6.5x55 or... trying to dial in my next purchase

[Dapesche]

This right here. I’ve been following you along with your quest this fall. You got your elk, a fine one in my opinion, at close range. Sounds like like you are sly enough to get in close enough for the kill. 350 yards is an easy shot for the Swede when you plunk it in the boiler room. I have one in Tikka T3X SS Synthetic. Very accurate.
Keep on keepin on.

Thanks chewy. I missed out on a left hand tikka 6.5x55 laminate stainless which is essentially what I really wanted. It got me thinking about the calibre again and wanting both the right build and the right calibre.... 1st world problems, eh!?

Thanks to everyone for your comments. While the Swede isn't a heavy hitter it is very effective. 308 will always tempt me but I have a nice history with my Swede so far.

I'll keep on keeping on.

 

[Dapesche]

Keep the swede. I have a custom and love it. i have shot the 140 partitions and have taken bear,elk,yotes and deer. I am now shooting the 160 woodleighs. they seem to work just as good.

I own a cooper 280 rem and i haven't shot it in about three years(talk about money sitting idle). I also have a sako AV for another build, but for the last few years, i don't know what to build. the swede can pretty much do it all for the way i hunt

enjoy. 120 years ago, they got it right

Seems like they did nail the construction. REALLY wish you could buy factory ammo loaded to the full potential of the modern actions.

 

[ndallyn]

Very surprised no one has mentioned a .270 win. Huge selection of rifles and off the shelf ammunition, moderate recoil - the most milk-toast, boringly effective catridge around.

 

[Dapesche]

Very surprised no one has mentioned a .270 win. Huge selection of rifles and off the shelf ammunition, moderate recoil - the most milk-toast, boringly effective catridge around.

My dad gave me his old German made 270. It's right handed and it's not in great shape. I actually don't mind the recoil on it either....More of a push. Because I have that rifle I wouldn't buy a nicer one. I'll likely hunt bear with it and if I get a bear I'll retire it because it's not very accurate with the premium ammo I put through it. Would take a shot over 100yds.

From my research I believe the 270 was fairly inefficient with the powder it uses for the power it generates.

For me (recoil sensitive) it made more sense to have a 7mm-08 over the 270 without giving up too much performance.

 

[dand883]

Your 6.5x55 is plenty effective out to 400 yards or so, even shooting that factory Accubond.

If you still feel you need to upgrade, and considering recoil sensitivity, the 7-08 is the next
best choice. Tikka is very good choice, but there are no flies on that Browning either.
Regards, Dave.

I'd agree with Eagleye 100% on the 7-08 being the next step up.

Personally i find the inflex recoil pads that come in the Browning rifles (xbolt, AboltIII) do an excellent job of taming recoil. I've shot my savage 16 in .308 and a browning Xbolt in .308 side by side and the Savage is heavier and has a nice recoil pad itself, but somehow the lighter browning had much less felt recoil.

I don't know if there's somewhere you can try before you buy anywhere near you, but i'd give an Xbolt in 7mm-08 a try and see how you like it. It gives you a bit more of a selection of factory loads than the 6.5x55 (which has many that are loaded down for the old surplus krags)

 

[jed]

I have both the 7mm-08 and a 6.5x55 and I highly recommend either or both. I handload a 130 accubond in the swede and a 140 grain accubond in the 7mm-08 Recoil is around 14 ft / lbs on both. If you want a new rifle buy or build a 7mm-08. (Browning makes a left hand micro medallion as well as the xbolt. Mine is a left hand Rem 700 cdl 308 rebarreled and restocked) I find I use the swede in nice weather and the 7mm-08 in bad weather. If you really want to buy a new gun go for it I currently am trying to find a left hand Zastava model 70 in 7 x 57 just because I find the recoil of the 7x57 very manageable as well. Like the Swede they got the Mauser right all those years ago.

 

[Dapesche]

I'd agree with Eagleye 100% on the 7-08 being the next step up.

Personally i find the inflex recoil pads that come in the Browning rifles (xbolt, AboltIII) do an excellent job of taming recoil. I've shot my savage 16 in .308 and a browning Xbolt in .308 side by side and the Savage is heavier and has a nice recoil pad itself, but somehow the lighter browning had much less felt recoil.

I don't know if there's somewhere you can try before you buy anywhere near you, but i'd give an Xbolt in 7mm-08 a try and see how you like it. It gives you a bit more of a selection of factory loads than the 6.5x55 (which has many that are loaded down for the old surplus krags)

I believe my brother in law just picked up a xbolt 7mm-08.
Ill probably give it a go next summer as he lives out of town.

 

[Dapesche]

Swede’s are sweet shooters, don’t forget about the 160 Hornady RN, it’s a killer, shoots flat enough to 300, and is reasonably priced, and very accurate!

I've heard one other person recommend the 160gr RN.
Have you used that round yourself? Still using it?

