Tika T3 6.55 x 55

I have a few friends with Tikka T3 rifles and all have shown themselves to be very functional and accurate rifles. I almost went with one when I was looking for a new bolt action a year ago.
As for the performance of the caliber, I think the above comments give you plenty to make up your mind.
 
I've only used my 6.5 x 55 on deer sized animals including a number of large hogs. My longest "dead run" was about 50 yards, and that was with low powered factory ammo. Since I began using Hornady Superformance with their SST bullet and or reloading using a Nosler Partition the vast majority of my shots resulted in DRTs.
The additional 300 to 400 fps make a real difference in the 6.5" performance. Good 140 Gr. bullets at almost 2800 fps doesn't leave much on the table.
 
This thread just proves you'll never get concurrence about a cartridge. I will say this thread has more negative comments than any I've ever seen about the 6.5x55. Based on close to ten years of experience with mine and the fact I have taken Nilgai with it, I wouldn't hesitate to use it on kudu if they are roughly the same size as nilgai.

I also believe the 7x57 to be just as good with close to identical performance and if you have one you don't really need the other but I'd like to have both.
 
I have owned a tikka 222 for 40 years .
I have shot hundreds of dear with it .
Cut the barrel down 20 yrs ago as the end was warrn out .
Still love it .
You wont go wrong with a Tikka .!!!!!
6.5 x 55 ?
Love it !
 
I've had a few T3's over the years and still own a Battue. Great rifles. Just make sure you take a spare mag every time you head out into the field. The mags tend to fall out easy. Happened to a friend, his mag actually broke after it dropped a distance onto some rock. 6.5 is great, but you already know that.
 
Been shooting a 6.5 over twenty years now never had an issue with it for dropping deer in the uk it works great I'm thinking of taking one to Africa next year for the medium sized species I'm hunting I really expect it to perform as ever
 
Fiocchi, didn't mean to get your knickers all bunched up! It read to me like it was family members that had shooting problems. No, my shot placement is not always the eye, that just happened to be the only presentable shot on the hog at the time. It was frontal with no clear shot other than the head. Like I said in my post, know your animal, it's vital areas, and know your weapon to place the proper shot and there will be MINIMAL tracking at best. Both of those caribou were dropped on the spot with standard heart/lung at about 50 yds, they just popped out at us as we were pulling up to shore. Caribou are also not that hardy, so maybe that's a bad example, but those were the only trips I had that someone else could photograph. All other times I was by myself and still haven't had a whitetail or black bear run after proper shot placement. It truly is a magical caliber!
 
6.5x55 has counted for numerous moose in Sweden and Norway over the years and still does.
@fiocchi I've never heard that "saying" about the 6.5, as it is highly regarded in many areas. Perhaps you have more experience with hunting in Sweden than me, after all, I left back in 04.
Most moose are shot within 100m, so that may also play a part why it is so highly regarded.
For the sizes of antelope @lucstrydom mention it would probably be a wonderful caliber. If you want to go bigger, just make sure you know the different requirements by Nature Conservation in the different provinces for different animals, Kudu comes to mind.
The 6.5 is famous for the accuracy, but the Springbok may be long shots for you so the performance, not the accuracy, of the bullet on longer ranges other would have to chip in with as I have not witnessed any longer shots on moose.
Tikka is great, an inexpensive option for the SA market with their T3.
Would love to have one myself.

Good luck with choosing the rifle and caliber.

//Gus
 
A tikka T3 light SS in 7mm mag has been my go to rifle for 12 years. I've taken deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, blue wildebeest, oryx, and impala. No issues. My other rifles are lonely.... I'm sure 6.5mm would be fine. But for the bigger stuff getting to 160 grain or heavier slug helps.
 
Tikka's are very popular in New Zealand and those that I know that have them are quite pleased with them. In the 1960s my uncle had a Mod 94 in 6.5x55 and he used the 160 gr RNs for everything from deer to elk. He was a "one gun" hunter in the best sense of the word. I'm certain that you will be happy with both the rifle and the cartridge.
 
I'm not first-hand familiar with the round, but I do know the Tikka to be an excellent rifle. I was thisclose to buying one when I came across the deal I got on my Steyr.
 
I have 3 Tikka T-3 rifles. One is a 6.5X55. It has taken game with no problem and never lost or had to track an animal more than 40 yards.
I have used 130gr Scirocco/120gr A-Frames/100, 125, 140gr Partition/100gr TTSX bullets all with success on different animals. All of my Tikka rifles are super accurate without a lot of load testing.

I would buy it again and love hunting with mine using a Leupold 3X9X40 Duplex reticle scope. If you get one put a Limbsaver Direct Replacement Recoil Pad on it.
 
T3s now the best selling rifle in both New Zealand and Australia. I don't believe any other rifle comes close in terms of sales.....
 
Hi all, im looking at buying a Tika T3 6.55 x 55 , does anyone know anything about this rifle? What do you guys think that I'll be able to shoot with it? It's apparently very accurate even up to long distance which is something that i really like especially when hunting for game like Springbok or Impala.

As the old Indian guide is quoted as saying "Any gun good, shoot'um good".

