6.5 x 55 All round hunting cal.

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Timradcliffe345

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Ive been looking at the ballistics of the 6.5 Swedish and they're pretty decent for medium to large sized North American Game (with the right loads) -not to mention the very controllable recoil. My question is what reputable manufacturers construct a good platform to launch this from? I know Husqvarna and Sako have the 6.5 Swedish in their lineup. Are there any American made guns in this cal? What loads would you recommend for hunting deer and plinking with in this caliber? Also, how much should I exepect to pay for 20 rds of hunting quality ammo? Thank you as always.
 
The only American-made rifle I know of in 6.5x55 is Ruger. I would steer clear of them though, not the best accuracy.

Both Tikka and CZ make a very nice bolt-action in 6.5x55 for around $500. You can get the Tikka in stainless/synthetic or wood/blued, but the CZ only comes in wood/blued.

For plinking, go for the Wolf Gold line of ammo made by Prvi Partisan. It runs about $.50 a shot and the brass is good quality to reload with. This comes in FMJ or soft point so you could use this for hunting too.
 
Winchester chambered the Model 70 Featherweight in 6.5x55mm for several years. You may be lucky enough to find one floating around. If you do, grab it up...

Although not American made, the Howa 1500/Lightning was chambered in 6.5x55mm for a few years. I'm not sure if it's currently so chambered. It's about the best value out there...

And you're absolutely right, the 6.5x55mm is the best cartridge on earth...

:)

Forrest
 
When looking for a 6.5, I called the company and asked about the Howa because no one had any in stock and no one was shipping them. The guy from the company said they have been having some accuracy issues with the 6.5 and the problems were coming from the plant in japan that made the 6.5 rifles. He said it would be a few months(6+) before the problem(s) were fixed and no other 6.5's were going to be shipped until then(this was 2 months ago).

Winchester, Remington and Ruger used to chamber this round.

Only 2 others i could find that still made(current production) the 6.5 swede was tikka and cz. Ended up with the CZ. Smart choice.
 
A sadly, neglected cartridge here in the US

Remington Classic had a year long production of them in '94. They sometimes can be found for sale. I don't think I've ever heard of someone not liking them.
Howa no longer chambers their 1500 series in the swede. I've never actually run across one and I always keep my eye out for swedes.
You may be stuck going european on your quest. Tikka makes a pretty good rifle, I don't like their looks, minor quibble.
The CZ-500 American can be ordered in 6.5
Nice looking rifle and the price is decent. That's what I'd look into when buying new.
 
You could always buy a Savage long action, and then spend $300 on a pre-fit Shilen barrel. Put it on yourself in 30 minutes. I bet that would shoot pretty well.
 
The 260 Remington is almost identical to the 6.5x55 and fits in a short action rifle. If you handload, the 6.5x55 will get you more horsepower in a modern rifle. Factory loading are meant to be safe in old small ring Mausers. If you don't handload, 260 and 6.5 are virtual twins.

260 can be had in Remington, Ruger and a variety of other makers.
 
The 6.5 round is highly under rated. I shoot a 6.5-06 and I LOVE it!

I wish I could offer you some solace on the Swede round, but unless you reload and/or custom build a rifle, you'll be hard pressed to pull off a satisfying end result.

But if you do, you'll be delighted.
 
also , if you go to gunshows, you will see remfgr of the old carl gustavs, redone by both Howa and Kimber. You can usually get them in a package rifle, for about 400 bucks. i would get one, no probs.
 
6.5x55 is a great round, it really shines with handloads. Hard hitting, low recoil and great ballistics. I would pick it as one of the best medium game calibres available.

Oh and for the rugers are inaccurate crowd:

ruger223.jpg
 
6.5x55 is a great round, it really shines with handloads. Hard hitting, low recoil and great ballistics
Click to expand...

Im surprised not more rifles are chambered for it, considering how versatile it is. In fact, if restrictions were ever put in place were one could only own one centerfire rifle, one could do a lot worse than a 6.5 Swede. Thanks for all the good info on the 6.5 people.
 
Well, the 260 seems to be picking up steam, which may auger a future for the 6.5 as US shooters rediscover what a great round it is. As I noted previously, thanks to all those old Swede Mausers, 6.5 is loaded to low pressure, making it and the 260 virtual twins. But the latter round is loaded by a big gun company, and fits into a shorter action.

If the 6.5x55 was loaded to the same pressures as the 260, it would be a superb all around cartridge. Though it's not bad in it's current form.
 
6.5x55 swede

I cannot speak for commercial grade rifles, but my M96swedish mauser in 6.5x55 swedish is sweeeeeeet!
It has accuracy, knock down power, and all of this with little recoil. Can't ask for a flatter shooting round. I would choose mine over my .308, and I love my .308.
See Ya
 
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