Advice on a good 6.5x55 rifle in the $500+/- range?

[srawl]

I have been considering these options:

1.) Bubba'd Swedish mauser for me to finish the job with... or any bubba'd mauser really with a rebarrel.

2.) Howa Gameking already barreled for it

3.) Savage/stevens and rebarrel myself.

Id love a M70 FTW or 700 but they are out of my pricerange.

My thought is that 1 and three will likely cost about the same because most of the same stuff needs done to them. I havent priced truing the mauser bolt and action so there is that...

thanks for your opinions

 

[Jackal]

I vote for a clean Swede Mauser. Should be easy to find in the $500 range.

 

[viking499]

I would pick the Howa. It will handle the modern pressure 6.5 reloads.

 

[Carolina Kalash]

Do not, take a perfectly good swede mauser and cut down the stock! I will hunt you down if you do!!!

I am joking btw... mostly

 

[czhen]

Stretch your budget a little and get a cz 550 or the new 557, life is short.

 

[srawl]

Stretch your budget a little and get a cz 550 or the new 557, life is short.

Dont tease me with talk of the CZ... It is my dream rifle.




I said pre bubba'd Kalash

 

[horsemen61]

Tikka t3 lite

 

[srawl]

Tikka t3 lite

I was just reading a Chuck Hawks article and looked it up, doesnt seem like a bad deal.

I cant find a CZ 550 American in stock for less than $700 without a scope...

 

[Water-Man]

Tikka T3, Lite or Hunter, used if you can find one in 6.5x55. Not easy.

Go to the Tikka Shooters Forum.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

another vote for the Tikka T3, got a couple 6.5s....for a little more $$$$ the CZ

 

[Gtscotty]

Where is everyone finding these Tikka's in 6.5x55 for $500? I think I've only ever seen a regular Hunter or Lite in that caliber once on gunbroker, and it was well over $500... I had a Remington Classic in 6.5x55 once, it wasn't a bad rifle, but it too was over $500. Back when I was looking at 6.5's I think I remember reading about folks having a lot of accuracy problems with the Howa 6.5's. Obviously that is not the norm for Howa rifles, but there seemed to be a lot of complaints about the 6.5's in particular. It would be worth doing some reading on before picking up the Howa.

I think if I was stuck on getting a 6.5 in the $500 range, I would ditch the 6.5x55 and look for a .260 Rem or 6.5 CM Savage, there seem to be plenty of Savages in both of those calibers in your price range.

 

[GlockNation]

6.5 x 55

I have a win 70, a Ruger Hawkeye, a swede sporterized done by Kimber of Oregon and a bubbaized Husky (1943) all in 6.5 x 55.

The win is out of the price range. You may be able to find a used Ruger for
about 500 +/-, the two swedes should go in under 500 easily. For the price point I recommend a Kimber of Oregon sporterized. The did a great job on mine. Accurate and the chopped military barrel does not heat up a quickly as the hunting rifles.

6.5 x 55 ammo has become more widely available since I bought mine also.

 

[MrBorland]

Dont tease me with talk of the CZ... It is my dream rifle.

I wouldn't sweat it. The CZ has a slow twist (1:9) for a 6.5x55. Most every barrel I see chambered in the Swede has a twist of 1:8, and I suspect the CZ isn't at it's best with heavier bullets. OTOH, the it's got freebore to accommodate the longish bullets, so while I've always like the CZ550, I've always thought the 6.5x55 was a little mismatched. Plus, it's a heavy rifle.

I can't comment on a rebarreled Howa, but I've read numerous accuracy issues about factory Howa 6.5x55s. Too many for me to take the chance on them.

Have you considered the T/C Venture? It gets very good reviews and with an MSRP $537, it's likely within your budget.

Of your list, though, I'd go with #3. Or save for the M70 or Tikka.

 

[Captcurt]

Stretch your budget a little and get a cz 550 or the new 557, life is short.

I ordered a 557 CZ thinking that it would be exactly what I wanted. Ordered it from Bud's at a great price. It was advertised as walnut. WRONG! The one that I received was butt ugly Birch. The wood to metal fit was not up to par. The checkering was fair and the metal was ugly matte, plus the gun did not have scope rings. That adds another $75 to the total. I sent it back.

The Savage would get my vote for the price. The Howa is a nice rifle but you can keep the Houge stock.JMHO

 

[viking499]

A few years back there were accuracy issues with the Howa's in 6.5x55. I had one of them. I called Legacy Sports to inquire and they told me that they were in fact having issues and Howa was pulling all the 6.5's in inventory to fix the issue and would not be selling anymore until the problem was resolved. He did not say if they were doing anything with the guns that were already in the wind.

I have been seeing the Howa's showing up online at various places. From that, I am going to guess that they have resolved the problem and reopened the gates. If i come across a new one somewhere, someday, I will probably pick it up and try it out just to see if it has gotten better.

Like TexasPatriot.308, I also have a couple Tikka's. Awesome, accurate guns for the money. But, I would still try another Howa. The Weatherby guns are good, the Howa's should be too.

 

[srawl]

Well we'll see if I regret it or not... I got impatient... and a little Mauser fever...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=448816019

check out that checkering job...

 

[1948CJ2A]

I bought a CZ 550FS last year chambered in 6.5x55 brand new from Gander Mountain. It was more than $500. I put a vintage Redfield 4x scope on it. Shoots well and I'm pleased with the fit and finish. My favorite feature aside from the mannlicher stock is the single-set trigger.