Use good bullets built for the intended purpose/impact velocity and put those bullets where they belong and you will do just fine with that 6.5x55. It isn't like something magical happens to the effectiveness of a bullet when it jumps from 6.5 to 7mm, most everything else being equal (sectional density, bullet construction and impact velocity).

And truth be told, 99% of us shoot better with less recoil and blast (the other 1% are internet warriors, not mortals like the rest of us).
 
6.5X55!!!!! I get really excited whenever someone mentions those 4 numbers in that sequence! I personally wouldn't trade my 6.5x55 for anything! If you reload, you will get a lot more enjoyment out of the rifle. For one thing, almost all American manufacturers of ammunition load the cartridge wayyyy down. for another, they almost invariably load it too short. Most of them seat bullets to the cannelure. The rifle really shines when it has:
a.) a long throat
b.)fast twist barrel (mine is a 1:8)
c.) modern powder charges to 52-55,000 psi

If you want modern ammo, you either have to buy European made stuff (Prvi, Norma, etc.) or you can use Hornady's Superformance loads.
My load is fairly moderate, either a 120 Barnes TTSX at 2,750fps or a 140 grain partition at 2,600fps. Here's a picture of my 6.5x55. It is a semi-custom Ruger M77 Mk II with a Burris Fullfield II 3-9
upload_2017-10-17_8-42-25.png



A 6.5x55 will take anything in North America, although I would feel better with something bigger for moose and the big bears of Alaska. But I wouldn't hesitate to go after an inland grizzly or elk. The key is to not expect the round to kill quickly beyond 300-400 yards. I never shoot that far anyway as I can almost always get closer once the animal is spotted.

As to expecting a rifle to drop an animal on the spot... I actually started laughing out loud a little. No matter what you hit them with, if you punch even a smallish hole through the vitals you WILL kill them. Cape buffalo were routinely killed with 6.5mm solids through the heart and lungs. Sure you have to track them but most were recovered within a couple hundred yards. The converse is also true. Coyotes hit with a .30-06 still run sometimes, my friend actually hit one (with a .30-06) from 30 feet from his stand last year and tracked it for 175 yards, even though there was lung tissue behind the impact point for 15 feet across the snow, the coyote still ran off. The point is, if you expect a rifle of any caliber, to ALWAYS drop the animal on the spot, I am sorry, you are asking WAYYY too much of a rifle.

6.5x55 has all the killing power you need. If you discount it for elk sized animals (<800lbs) then you would have to discount the .270 as they are almost ballistic twins except the 6.5 probably penetrates a bit better and bucks wind a little better. I know there have probably been innumerable elk killed with a .270 at ranges beyond where I would be comfortable shooting them. If that works, then the 6.5 will certainly due the job if you can shoot under the pressure of that huge 6x6 standing 40 yards from you in dense alpine forest.

Despite all the knowledge to the contrary, people still have a tremendous propensity to blame their rifle or caliber for losing game, or they are just lazy and don't want to track more than 30 yards. Sometimes even incredibly well hit animals run a long way even though their heart and lungs look like jelly. Sometimes they drop on the spot to a seemingly less dramatic wound.

Don't blame the rifle. If you have correctly matched the bullet to the game and sighted in your rifle properly, The rest is up to you. Would I take a steeply quartering shot on a 600 pound elk at 500 yards with one when the light was fading? nope. But if you are willing to wait for a good shot, then it will do the job.

The only caveat I will say is, if you are paying $15,000 for a two week elk hunt and you show up in camp with a 6.5x55, you are really limiting yourself given the short time you have and the massive expenditure to potentially go home empty handed. In that case, I would bring something in the .30+ caliber range. But a 6.5 will do the job on bigger animals if you put the round in the correct spot!

Sorry, rant over.

Pros:
Low recoil and blast
Killing power well beyond what it should be
Penetrates into next week.
Classes up your gun cabinet
sleek, sexy looking shells.
has a heritage

Cons:
There really aren't any if you know where to shoot the animal and more importantly when NOT to shoot the animal.

Pick one up! You will not be disappointed.
 
Last edited:
Hi all, im looking at buying a Tika T3 6.55 x 55 , does anyone know anything about this rifle? What do you guys think that I'll be able to shoot with it? It's apparently very accurate even up to long distance which is something that i really like especially when hunting for game like Springbok or Impala.
Go to http://www.ballisticstudies.com/ lots of great researched advice on most commonly used cartridges. Type 6.5x55 into their search window.
 
Sorry, but I own 2 Tikka T3 Lite SS, one in 6.5 x 55 SE and the other in .30-06 Springfield. I also own a Tikka T3X Lite SS in .243 Winchester. My go to is the 6.5 x 55 SE and have not had to track any animals when using the right load and aiming for the proper spot. Maybe your family members need a little more practice shooting in the proper location on the animal. Don't blame the weapon or the caliber, it's always the shooter!

