[mtnbkr]

Thanks to all who chimed in on the "Help me pick a new caliber" thread.

This is what I decided to get:
Winchester 70 Featherweight in 6.5mmx55 Swede
Leupold VX-I 2-7x33

This will be my deer and informal target rifle. I hunt in the mountains and prefer to walk around instead of sitting in one spot all day. Shots tend to be less than 150yds. I'll be bucking the crowd at camp by not going with a 30cal or larger, but I think this will be more "fun".

Far cry from a Remington 700 BDL in 338WinMag wouldn't you say? ;)

Chris

[cratz2]

Looks like an excellent combo to me! Might chose a Weaver Grand Slam over the Leuy but other than that, sounds like it will be a very versatile rifle.

[HSMITH]

That is an outstanding combo for your intended use. Hope you handload.

[mtnbkr]

Hope you handload.

I do.

Strangely enough, 6.5mm seems to be fairly easy to get here. One of the gunshops I visited in my quest had multiple selections. Between that and the Igman 6.5x55 Swede Softpoint
load being sold at Aimsurplus (7.95 a box!), I should be in good shape until I get the necessary dies and consumables for reloading this cartridge.

I took a look at the Weaver Grand Slam scopes before deciding. However, they're about $90 more than the VX-I. I've used the VariX-II (VX-I by a different/older name from what I've been told) and was very pleased with it.

Chris

[Gewehr98]

You are gonna let us know how it shoots, right? ;)

[cratz2]

Oh, I'm sure the Leupold will serve you very well. Funny thing is, and I guess it's volume-ditictated, but the Weaver 1.5-5x32 is about $20-30 more than the GS 3-10x40.

[cratz2]

Oh, and be sure to watch Natchez for S&B ammo. I've bought several boxes for $6.99. Granted, they are only 130 gr, but they are soft points.

Best of luck. A Tikka Synthetic in 6.5x55 is at the very top of my list of most wanted rifles.

[Badger Arms]

Excellent choice. Being a handloader will help. I'm sure you can silence everybody at camp when you take your first animal.

[WYO]

It sounds fine to me. My only conceptual issue with the "Featherweight" is that I don't think of a rifle catalogued at 7 lbs. as being all that featherweight, when there are so many lighter offerings out there these days, and the standard Rem 700 ADL and BDL in .30-06 are catalogued at 7lbs. 6 oz and 7-3/8 lbs., respectively. If light weight is a part of what you are looking for, you may want to heft one before you buy one. I'm not saying it's a heavyweight, mind you, just not featherweight.

[mtnbkr]

If light weight is a part of what you are looking for, you may want to heft one before you buy one. I'm not saying it's a heavyweight, mind you, just not featherweight.

Yeah, I've actually held the gun. It might only be half a pound lighter on paper than a 700, but it feels much lighter. I took a look at the Model 7 and the Model 700 Mtn Rifle (both in the same weight class as the FW), but neither suited me like the M70 FW.

Chris

[Maestro]

You picked a good rifle in an excellent caliber.It will slay deer like lightening with well placed shots.I'd bust any bear I saw with it also.:)