I'm curious what is considered to be the maximum effective range of these calibers (provided the person doing the aiming does their part) on whitetail? 200 yards? Is either good for animals larger than your average whitetail?

Thanks....


". . . let me forget about today until tomorrow"

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  Boomerang

  April 15, 2003 20:34

  If you stay under 250 yds on whitetail, then you should be fine. FYI, most of my shots are usually under 100 yds. That is only because that is the way it has worked out, no long shots availed themselves. Both calibers are great whitetail rifles. As for larger deer, I have never had the opportunity to hunt elk or bou. I would say if kept under 100yds with good bullet placement you should be fine there also.
  
  "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed."
  
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  Iroquois Scout

  April 16, 2003 05:03

  Several years ago I was hunting caribou in Canada and one of the local guides put down a very nice bull with the 7X57 at a little over 300 yards. I don't know what bullet weight he was useing, but, most of these people use factory loads, so I would guess the 154 or 175 grain bullet. Anyway, it was a one shot kill. Haveing seen this, I would think that the 7X57 would be capable of takeing any whitetail or mule deer at any range that you would like to try as long as you did your part. After all Bell put down almost 1000 elephant by shooting them up the ear canal with the 7X57 useing the round nose, full metal jacketed 175 grain bullet.

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  JustC

  April 16, 2003 06:55

  My gunsmith has a 6.5x55 , that he has taken a whitetail at over 600yds with. A 142gr or 140gr bullet, will penetrate plenty enough to take whitetail at some impressive ranges. Take that for what it's worth,...the rifle wasn't a surplus mauser, it was a custom rifle. That doesn't however change the fact that the caliber was the same. Shot placement deficiencies is what keeps people form taking game at long range,..not caliber limitations.
  
  I would bet a 150gr pill from a 7x57 would be just as efficient out to a conservative range of 400yds.
  
  why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
  Got Balistics?

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  kingjoey

  April 16, 2003 08:02

  My uncle took two deer in one shot with a 7x57. 170 gr round loaded hot. The bullet went through the heart/lungs of a doe and hit a buck in the neck about 20yds downrange. Both dropped real quick. Both calibers have good penetration and high sectional density.
  
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  pack rat633

  April 16, 2003 13:04

  I've shot game with both calibers. The 7x57mm was a commerical FN with federal 140 gr, Antelope at 300 yrds, side shot, clipped the heart and took lungs out, exited far side.
  
  The 6.5x55mm is my Winchester Mdl 70 with Norma 156 gr RN. I've shot mule deer at 100 yds and antelope at 250 yards with this load, and they just poke right on thru, tremendious penetration!!
  
  Either caliber, in a good rifle with scope, will be good for 300 yard shots at deer, with 139 or 140 grain bullets.
  
  
  
  SEMPER FI MAC, SEMPER FI

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  sundowner

  April 16, 2003 16:51

  Thanks guys . . . I'm excited to see how they both shoot. The 6.5x55 is a Swede M38 Mauser Cavalry Rifle and it is ready to go. I just need to get some glass on the 7x57 Rem 700 Mountain Rifle (no open sights) before taking it out to the range.
  
  
  ". . . let me forget about today until tomorrow"

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  KX500

  April 17, 2003 18:38

  It is my understanding that the 6.5 X 55 is, to Sweden, what the 30.06 is to America. That is very popular, with most hunters not afraid to use it on anything, Moose and whatever.

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  Mobuck

  April 20, 2003 06:08

  I've had a lot of experience with the 7x57 on deer. With the Rem 700 you can get much better performance than the mild factory loads. The Hornady lightmag 139btsp loads are very good. They come pretty close to my handloads with nosler 140 ballistic tips. The Hornady loads advertise 2800+ fps and are in that area with a 24" barrel. I used the 7x57 exclusively for years and never passed a shot for want of performance. I'm talking about hunting close timber and open CRP land with shots over 300 yds. The recoil is much lighter than the 30/06 or 7 mag I used before and results are equal.
  
  Mobuck

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  alaskanman

  April 22, 2003 11:59

  I've used the 7X57 on caribou with factory 140 grain Rem. ammo and moose with factory 175 grain Rem. factory ammo. As long as you're 100 or 150 yards to moose it works great, the caribou you could take a much longer shot if you're careful. Just my opinion.

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  He Dog

  April 22, 2003 13:09

  In Sweden the 6.5x55 is routinely used on red stag (European elk) and moose.

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