Helping me choose a 6.5x55 rifle

NiksaNovovic

NiksaNovovic

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Hello everyone,

After doing a whole crap-load of research on various calibres for hunting, I have finally settled on the 6.5x55 Swedish as my first hunting cartridge. I love the ballistics of the cartridge and in my limited, internet education I think it provides plenty of killing power to take any game in North America that I would actually want to hunt. I am also fond of the fact that it would be a nice step up from a .22LR that would allow me to focus on shooting rather than managing recoil and it would help to minimise development of a flinch.
Now the almost harder task of actually getting a rifle chambered in the 6.5x55 has to begin! This is as of right now, a long term goal, due to life and other circumstances I would most definitely need at least half a year or more to save the money for the rifle I really want. I was looking at the CZ 550 FS model, as I think the rifle looks so damned beautiful. It is most definitely at the very upper end of my price range at $1100-$1200. The only thing that troubles me is the limited availability of ANY CZ FS models that I can actually handle and see in person, as well as finding any for sale in Canada. I would of course consider other recommended rifles, but I really do have my heart set on the CZ. Thank in advance for any help you can offer!

Niksa
 
Look at a Tikka T3 I know that they make them in 6.5x55. It would be cheaper than the CZ. I know that some guys don't like the T3 but they are very accurate. I would also consider something in win 270 it only has slightly more recoil than 6.5x55
 
Yes, it's one of the very best choices! I would start calling dealers and see if any of them can get a hold of the rifle you want. It's just not likely to be sitting on a shelf anywhere, but you never know! The rifle itself is an excellent choice! CZ's are great hunting rifles. I tend to prefer longer barrels, and do believe the 550 Euro Lux and 550 American are both available in 6.5x55mm as well.

Other good choices if you don't mind used include the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight and Remington Model 700 Classic, both were made in 6.5x55mm (the Remington for one year only). Sako still chambers for 6.5 but they don't really have anything in your price range. Tikka T3 Hunter might fit the bill if you don't mind a bit of plastic here and there. Howa also makes an inexpensive 6.5, but IIRC they are a synthetic stock only option.

But honestly, that FS is gorgeous and you should totally go for it if you've got your heart set on it. Start calling around! Never know what you might find. Wholesale Sports should be able to tell you if there are at least any FS rifles at any of the nearby stores you can handle.
 
tikka#1 said:
Look at a Tikka T3 I know that they make them in 6.5x55. It would be cheaper than the CZ. I know that some guys don't like the T3 but they are very accurate. I would also consider something in win 270 it only has slightly more recoil than 6.5x55
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Only slightly more recoil? Wow what have you been shooting either super duper hot 6.5 or really loaded down 270 because my 6.5 has less recoil than my .308. That's felt and calculated. My recoil calculator puts a 8.5lbs rifle shooting factory Hornady loads just above a .243.

OP stick with the 6.5x55 you'll never regret it!! I'm trying to work out something right now where I might be able to offer guys a different option in 6.5x55 other than high end european(Tikka sako CZ) or old European(mausers) have to wait and see though. Cheers
 
I have only fired 1 of each caliber and the rifle in 270 weighed about 2 pounds more so my view on the 270 only having slightly more recoil might be tainted.
 
I like the idea of going with the Tikka or the CZ 550. I love the set trigger on the CZ rifles and have nothing but good things to say about them.
If Browning made an X bolt in 6.5x55 I would say go that way instead, but they don't. If you would consider a 7mm-08 instead you could go that way though.
 
Have an (fast, they won't last!) eye on Trade Ex site, they just received a big, big bunch of rifles, including quite a few 65.X55 in various models - save the extra $$ for a top of the class glass..
 
I just completed my search on this. It took me a while but here are my results.

Your choices are:

1) Military surplus. Not great accuracy but you can find them. I have one but it is not good enough.

2) Steyr Prohunter. Prophet River can get them. About 1150. Excellent gun. I have one in .308 and it is superb.

3) Tikka T3. It is the same as the Sako but a little lower price. About 950. Also a good gun. I decided against them due to the wooden stock. I intend to use mine at more than just the range.

4) Buy a Savage, long action. Order a Shilen or similar barrel. I am getting mine from mystic player.

5) I have done no research on the CZs.

