Hello Nicholas Barcomb,
Likewise, I have a 6.5x55 (CZ 550 Manlicher Stock, 20" barrel).
I've been looking at the Woodleigh 160 gr Protected Point as well as the original RNSP "Weldcore" bullets as possible replacements for when my supply of Hornady 160 gr RNSP finally runs out (Hornady has quit making them evidently).
Regarding .30 caliber bullets, I have no experience with them over 220 grains.
Seems like heavier than 220 gr would be pretty good if you wished to shoot large PG with a .30-06 at close range.
However, I have had such good results with the 220 gr in Africa that, I probably will never try anything heavier in .30
(I have also used them in .30-06 to good affect here in Alaska where I live).
For my pesos, in the event I want a heavier bullet, I will use a larger caliber rifle.
The rifle and bullet enthusiast PH that I mention from time to time (Hannes Swanepoel) tells the story of a local client (South African) who shot a bull kudu with a .303 British and 215 gr Woodleigh RNSP.
The bullet went lengthwise through the kudu, three quarters of the animal's total length and was found by the skinners, in perfect mushroom shape.
Moral of the story; When using old fashioned bullets, for best results, shoot them at old fashioned velocities.
Regarding the 165 gr bullet for Africa, the range of size among the many diversified species is such that there is no perfect caliber or bullet for all.
Personally, I have only hunted Africa 4 times.
That makes me a beginner but, I had reached the conclusion here at home, well before I set foot in Africa that for large heavy animals, I like large heavy bullets, also that I can use same for small fast animals as well but, the opposite is not always so.
That conclusion has also worked extremely well for me in Africa.
In other words, light fast bullets for large heavy animals can result in stout bones not broken and less penetration than needed.
This becomes very important if hunting things like eland, zebra, waterbuck, blou wildebees and some others.
If however, you are only hunting not so large species (blesbok, reedbuck, springbok and many others among the "deer size" animals and smaller) in wide open geography, a bonded .30 caliber 165 gr likely will work well, perhaps better than most.
Personally, for the .30-06 and hunting African PG, I would suggest 180 gr bullets in open country and 220 in the way more common thornbush or forest conditions.
And last but not least, I feel any .30 load is a bit light for the quartering toward you shot on eland and some other large antelopes because, the shoulder bone is very stout (probably to resist horns of rival males during their breeding wars).
Again, I had excellent results with a .30-06 and 220 gr bullets but I did not try to shoot an eland or zebra with it.
I did work well on blue wildebeest and black wildebeest alike but I still would prefer a larger caliber and heavier bullet (.35 Whelen, or 9.3x62 or .375 H&H, or a couple others (blah, blah, blah).
I talk too much,
Velo Dog.