6.5x55 Help please

Fair enough on the tikka front. Shooting lefty leaves me with few options I think zastava can be found lefty as well. I don’t spend time with old military rifles just cause most of them don’t shoot comfortably for me left handed.

Looking forward to seeing what you get.

B
 
I like Husqvarnas. If you go with the 1600 series, you can be assured that the scope bases will be properly aligned, the bolt properly bent, and you will have a hinged floorplate. The sported milsurps can have issues, particularly the alignment of the scope bases - swedish gunsmiths seem to have trouble with this.
If you really want to step up get an old Tikka (LSA 65, etc).
 
I have a few sporters from Tradex, never had any issues with the HVA commercial 96/98 offerings. Bases were all straight, handles bent cleanly, all shoot well and I like the fat forends.
I have one 1899 Obie sporter, it was done up in a nice walnut stock, retained 25" of barrel, shoots like a target rifle.
I'd rather a 98 over a 96 though, the #### on closing and long lock time is not a benefit.
 
I've shot and owned a few mauser sporters from a few different sources (tradex, intersurplus, EE, Frontier) and they all shot well. For the price it's hard to beat a sportered rifle to get into the caliber.

Try and find something that's already drilled and tapped with bases and low swing or side safety and a stock that looks like it will fit you and you've got everything you need.

Yes the Tikka's are the nicer more modern option, but i doubt i'll shoot a tikka any better than my swede that was 1/3 of the price. Of course if you're a hand loader and want to push the envelope with speeds/pressure then the modern action would make sense.
 
stang said:
I have had the model 96 and the model 38s. I also have a Ruger #1.
I hand load using H4831SC and a 140 grain bullet with excellent accuracy in any of the rifles.
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Ok great! Did you do any modifications to the bolts at all?-#### on close, drill gas ports, etc
 
hobophobe said:
Yup, bought a 1640 myself in 6.5x55. Stock has a chip at the forend. No biggie. Has a nice monte carlo style comb someone added. Great bore. Came with weaver bases.

Intersurplus descriptions made the purchase easy.

Buy the best one you can afford.

Currently zinging 100 grain pills at 3200fps, 129s at 2850 and 140s at 2710. All with reasonable accuracy.
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Yes definitely leaning into best I can afford, the big b word comes into play to the equation and the learning otherwise in a perfect world I'd just get a T3x, M65, Carl Gustav 3000, Hq 1640, Hq 1900, Hq M38, Hq M96....
 
Hmatt said:
I’ve got an m96 sporter,the bolt handle comment from buckmastr is spot on. I LOVE the rifle but I will be buying a modern version rifle sooner or later. If you’re just going to buy one I’d suggest going modern, I’m probably going to get a tikka.

I shoot mostly s&b and PPU factory and reload the brass.
I load 140gr hornady gmx with imr 4350 , it’s really not picky what I put through it it’s very accurate.
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As modern as I'll get on this is probably the Husqvarna 1640, I've owned one in the past and really liked the rifle. I really love T3xs, they're great but I want a nice wood stock with a weight at around the 6lb mark and when kitted out on a scope and bullets at 7.7ish lbs.

It seems to be a very powder and bullet happy round, enjoying a good variety.
 
Canuck65 said:
I’ve found that some are great and others are sloppy with f’ed up headspace issues and terrible triggers (though aftermarket triggers are easily found for them).

Can’t go wrong with a commercial Husqvarna, like a 1640. That’s the way I’d go if you’re after a vintage rifle.
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I love the 1640. I had one in 308. So nice. So light. And I'm anatomically built just right that my ankle reaches my rear just the right way to kick it...

The Schnabel stocks are beautiful. Even if I got a rougher one I'd consider get one copied in a beautiful black walnut or bastogne walnut, add on a rosewood tip and maple spacer for flare...
 
My m94 got me hooked on the 6.5 x 55
A few years after I got it I found a Sako 85 for a great deal got it and never looked back.

Had it at the range yesterday and put two shots about 1 1/4 inches at 100 yards.
As did my buddy with his CZ in 6.5

This was done after we sighted them and let the barrels cool down.
Ready for deer camp.
 
Husqvarna make quality rifles. Bought myself one in 30-06 a while ago. Smooth bolt cycling.

Another brand to look at is a HVA Carl Gustaf, have both a 300 win mag and 25-06, quality built with a super smooth bolt. If you don't mind push feed.
 
I am a fan of both this caliber and Swedish Rifles.

I have two range toys and one hunting rifle. For the range, a 1943 M38 Husky and a 1900 Obendorf M96. both in original Military configuration.

For hunting (and at the range) I have a Zastava M70 designated 6.5 x 55 SE (OK for higher pressure ammo.

As far as buying used Swedish built sporting rifles, as others have stated, there are a good selection out there. I would like to find a Swedish built commercial M98 in 6.5 x 55 preferably with the old German style removable side mount for a scope. I bought one of these rifles with the side mount, from Intersurplus in 9.3 x 62 and it is a great rifle in a great caliber. I have bought other stuff from them, and all have exceeded my expectations. The M96 sporters are nice, light and easy handling rifles, and are currently under-priced in my opinion; but I think price is driven by availability.

Fans of this caliber like many here, and the fact that the 6.5 Creed is running out of steam are contributing to a renewed popularity in this caliber and these great rifles.

I would post photos, but this website lets me sometimes and other times not. This I don't understand.
 
how much money do you intend to spend? new or used? 1890's design or more modern? what do you intend to hunt? long range or thick bush? scope or sights?
Intersurplus has quite a few on their site. If I had to pick one I would go with a krico. otherwise a new tikka t3x.
 
These are a few of my favorite 6.5x55 hunters, HVA Dahlberg 1600 with 20" barrel, BSA CF2, and a PH LW. Had a "modern" Howa but it just didn't have any class lol.
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