My Tikka T3 Lite SS w/ Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40mm BDC scope:
mypictures506.jpg


My big game load with 140 gr Hornady SSTs, I have another one with Woodleigh 140 gr PPRNs:
mypictures503.jpg


My Heavy game load with Woodleigh 160 gr PPRNs:
mypictures504.jpg


The little black Russian taken in the right eye (frontal shot @ 25 ft) with 160 gr PPRN (dropped on the spot):
mypictures001.jpg


Caribou number one taken with Hornady 140 gr SST (dropped on the spot):
Caribou%20Hunt%202015%20061_zps6sgycstd.jpg


Caribou number 2 taken with Hornady 140 gr SST (also dropped on spot within 20 feet of nmuber 1):
Caribou%20Hunt%202015%20059_zpsxzettxjc.jpg


If magazine capacity is a problem due to piss poor shooting, get more practice or get a couple extras and load them in your pockets. Good luck, stay safe, and good hunting!

P.S. Yes, I would use the 6.5 x 55 SE on a Kudu with the 160 gr PPRN load and a distance not to exceed 200 yds. That load will meet and in some cases exceed a .30-06 180 gr load due to the high BC of the 6.5 gr bullets. However, you must know your capabilities as a shooter, the cartridge, and weapon.
Where did you get the caribou?
 
6.5X55!!!!! I get really excited whenever someone mentions those 4 numbers in that sequence! I personally wouldn't trade my 6.5x55 for anything! If you reload, you will get a lot more enjoyment out of the rifle. For one thing, almost all American manufacturers of ammunition load the cartridge wayyyy down. for another, they almost invariably load it too short. Most of them seat bullets to the cannelure. The rifle really shines when it has:
a.) a long throat
b.)fast twist barrel (mine is a 1:8)
c.) modern powder charges to 52-55,000 psi

If you want modern ammo, you either have to buy European made stuff (Prvi, Norma, etc.) or you can use Hornady's Superformance loads.
My load is fairly moderate, either a 120 Barnes TTSX at 2,750fps or a 140 grain partition at 2,600fps. Here's a picture of my 6.5x55. It is a semi-custom Ruger M77 Mk II with a Burris Fullfield II 3-9
View attachment 206477


A 6.5x55 will take anything in North America, although I would feel better with something bigger for moose and the big bears of Alaska. But I wouldn't hesitate to go after an inland grizzly or elk. The key is to not expect the round to kill quickly beyond 300-400 yards. I never shoot that far anyway as I can almost always get closer once the animal is spotted.

As to expecting a rifle to drop an animal on the spot... I actually started laughing out loud a little. No matter what you hit them with, if you punch even a smallish hole through the vitals you WILL kill them. Cape buffalo were routinely killed with 6.5mm solids through the heart and lungs. Sure you have to track them but most were recovered within a couple hundred yards. The converse is also true. Coyotes hit with a .30-06 still run sometimes, my friend actually hit one (with a .30-06) from 30 feet from his stand last year and tracked it for 175 yards, even though there was lung tissue behind the impact point for 15 feet across the snow, the coyote still ran off. The point is, if you expect a rifle of any caliber, to ALWAYS drop the animal on the spot, I am sorry, you are asking WAYYY too much of a rifle.

6.5x55 has all the killing power you need. If you discount it for elk sized animals (<800lbs) then you would have to discount the .270 as they are almost ballistic twins except the 6.5 probably penetrates a bit better and bucks wind a little better. I know there have probably been innumerable elk killed with a .270 at ranges beyond where I would be comfortable shooting them. If that works, then the 6.5 will certainly due the job if you can shoot under the pressure of that huge 6x6 standing 40 yards from you in dense alpine forest.

Despite all the knowledge to the contrary, people still have a tremendous propensity to blame their rifle or caliber for losing game, or they are just lazy and don't want to track more than 30 yards. Sometimes even incredibly well hit animals run a long way even though their heart and lungs look like jelly. Sometimes they drop on the spot to a seemingly less dramatic wound.

Don't blame the rifle. If you have correctly matched the bullet to the game and sighted in your rifle properly, The rest is up to you. Would I take a steeply quartering shot on a 600 pound elk at 500 yards with one when the light was fading? nope. But if you are willing to wait for a good shot, then it will do the job.

The only caveat I will say is, if you are paying $15,000 for a two week elk hunt and you show up in camp with a 6.5x55, you are really limiting yourself given the short time you have and the massive expenditure to potentially go home empty handed. In that case, I would bring something in the .30+ caliber range. But a 6.5 will do the job on bigger animals if you put the round in the correct spot!

Sorry, rant over.

Pros:
Low recoil and blast
Killing power well beyond what it should be
Penetrates into next week.
Classes up your gun cabinet
sleek, sexy looking shells.
has a heritage

Cons:
There really aren't any if you know where to shoot the animal and more importantly when NOT to shoot the animal.

Pick one up! You will not be disappointed.

I agree with everything here. The only exception would be the moose. Every moose that I have shot or been in on die very easily. They aren't tough at all given the size of them. From what I've heard of bull elk, they are much tougher than a moose. I also have no experience with the 6.5x55, but again have spoken with a lot of gun guys with vast hunting experience and have heard nothing but good about them. I'd sure use one if I had it.

As for the rest, you are right on the money.

P.S. - I noticed that I was like #308 for you. That's 3 numbers in a row that get me very excited! Lol.
 

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