Is the 6.5 x 55 Swede a do it all cartridge
- Thread starter struff55
- Start date
My favourite caliber, this one. A soft recoiling, reasonably flat shooting caliber that will get the job done on animals up to moose sized as long as the shooter does his part an an appropriate bullet is used. I was first introduced to it with a M96 Mauser in my teens. Liked it so much I saved up to by a new Ruger M77 MkII in the same caliber nearly thirty years ago. Many are the critters than have fallen to that Ruger. Two moose, four elk, and no idea how many deer and coyotes. 130gr Accubonds or 140gr Partitions are my go to, usually with RL22 or IMR 7828.
turbo_bird
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
It seems like a good all arounder to me. I've got 4 rifles in 6.5x55, and am trying to decide which new to me hunting rifle I need to buy, because my current 6.5's are target rifles and a full wood military rifle. I don't hunt, but should probably have one just in case I need to start.
Kristian
Kristian
So far I've used the Tikka, Winchester 70 Fwt and Remington 700 here (although the latter is a bit hard to find) and loved all. The Tikka served very well.
If you like Mausers, the Husqvarna 1600s and similar come ready to roll for a steal of a deal...shudder to think what that rifle would cost to make and have today lol. To me, a better deal than the Zastava Mausers although they are pretty solid too...just may have their bugs. There are also 96 sporters out there in great shape for fantastic deals. Hard to beat a tried and true, slim and light military action.
If I was rich I woulda tried a Sako
Can't go wrong with any IMO.
turbo_bird
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
So far I've used the Tikka, Winchester 70 Fwt and Remington 700 here (although the latter is a bit hard to find) and loved all. The Tikka served very well.
If you like Mausers, the Husqvarna 1600s and similar come ready to roll for a steal of a deal...shudder to think what that rifle would cost to make and have today lol. To me, a better deal than the Zastava Mausers although they are pretty solid too...just may have their bugs. There are also 96 sporters out there in great shape for fantastic deals. Hard to beat a tried and true, slim and light military action.
If I was rich I woulda tried a Sako
Can't go wrong with any IMO.
There are certainly lots of cool old rifles out there, and many of them would be prohibitively expensive to make now. I'm trying to decide between a Finnish Lakelander or a Swedish CG3000, which uses a Sauer 80 action. I've got both actions in other rifles, and like both of them. I usually gravitate towards stuff that you don't really see often, and used to browse the Tradex site regularly.
Kristian
Have a PH lightweight in 6.5x55 with 22" barrel that is pretty handy, another HVA Dahlberg 1600 with 20.5" barrel that is my go to for carry, also very light and handy.
Everything else in 6.5x55 are heavy S&L target rifles based on German K98's, think they have 27" barrels, those all have irons but shoot groups at 100m as good as scoped rifles.
The only other equally cool cartridge I have is the 7.5x55, some day I'm going to have a hunting rifle chambered in that, shouldn't be too hard to get done on any long action 308/3006 barrel.
Everything else in 6.5x55 are heavy S&L target rifles based on German K98's, think they have 27" barrels, those all have irons but shoot groups at 100m as good as scoped rifles.
The only other equally cool cartridge I have is the 7.5x55, some day I'm going to have a hunting rifle chambered in that, shouldn't be too hard to get done on any long action 308/3006 barrel.
turbo_bird
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
Have a PH lightweight in 6.5x55 with 22" barrel that is pretty handy, another HVA Dahlberg 1600 with 20.5" barrel that is my go to for carry, also very light and handy.
Everything else in 6.5x55 are heavy S&L target rifles based on German K98's, think they have 27" barrels, those all have irons but shoot groups at 100m as good as scoped rifles.
The only other equally cool cartridge I have is the 7.5x55, some day I'm going to have a hunting rifle chambered in that, shouldn't be too hard to get done on any long action 308/3006 barrel.
I did find a nice Parker Hale 6.5x55 for sale, so added that to the choices. I was very surprised by the listed weight (6.85 lbs), and thought maybe it was a typo, but I guess maybe not. It's a commercial model 98, 23 5/8" barrel with a slim beaver tail forend. The trouble with buying these old rifles over the internet is not being able to handle them beforehand, but finding a retailer with lots of photos helps. The same place has a few nice looking Husqvarna 1640's and 1900's as well. Out of the bunch I'm trying to decide between, the Parker Hale is the cheapest of the bunch at $500. The CG 3000 is a really cool action, but almost double the price, and also the heaviest at 8lbs. It's good to be spoiled for choices I guess.
Kristian
PH built both a lightweight and an Alpine model in 6.5 swede at different times. They are nice rifles. - dan
Just wondering WHY you would think that ? RJ
turbo_bird
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
I finally decided to pull the trigger, so to speak, on another CG3000. I've got a 6.5x55 target rifle with the same action, so they should be a good pair. This one's coming from Intersurplus, and should be a hell of a deal for basically Savage money. Definitely an expensive way to get a spare mag for my other rifle though.
Kristian
Kristian
Early PH were military 98 Mausers. Later ones were Santa Barbara actions from Spain. Havent come across an FN or Zastava one yet, but that doesnt mean they dont exist. - dan
Enough to ever matter?
Think they're pretty neck and neck with the 6.5 doing the same job with less powder.
Dig the 6.5x55 for less pressure, personally.
Dan, never saw a PH built on a Zastava either.
If they're out there...thats cool!
Besides the straight up Military mauser, I've run into the Santa Barbaras the most. If it doesn't have a thumb cut, and you remove the action from the stock, you may see a grind on the side and the word "Spain".
My personal fav of theirs is the one with a Spanish receiver and a Springfield 1903 bolt lol.
Would like to see a Zastava actioned PH some day if they're out there.
I bought one with this sort of thinking.
It can do it.
It's a bit marginal on larger animals.
Bullet selection is more important and you can definitely load some great bullets in 6.5x55.
But you want at least 1600 ft-lb at target for elk & moose and 6.5x55 can do that for a reasonable if not long distance.
But you want more if you want to make quartering shots.
A .30-06 is only a marginal upgrade. It is, however, an upgrade. I later got myself one.
If you really want a true 300 yard rifle with quartering shots with 2000+ ft-lb on target, you might want to consider a magnum.
Right on.
That shot presentation/angle/range point is interesting. I've never killed a moose with a 6.5mm cartridge. Only deer. Looking at the results I'd have no qualms. Like you said, a 30-06 isn't much of an upgrade, looking at the damage done.
Not a big fan of KE as a killing metric as it reduces all bullet construction/performance to almost nothing. And an arrow has very little KE.
Similarly though, using the 100gr TTSX or 127gr LRX at a range like 300 yards, I'd be wanting to treat it just like the arrow and not try to put it through anything too serious, like a big ol front quarter.
That shot presentation/angle/range point is interesting. I've never killed a moose with a 6.5mm cartridge. Only deer. Looking at the results I'd have no qualms. Like you said, a 30-06 isn't much of an upgrade, looking at the damage done.
Not a big fan of KE as a killing metric as it reduces all bullet construction/performance to almost nothing. And an arrow has very little KE.
Similarly though, using the 100gr TTSX or 127gr LRX at a range like 300 yards, I'd be wanting to treat it just like the arrow and not try to put it through anything too serious, like a big ol front quarter.
I've personally owned at least a half dozen of them over the years. If youve owned a PH built in the 60's and 70's you probably have without realizing it. - dan
