The 6.5x55 has been quietly killing moose in Europe since the 1890's. It's still going strong. Like the 7x57 it's a very efficient and versatile catridge. Plenty of killing power without much recoil. The swede made its name with the long 160 grain bullet. Providing lots of penetration on large bodied animals. There are plenty of modern quality bullets to extend its range and usefulness. It has gained a lot of popularity in North America since huge quantities of great Mauser 96 and 98 surplus rifles have been imported. Major gun makers here have chambered it in modern bolt actions also. A great classic cartridge imo. What do you guys think?
6.5x55 the little overachiever.
- Thread starter joey.45
- Start date
I had one built off a Sako action, 25"RKS Barrel and a Mcmillan stock. I have shot the 142 SMK's out to 900 yards. When hunting season hits, i switch over to the 160gr woodleighs. the 140 gr partitions worked well also. Its a keeper. H4831sc was the only powder i tried. It just plain works. Get one and don't look back
turbo_bird
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
I have several 6.5*55 rifles, it's a great little cartridge. One of the first ones designed for smokeless powder in the late 1800's, I believe one of the first 5. Going to the range after work tomorrow to test fire a mostly original Swedish Mauser, as well as do some load testing for a target rifle in 6.5*55.
Kristian
Kristian
Back then at home, when we had a provincial shootout in the historic class ( 100 meters prone, open sights ) with the Mausers, we just packed up our 8x57's and went for a beer if a guy with a 6.5x55 swede Mauser showed up ...not going to beat him anyway.
If it comes to grouping well, this cartridge was about 70 years ahead of the game.
CG
If it comes to grouping well, this cartridge was about 70 years ahead of the game.
CG
Another big swede fan here, I took my first mountain goat (31 years ago) with a custom mauser 96 in the swede AI pushing one of those 160gr round noses, it worked superb.
Iv been running a lightened up 5 1/2 lb swede, pushing 140gr accubonds as my mountain rifle for the last bunch of years now.
My gal, making 450 yards look like a chip shot with it last winter.
https://youtu.be/7KjhxR-ZfpA
Iv been running a lightened up 5 1/2 lb swede, pushing 140gr accubonds as my mountain rifle for the last bunch of years now.
My gal, making 450 yards look like a chip shot with it last winter.
https://youtu.be/7KjhxR-ZfpA
The Creedmoor was designed to cycle through particular magazine fed short action competition rifles , nothing to do with the ballistics.
I prefer the Swede or 260 Remington over the Creedmoor for a hunting round and have owned all of them.
Cat
Was my first big game rifle, a Swedish M96/38 that I had sporterized, bought in 1989. Shot my first big game animal with it. I got hooked on the .264 caliber. Jumped over to the .260 Rem, another favorite of mine. I have three .260’s, a light Kimber Montana, a heavy custom built target rifle and a Remington Mountain SS that I fitted in a shortened stock for my daughter to use this year. This year I went full circle and bought a Tikka T3X in 6.5x55. I hope to get a muley with it it this fall. I like to think that I was shooting 6.5’s before it was cool! ��
35 years ago I bought my first centerfire rifle a Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55. That rifle is long gone but I also have come full circle this year with the purchase of a Winchester 1885 in 6.5x55. Working on a load with 130 grain accubonds I too am hoping for a mule deer this year.
My Tikka T3 is getting AI'ed right now - It will neat to see what the velocity difference is after and if the accuaracy is the same ! RJ
Personally fond of the 6.5x55mm.
I remember being a young boy, 12 or so, combing over the ballistics charts in the Federal product catalog from SIR. Trying to figure out which cartridge was the "best". The 6.5x55 always stool out as a weirdo, it seemed so mild out of the muzzle but retained energy well, better than most of the other cartridges as measured by a percentage of the initial energy. It always confused me but my interest in 6.5x55 was piqued.
My dad had a friend through work, an older German carpenter with a fine selection of European arms (factory rifles in 7x64, 7x57, and a drilling in 12ga over 5.6x52r) who took the time to teach me about reloading and we went hunting with him several times over the years. Once at the hunting club range, he pulled out a rifle with a stepped barrel. It was freshly blued and had just been bedded into a synthetic stock. No scope yet, nor any sights, but he loaded a round into it and said "you take shot of this rifle". I pointed it downrange as best I could and pulled the trigger. I was expecting something with some serious bark, but my dad and him laughed at my expression. The recoil and report was so mild at first I though he gave me a .243 or maybe a .257 but nope, his newest project was a 6.5x55 shooting cheap Federal Classic loads. I had to have one.
