I'm Sorta Torn - 6.5x55 or 25.06

Rembo said:
or another idea....get a 700 long action and send it to Ted Gaillard for a medium sporter in 6.5-284....or,..if you don't mind fireforming, and I'd guess you don't..you have a 260AI...get Ted to make it a 6.5-06 Improved..
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Sounds interesting, but complicated and expensive to just re invent the wheel.

The path I would take instead would be to Call up tradex, order a Swede sporter, pick out a scope of ones flavour.

Also most Gunstores worth their weight sell 6.5x55 Swede ammo and reloading components. :D
 
The 25-06 is a better looking cartridge over the swede
2506rem.JPG


6.5x55_Swede_2.jpg

25-06 has;
more power, a bit flatter shooting, maybe not as good in the wind with standard bullets....kills deer well.
 
25-06 has;
more power
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Perhaps more muzzle energy with the same bullet weight due only to velocity. A .340WBY/250gr has more energy than a .404Jeff/400gr, what is more suitable for DG? A .25-06 can out-energy a 7x57 but there is no doubt which one will out penetrate in large game.

A .257" 120gr bullet vs. 140gr .264" at anything over 2500fps (bullets of the same type) is no contest for me when it comes to big game - the 6.5 wins hands down. In addition a 6.5 swede can push 156/160gr bullets that would be way better at penetration and frontal area than almost anything a .25-06 can throw.

IMO a .25-06 is too light for a big animal like a moose. Sure it will kill them, it will kill buffalo too, but one should always consider the possibility of marginal shots, shooter error etc etc and choose based not what is marginally 'possible' but can be reliaed upton to work consistently.

I would just prefer the bigger 6.5 bullet for game as large as moose.
 
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Won't be any custom work on this one, so no AI or non-factory cartridges. I'm not the best shot but I know *how* to shoot and am far from the worst. 6.5x55 is sounding better all the time.
 
If you're considering the rifle for just big game hunting, I'd lean towards the 6.5 swede. On the other hand, if varmints are in the mix, 25-06 all the way.
 
hansol said:
If you're considering the rifle for just big game hunting, I'd lean towards the 6.5 swede. On the other hand, if varmints are in the mix, 25-06 all the way.
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Nope, it will probably see 1 or max 2 loads of game killers, (120/140/maybe 160) no varminting.
 
Oh, I know. I look at your listings every week and drool. 280AI would be another one on the wishlist, which I know you have or have thru pretty regularly.

I don't have to do this on the *super* cheap, but I do have a budget that only allows...say under $1k for the rifle itself, plus accessories (thinks to self: rings bases scope dies brass bullets powder ya $1k is pushing it). Pretty much rules out the factory AI's that I'm aware of. Yes, I am keeping one eye on the EE for my optics etc.
 
one thing about a 6.5: they are a surprisingly capable caliber. And quite devastating. I would not hesitate to use that caliber for anything. It really is an awesome caliber to shoot.
 
"...a 4x14 scope..." As in a 4X to 14X? You don't need or want a scope with more than 8X for deer/bear/moose. Field of view is too small with high magnification scopes. They're heavy too.
 
ihave to side with the 6'5x55. great in a modern rifle with a nice 2x7 luep in low rings. go shoot anything you want deer,bear moose and elk.
 
6.5x55

Both good cartridges; I've considered getting a 25-06 on a couple of occaisions, but when I start looking hard at what I could really do with a 25-06 that I can't do with my 6.5's, there's not really much there. I've got two loads for my 6.5's - 95gr VMAX's for wolves and 140gr SST's for bears/caribou/moose.
 
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