I already hunt with a 6.5x55 encore rifle and was thinking about using it in an encore handgun next season. Does anyone have any experience with this round out of a handgun? Will there be any performance lag from a 15" barrel?

I do not have one yet, but one is ordered. I expect it to perform similar to the 260. I expect good performance & think that you will be happy with it.

I have had plenty of experience with 6.5 JDJ in contenders. Excellent round and the 6.5 bullets perform very well at about 2400 fps. The 6.5x55 in the encore will likely give you another 100 fps.

Good luck.

I am guessing around 200-300 fps difference between rifle and pistol length barrels.

I too hunt occasionally with a 6.5x55 swede on a sportered Mauser,can vouch for the accuracy-shoots 1/2" 3 shot groups any time I wanna hunker down,clean kills deer at any distance I feel comfortable shooting them at. As to handgun,I agree w/Ernie as to the velocity drop loosing barrel length w/a factory type load-and agree with wtroper that the 6.5 JDJ in the short barrel will put You back up there.
I'm presently shooting a 12" 7x30 waters G2 Contender and wanna get a 6.5 JDJ to use on deer and bear here in N.E.Pa. Just my 2c. Shane

I have a 15" MGM barrel in 6.5x55 and get .445" groups (Center to Center, 3-shots)with the 140gr A-Max and H4895. I'm not a long range shooter, but at my self-imposed 250yd max range, it'll do the job. Never chronographed the load, and my barrel does have a muzzle-brake. I shoot the same load in a Custom 96 carbine and a Ruger M77. Can't see much difference in its ability to kill deer at the distances I shoot deer.

Thanks for the info. How would the recoil from the 6.5x55 handgun compare to my Super Blackhawk .44 mag with a 7.5" barrel?

Should be lighter than the 44

I haven't noticed much difference, but I'm not recoil sensitive.

Thanks for the recoil update. I wasn't recoil sensitive until after my last deployment. My elbow and upper arm is healed but I can tweak it if I'm not careful. I hope to work up to hand cannons one day.

Sorry you had to pay the price of freedom, thanks for your service! The 6.5X55 has always enjoyed a rep for accuracy. Good shooting, best of luck.

If you go with the Sweede, get a brake and it'll help with the recoil.

Thanks for your sacrifice!!

Thanks for the info on the brake. I will look into that. And 1948ER, thanks for your service and Welcome Home! You guys didn't hear that near enough.

The 6.5x55 swede was used by one of the professional hunters to selectively cull elephants in herds do to its low report and high bullet sectional density, I believe I read this in one of Capstick's books, its been a while since I read this. In other words with proper shot placement its a very capable round pistol or not.