When Winchester was resurrected in I guess late '90's/early '00's I had my chance and picked up a new Model 70 Featherweight. It was exactly as I remembered it, super mild recoiling with factory 140 loads and shot well. In a fit of "magnumitis" I sold it off to finance a .257 Weatherby and while the Bee is great for long shots across farmers field in Manitoba, I miss the classy lines and soft shooting of the 6.5. I will definitely get another, possibly a Tikka T3x, and make sure it hangs around so my kids can fight over it when I'm gone.
I'll take a long action 6.5x55 over a Creedmoor or .260 Rem short action rifle any day. The history and childhood memories alone are worth it.
I remember being a young boy, 12 or so, combing over the ballistics charts in the Federal product catalog from SIR. Trying to figure out which cartridge was the "best". The 6.5x55 always stool out as a weirdo, it seemed so mild out of the muzzle but retained energy well, better than most of the other cartridges as measured by a percentage of the initial energy. It always confused me but my interest in 6.5x55 was piqued.
My dad had a friend through work, an older German carpenter with a fine selection of European arms (factory rifles in 7x64, 7x57, and a drilling in 12ga over 5.6x52r) who took the time to teach me about reloading and we went hunting with him several times over the years. Once at the hunting club range, he pulled out a rifle with a stepped barrel. It was freshly blued and had just been bedded into a synthetic stock. No scope yet, nor any sights, but he loaded a round into it and said "you take shot of this rifle". I pointed it downrange as best I could and pulled the trigger. I was expecting something with some serious bark, but my dad and him laughed at my expression. The recoil and report was so mild at first I though he gave me a .243 or maybe a .257 but nope, his newest project was a 6.5x55 shooting cheap Federal Classic loads. I had to have one.
When Winchester was resurrected in I guess late '90's/early '00's I had my chance and picked up a new Model 70 Featherweight. It was exactly as I remembered it, super mild recoiling with factory 140 loads and shot well. In a fit of "magnumitis" I sold it off to finance a .257 Weatherby and while the Bee is great for long shots across farmers field in Manitoba, I miss the classy lines and soft shooting of the 6.5. I will definitely get another, possibly a Tikka T3x, and make sure it hangs around so my kids can fight over it when I'm gone.
I'll take a long action 6.5x55 over a Creedmoor or .260 Rem short action rifle any day. The history and childhood memories alone are worth it.
I own 9 tikkas, all different cartridges but my 6.5x55 is the most accurate of them all. When doing the barrel break in I shot a .192” group with factory 140gr Nosler accubonds. I’ve successfully shot a moose, calf elk and a handful of deer with mine, all one shot kills with the longest shot being 475 yds. On the bench I’ve shot it out to 1100 yards and it’s nice being able to spot your own shots with the minimal recoil.
I have Model 1896 in original military configuration and always wanted a sporter in the calibre.
In fact I once had a "poor man's custom" rifle made from a Mauser 95 action I had and a new Tradex barrel in a donor stock from my 'smith.
Barrel shot accurately but there was a problem with the scope base holes so I couldn;t zero the scope and also the bolt jammed tight after every shot, so my custom rifle experiment was a failure.
Then a buddy gave me a 1955 Husqvarna lightweight 7x57 plus a genuine high quality custom 280 so I had no more interest in a 6.5x55 after that.
In fact I once had a "poor man's custom" rifle made from a Mauser 95 action I had and a new Tradex barrel in a donor stock from my 'smith.
Barrel shot accurately but there was a problem with the scope base holes so I couldn;t zero the scope and also the bolt jammed tight after every shot, so my custom rifle experiment was a failure.
Then a buddy gave me a 1955 Husqvarna lightweight 7x57 plus a genuine high quality custom 280 so I had no more interest in a 6.5x55 after that.
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Tradex had some m98s that were rebarrelled to 6.5x55 which I regret not getting
They do have some old target rifles and some are 98 receivers in 6.5x55. I'm slowly saving some pennies for a 6.5 rifle but trying to decide what I want... Something along the lines of a carbine to use for big(ish) game. I also want to develop lower powered loads using trailboss (or similar) for small game.
