6.5mm questions... 6.5 Mauser vs Swede

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sgt.rock

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Having never owned a single 6.5mm rifle ever (yet I have bought and sold hundreds of hunting guns over the years), I think I may take the plunge. I am not interested in any newfangled rounds like the creedmore. I want to shoot a classic round. I may get a gun made, or if I can find a good original then I may do that.
Either way, I have narrowed down the rounds to 6.5 Swede or Mauser. Anyone have any experience with these and your biases are fine. Is one more capable than the other? If I have a gun made, I can fast twist for longer bullets. Please let me know which you'd choose and why.
Cheers CGN
 
This is like asking 308 Win or 7.5x54 MAS.

Except perhaps because you just want one, but otherwise everything points to the 6.5X55.
 
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My buddy just recently built one on an old Mauser action, loaded 5 rounds , 1 grain less than max. IMR 4350.
5 rnds 1 MOA, called it a day..
 
I have a number of "sported" Swede M94/M96 in 6.5x55 - they are perfectly fine rifles - completely adequate for "mice to moose", with appropriate bullets. But, I think the pressure standards might be pushing 100 year old or more. If you moved to a 6.5x57, and decided to build on a M98, maybe you could up the performance a bit. But that might be more for "talking about", as opposed to making an actual difference on a deer at 250 yards? The one more or less unmolested Swede M96 that I have has a 29" barrel (?). The shortest one is a 17.7" M94 "carbine". Same cartridge. I would think the performance difference is greater between those two barrels, than between the cartridges that you mention?
 
The practical choice in ammo and rifle selection would be the swede. Zastava made some 6.5x57's and were on the market a couple years back, should of bought one myself but i cant source any for sale.
 
dgradinaru said:
The practical choice in ammo and rifle selection would be the swede. Zastava made some 6.5x57's and were on the market a couple years back, should of bought one myself but i cant source any for sale.
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Agreed... hit the easy button and get the 6.5X55 Swede.

I am currently shooting 6.5's in RM, X55, X57 and .260 Rem.

Daniel, have your tried the 7.62X57 HC yet? I shot two moose and a two bears with it so far and it has done an admirable job... about like the .308 or .30/06, but with flair.
 
hoytcanon said:
Agreed... hit the easy button and get the 6.5X55 Swede.

I am currently shooting 6.5's in RM, X55, X57 and .260 Rem.

Daniel, have your tried the 7.62X57 HC yet? I shot two moose and a two bears with it so far and it has done an admirable job... about like the .308 or .30/06, but with flair.
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I haven't got around to it, had the die set show up after months of waiting. I ended up using my 8mm-06 project and will finish the season with that but next year i plan on using the 7.62x57 for most of my hunting.
 
How do you guys get so much hunting in? Here on the Island we’re allowed 1 moose every 2 years. A couple of Black Bear per year, but they’re scarce as hens teeth.
Fowl,if you can find it.

That’s it, unless you want to go hunting salt water birds.. lol

They are introducing turkey though.
 
bcsteve said:
They're the same. The 6.5x55 Swedish is also called the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser.
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They aren't the same. Different brass. 6.5x57 has slightly more case capacity. I like it, but I also like the Swede. Downside of the Mauser is brass (though you can just neck down 7x57 if required) and rifles. Not a lot of them pop up. Great hunting round though. - dan
 
45C said:
How do you guys get so much hunting in? Here on the Island we’re allowed 1 moose every 2 years. A couple of Black Bear per year, but they’re scarce as hens teeth.
Fowl,if you can find it.

That’s it, unless you want to go hunting salt water birds.. lol

They are introducing turkey though.
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You live in the wrong place. No draws here. If resident, just buy the tags. Moose bear wolf etc every year for 25 years.
 
I have only used the 6.5x55. I found it to be a great deer cartridge (also a good moose cartridge with 140 grain and heavier bullets) and very accurate. In my rifle a Tikka t3 it wasnt picky about handloads at all.
 
My vote is for the 6.5x55. If you want something a little different and unique then go with the 6.5x57 but based on availability and convenience alone the Swede wins. I've owned many from the m96 to Zastava, CZ, Sako etc. Still wanted something a bit unique so I got a 6.5x55 in a Weatherby.
 
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