While I personally have never shot anything with a 6,5X55, it has long been a favorite for moose in Sweden and Norway, using mostly 156 grain round nose soft points, especially in first half of 1900s. It is deep penetration that is key, that is, once the bullet is put in right place. Also important to its success is that the light recoil makes accurate shooting much easier than with 8mm Mauser, 30-06, and any of the 7mm, 8mm, etc. magnums. Don't forget that all those Swedes and Norwegians had been trained to use the 6,5X55 mauser turnbolts during their military service.

The early, rather simple design 156-160 grain soft points are what the 6,5X55's excellent reputation is based on, as is case for other, even lower powered 6,5 mm cartridges. Should one chose a 140 grain bullet, I would opt for one of the premium, controlled expansion bullets.

Not so many decades ago, 6,5X55, 7X57 mauser and 30-40 Krag were common elk cartridges in places like Montana. They worked well with simple soft point bullets in 160, 175, and 220 grains, especially in Montana's "black" forests.

If I did not have nice 7X57, 7X51 and 7X57R chambered hunting rifles, I would likely have a nice 6,5X55 turnbolt hunting rifle.

Niklas