Looking for a modern 6.5x55 bolt rifle

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The 6.5 x55mm is a wonderful cartridge. For 30 years the 7x57mm was may favorite, but during the last year I have bought three 6.5mm Swede Rifles that will all out-shoot any other rifles I own. I wish I would have learned about this cartridge much sooner.

Allans Armory sometimes has Husqvarna Sporters in 6.5x55mm.

Beside sthe Rem-700 Classics that have already been mentioned, there was also a run of the post 64 feather weight Winchester Model 70s in 6.5x55mm,,, I think...

Here is a Tikka
http://www.gunsamerica.com/977000292/Guns/Rifles/Tikka-Rifles/Tikka_T3_HUNTER_6_5_X_55_Swed_Ne.htm

Here is a Blazer;
http://www.gunsamerica.com/94445894...os-Drillings/Blaser_K95_Prestige_6_5x55mm.htm

Here is a Ruger #1
http://www.gunsamerica.com/933002460/Guns/Rifles/Ruger-Rifles/1-Type/RUGER.htm

Here is a stainless Ruger #1
http://www.gunsamerica.com/97700037...-Type/Ruger_1a_in_6_5x55_stainless_walnut.htm

Here is a pre-64 model 70:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/97697611.../Model-70/Pre-64/Win_Mod_70_6_5_X55_Swede.htm
 
The only issue I'm seeing with Shilen is the extremely long wait time to get a barrel (unless you find one used.) I'll easily be putting 1-2k rounds through a barrel every month the way I shoot, so I'd literally have to start ordering 3 months in advance and order a barrel every month to two months just to keep operational if these barrels are wearing out ~3k rounds like most people seem to claim they do. I realize I'd have to order the same with any other manufacturer, I just don't like having to forecast 3 months in advance - what happens if I burn out a barrel doing load testing more rapidly than expected, I'll be stuck waiting... (then we start talking about keeping spares on hand, etc - getting complicated!)

I saw the sticky about them increasing supply, if that works out, guess it'll be a non-issue. We'll see! That said, I'm relatively excited about doing a build. :)

Any suggestions where to buy actions/stocks from? I've found some gunsmiths that have a lot of feedback (positive) so I'm not worried about that aspect.

Also, with actions, for a repeater - is the Savage Varmint going to be the most accurate option? It looks like the target model is single shot only...

Thanks,
David
 
I think you have that long of a lead time with any reputable barrel maker in america. Shooting that much, maybe you should get a 308, so you can get 6000 rounds a barrel. Any Savage action will work, except for the target action, the others are all the same. The action on the Varmint is the same as the action on the Weather Warrior, etc. Savageshooters.com can answer all your questions grasshopper, and Northlander there can sell you any action or stock. Personally, I'd probably start with a Stevens 200 action, and put an SSS trigger in it. HS, McMillan, SSS, B&C, Stockade and I don't know how many others make stocks.
 
Great, thanks. I'll pick up some other caliber easier on barrels for the "fun" shooting at the range, and the 6.5 for target/hiking/hunting.

Cheers,
David
 
SAKO 6.5 x 55

Hello, I have a Sako 6.5 X 55 Swede, the gun is 98% the gun has 14 rounds thru it, has an adjustable trigger. The stock is a Straight grain walnut monte carlo stock, hand checkered. plain barrell bases & rings are included. The gun is absolutely beautiful, Before removing scope it was shooting 1/4" group. If interested you will not be unhappy I am asking $850.

Best Regard's

John
 
Ruger is making the 77mkII in 6,5x55 again.
I have a older mkII, I free floated the sporter barrel,and did some home brewed trigger work on it.
It may not be perfect but i shot a doe last fall at 346 yards,offhand,headshot.
Its not for sale!
By the way the 6.5x55 at 28-2900 fps.isn't a barrel burner.
 
The 6.5X55,6.5X47 Lapua,and the 260 Rem are all great carts with excellent ballistics.If I still lived in the Lower 48 I'd be having a wildcat 6.5 WSM being built as we speak.'Course the barrel wear on that would put a 6.5-284 to shame.I look at barrel wear much like the tires on my truck,I buy the best I can afford,and when they wear out,I buy new ones.
 
ormandj said:
Hi all,

I'm looking for a modern 6.5x55 bolt action rifle. I've read a lot of wonderful things about this cartridge, and the long-distance performance is appealing (for competition) as well as the performance in hunting medium sized (NA) game. I was originally considering the .308, but other than ammunition availability, it looks like the 6.5x55 is a better overall choice for my purposes. Feel free to tell me I'm out in left field, if you think so, though!

