First hunt with my Ruger African 6.5x55

[Wade J VanGinkel]

Well after a couple years of owning it I finally took the little rifle out hunting this year. I never took it before as I prefer bigger calibers for serious hunts and had very little experience with anything that small.
But I drew a doe tag and decided this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out.
It's topped with a Leopold freedom 4x12.
Compared to my 7mag this rifle carries like a feather and was quite delightful for the short hike I took it on.
I shot a nice doe in the neck at 165 yards using cheap ppu 140gr soft points. Dropped like a rock.
I hope to take it out more in the future if I get similar tags here in Colorado or elsewhere.

Sadly after I shot the doe I had to watch a 180 class 6x5 in full rut stroll by at 30 yards. I had filled my buck tag the night before on a far smaller buck.
I'll attach the pictures of all the deer we took in less than 3 days hunting this year for the whole family. Best year I've seen in my area for buck numbers in a very long time. But also the first time the rut hit just as the season opened.
All the other deer were taken with 7mag, 30-06, and a 300 Winchester. By myself, my grandson, my son, and his wife.

 

[meigsbucks]

Congratulations on breaking in the 6.5. Sounds like your freezer is getting full.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

Congratulations on breaking in the 6.5. Sounds like your freezer is getting full.

It will be after we spend the next several days cutting meat. Lol
At least half will be made into Jerky though

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Excellent report and results. Looks like your family thinned the deer herd a bit. Congratulations to all!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

It will be after we spend the next several days cutting meat. Lol
At least half will be made into Jerky though

@Wade J VanGinkel
As they say the real work begins after the shot but it's well worth all the effort. Eat well mate and enjoy.
Bob

 

[Ragman]

The big ones always stroll by without a care in the world after you fill your tag on a smaller one. Same thing happened to my Dad this past weekend!

 

[rdog]

Well after a couple years of owning it I finally took the little rifle out hunting this year. I never took it before as I prefer bigger calibers for serious hunts and had very little experience with anything that small.
But I drew a doe tag and decided this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out.
It's topped with a Leopold freedom 4x12.
Compared to my 7mag this rifle carries like a feather and was quite delightful for the short hike I took it on.
I shot a nice doe in the neck at 165 yards using cheap ppu 140gr soft points. Dropped like a rock.
I hope to take it out more in the future if I get similar tags here in Colorado or elsewhere.

Sadly after I shot the doe I had to watch a 180 class 6x5 in full rut stroll by at 30 yards. I had filled my buck tag the night before on a far smaller buck.
I'll attach the pictures of all the deer we took in less than 3 days hunting this year for the whole family. Best year I've seen in my area for buck numbers in a very long time. But also the first time the rut hit just as the season opened.
All the other deer were taken with 7mag, 30-06, and a 300 Winchester. By myself, my grandson, my son, and his wife.

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The 6.5x55 is one of the best hunting & target cartridges for medium game i have been using one from the 1970s.