As you can guess I choose option # 4. It will cost just over 1K and with the accutrigger and accustock, and a detachable magazine, I feel I am getting a gun that should be very nice. I have a deal for a falcon menace scope to top the gun. I intend to shoot at ranges out to 1000 meters. I would only hunt to 400 meters but that is a long way.
 
tbrwlf said:
3) Tikka T3. It is the same as the Sako but a little lower price. About 950. Also a good gun. I decided against them due to the wooden stock. I intend to use mine at more than just the range.
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You know they make a T3 with a synthetic stock don't you.:p

Get a 6.5swede and never look back. Think about reloading down the road to get the most out of the old swede and have a look in the EE, every once and a while there is a 6.5x55 that pops up for sale (but they don't usually last long), I bought a "like new" Sythethic T3 6.5x55 a few months ago for ~600$
 
Rifle in 6.5x55mm

I've done the "sporter" M96 +/or M38 Swede route. Fun & interesting but a lot of money to lay out for something that will not be up to par with a factory sporter in 6.5x55mm. That said I have 3 fullwood Swede Mausers in 6.5x55mm in mil-spec condition. All very nice for what they are.

On factory sporters.......

I've shot a Win 70 FW in 6.5x55mm - spectacular.

I've owned a Rem 700 "Classic" in 6.5x55mm - spectacular.

I currently have a Tikka Model 695 stainless synthetic in 6.5x55mm that I bought NIB - absolutely spectacular and a "keeper" for sure.

My .02 - your mileage may vary.

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
I have 3 M96 6.5x55's-all bought from Tradeex.I put a Choate stock on the last one because I wanted to replace the sporterized miltary stock.I haven't paid more that $200 for any of the rifles,all in ''very good''condition including bores.You can generally pick up an older fixed power leupold [remember they have a lifetime warrenty] for about the same money so for well under $500 you have one of the best hunting rifles you can buy .If the 6.5x55 is a bit too small for moose/bear -then you can always get an M96 chambered in 9,3x57,or 9,3x62 and load 286 gr privipartizans,and not much is going to take that and keep walking
 
You can also hunt around for a Ruger in 6.5.
I have one that teases me with occaisional 3/4" groups. This is with projectile weights from 100 to 156 grs.
 
Mark VII Ball said:
You can also hunt around for a Ruger in 6.5.
I have one that teases me with occaisional 3/4" groups. This is with projectile weights from 100 to 156 grs.
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I see SakoAlberta has a couple of the full stock Rugers in 6.5X55 SE with the all stainless metal and walnut stock. They look gorgeous :)
 
Your internet education is really good. :D
I have a old Carl Gustaf in 6.5x55 and love it, I then bought a Tikka T3 Lite great gun/caliber, didn't like the synthetic stock, found it very slippery when very cold, The caliber turned out to be my favourite so I switched stock with my Tikka Hunter Stainless 30-06, I now can say this is my favourite gun, I put a Leupold VX3 1.75-6X32mm. I've had great success with Norma 160 gr Oryx, Alaska and Vulkan.
Good Luck
 
Thank you for all of your information and suggestions! I have actually been keeping my eye on Tradex, and hoping to find something that catches my eye. They do have tonnes of 6.5x55 rifles, but as NAA stated they might not measure up to a modern production rifles. I have considered the Tika, but for the same price I would most definitely go for a CZ in the full stock. I am encouraged by the CZ recommendations and I suppose I can amend my original question to: Which rifles are available chambered in 6.5x55, and come in a full stock option? Thanks for the compliment Norma!
ratherbefishin: how have you found their performance? Did you have to do much tinkering to get them to shoot well? What kinds of safety checking does Tradex do, if any? I would most definitely take any used gun to a gunsmith before shooting it, but I was just wondering about the general Tradex quality, as I have never dealt with them before.

Niksa
 
glad to see I am not the only 6.5 fan in Canada. I have went to it for my "family" caliber. I am going with m-96/38 sporterised or original. Have three of the required 4 on hand, one wood, two synthetic, all shoot in 1" at 100 with my handloads using a variety of bullet weights. Very flexible, 85gr for coyote/varmint, 120 for deer/reduced recoil, 140 for general purpose and I would not hide from moose or bear with 160 rn. I have shot three deer with this caliber, not one moved 6" from where it stood, two heart shots, one head shot(at 50 paces)

Reloading is essential if you shoot this caliber, makes it so much better and you can have trouble finding ammo in small towns.
 
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