I'd like a nice all-around rifle, that I could use for competitive long-distance shooting, as well as hunting (deer-sized by in large.)

I've read a lot about the Sako Finnlight, it seems very appealing to me.

I'm looking for the following, prioritized in this order:

#1 - Reliability (this is why I am not looking at the 6.5x284 - apparently barrel life isn't very good.) I want a *tool*, not a showpiece. Synthetic stock, etc - looks are secondary to me.

#2 - Accuracy. If at all possible, I'd like something I could shoot competitively, and have the rifle outperform *me*. That said, I don't want to sacrifice reliability to achieve accuracy. I don't want a rifle that I have to swap barrels every 500 rounds, and I most certainly don't want a fragile rifle that can't be carried out in the woods for fear of breaking. (Seems like most match rifles are a bit fragile when compared to their hunting counter-parts.)

#3 - Price. I don't want to be cheap, at the same time, I don't want to build a $20,000 custom rifle. Ideally, I'd like something nice, stock - that if desired I could later have worked on by a gunsmith (to improve accuracy, for instance) As to my price range, I'm willing to pay whatever it takes to get the best combination of #1 and #2, until reaching the point of diminishing returns. If $900 will buy me a great rifle (not including glass) that shoots 1.5MOA, and $1300 will buy me a great rifle that shoots .75 MOA, assuming the same reliability, I'd be willing to spend the extra money. If $3500 gets me down to .60 MOA, I'd stick with the $1300 .75 MOA rifle. I hope this example makes clear what I'm trying to say! :)

Thank you in advance for your helpful advice, I've read a lot of posts here, and this seems like a really great group of people!

Cheers,
David
Click to expand...
Husqvarna..............
 
ormandj said:
Hi all,

I'd like a nice all-around rifle, that I could use for competitive long-distance shooting, as well as hunting (deer-sized by in large.)

I've read a lot about the Sako Finnlight, it seems very appealing to me.
Click to expand...

Check out the Savage 11 Lightweight Hunter in .260 Rem or 6.5mm Creedmoor.

I'm looking for the following, prioritized in this order:

#1 - Reliability (this is why I am not looking at the 6.5x284 - apparently barrel life isn't very good.) I want a *tool*, not a showpiece. Synthetic stock, etc - looks are secondary to me.
Click to expand...

Check. Most US made factory ammo for the 6.5x55 is loaded to lower pressure because of surplus rifles. If you plan to handload then you can exceed (by a small margin) the .260 Rem and 6.5 Creed, otherwise, you'll be better off with the .260 or 6.5 Creed, IMO.

#2 - Accuracy. If at all possible, I'd like something I could shoot competitively, and have the rifle outperform *me*. That said, I don't want to sacrifice reliability to achieve accuracy. I don't want a rifle that I have to swap barrels every 500 rounds, and I most certainly don't want a fragile rifle that can't be carried out in the woods for fear of breaking. (Seems like most match rifles are a bit fragile when compared to their hunting counter-parts.)
Click to expand...

Check. All of the .308 family cartridges are very accurate. The 6.5 Creed is just as good. All three of my Savage rifles have been utterly reliable and are sub-MOA.

#3 - Price. I don't want to be cheap, at the same time, I don't want to build a $20,000 custom rifle. Ideally, I'd like something nice, stock - that if desired I could later have worked on by a gunsmith (to improve accuracy, for instance) As to my price range, I'm willing to pay whatever it takes to get the best combination of #1 and #2, until reaching the point of diminishing returns. If $900 will buy me a great rifle (not including glass) that shoots 1.5MOA, and $1300 will buy me a great rifle that shoots .75 MOA, assuming the same reliability, I'd be willing to spend the extra money. If $3500 gets me down to .60 MOA, I'd stick with the $1300 .75 MOA rifle. I hope this example makes clear what I'm trying to say! :)
Click to expand...

The Savage Lightweight Hunter will do what you want at the lower end of your price range.
 
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