 

[BlackRam]

I own the 6.5x55, 6.5 CM and the 7mm-08 and they are all great cartridges with very good performance, usually underrated by those that have never used them, with tolerable recoil for those that are sensitive to it. I have more shooting experience with the grand old Swede than I do with any other centerfire cartridge
I own a LH Tikka, a LH X-Bolt and others from several other manufacturers. While I like the Tikka, I do prefer the Sako's, but they are definitely more pricey. I too, would love to find a stainless, laminate Tikka in LH, but I have never seen one. Edit: Just saw one for sale in 6.5x55 for sale in Calgary on TownPost.
My current Swede (4th rifle in this chambering) is a LH Model 85 Hunter and it is a beautiful rifle and is very accurate with factory ammo, including the Nosler 140gr AccuBond load. I like it so much that I bought a matching rifle in 9.3x62. The Nosler AccuBond is my favourite hunting bullet! Have been successfully using it since it first came out.
My 6.5 Creedmoor is a semi-custom Browning X-Bolt. I bought the Browning X-Bolt All Weather LH (stainless laminated rifle, now discontinued) in 7mm-08 and rebarrelled it with a Benchmark barrel. It is also very accurate with factory ammo, including the 140gr AccuBond and 143gr ELD-X loads. While it may be hard to locate a LH X-Bolt All Weather, there are still some sitting on the odd gunstore's shelf or can be found used. They are a great rifle and I am really liking mine! Recoil is tame, it is attractive and the trigger is nice.
The 7mm-08 I have is a rebarrelled Winchester Model 88, while my wife's is a Steyr Mountain Classic. Haven't had much time to play with mine yet, but hers shoots the Nosler 140gr AccuBond ammo into sub-MOA groups. The handload that it likes is a 140gr Sierra Pro Hunter that will shoot 1/2 MOA groups for her.
There are 155/156gr loads fro the Swede and 150/154gr loads for the 7mm-08, and for handloading, there are 160gr bullets for both cartridges. For the longer shots, I would choose the 140-154gr loads. For elk, moose, bear and deer in the thick brush, any of the loads will work. Just find the one that your particular rifle prefers!
Both the 270 and 280 are great cartridges that provide more reach and energy due to increased velocity by burning more powder. It does come at a cost of burning more powder and has more recoil, but for the average shooter is still tolerable. Both have proven very effective on game for years. Of the two, I prefer the 280 Rem.
Yes, muzzle brakes reduce felt recoil, but are noisier than hell and will reduce your sight picture by blowing dust, grass, leaves or snow around at the shot. And most people also flinch as much from the noise of a shot as they do from the felt recoil. I personally do not like, nor will ever have one on my rifles. But that is just just my opinion.

 

[Paul_T]

I reload for my T3x Laminate Stainless.

Hornady 140SST and the Hornady 160 Interlock 'pencils'.

140SST's at 2800 fps are no slouch - accurate and hard hitting on game. 0.35" groups at 100. Most of my game is shot at 100yds or less but this load is still grouping very well at 300 yds.

The 160's at 200yds are still a good hunting round, I'm getting 1.75" groups at that distance with a muzzle vel of 2570 fps.....


If you don;t reload, the factory Hornady 140SST and 160 Interlocks's are still a good way to go in 6.5x55



I also don't like recoil and was going to go with 7mm08 until a friend let me shoot a couple of his Swede's. I was hooked after that.

 

[Hitzy]

I've got more 6.5x55's then anything else in the stable...some 120 years old, some from the WW2 era, some modern, Danish target rifles built on 98's, English made Parker Hales, Japanese made Howa, Swedish made HVA, German 96's they all shoot very well.

 

[Dapesche]

I own the 6.5x55, 6.5 CM and the 7mm-08 and they are all great cartridges with very good performance, usually underrated by those that have never used them, with tolerable recoil for those that are sensitive to it. I have more shooting experience with the grand old Swede than I do with any other centerfire cartridge
I own a LH Tikka, a LH X-Bolt and others from several other manufacturers. While I like the Tikka, I do prefer the Sako's, but they are definitely more pricey. I too, would love to find a stainless, laminate Tikka in LH, but I have never seen one.
My current Swede (4th rifle in this chambering) is a LH Model 85 Hunter and it is a beautiful rifle and is very accurate with factory ammo, including the Nosler 140gr AccuBond load. I like it so much that I bought a matching rifle in 9.3x62. The Nosler AccuBond is my favourite hunting bullet! Have been successfully using it since it first came out.
My 6.5 Creedmoor is a semi-custom Browning X-Bolt. I bought the Browning X-Bolt All Weather LH (stainless laminated rifle, now discontinued) in 7mm-08 and rebarrelled it with a Benchmark barrel. It is also very accurate with factory ammo, including the 140gr AccuBond and 143gr ELD-X loads. While it may be hard to locate a LH X-Bolt All Weather, there are still some sitting on the odd gunstore's shelf or can be found used. They are a great rifle and I am really liking mine! Recoil is tame, it is attractive and the trigger is nice.
The 7mm-08 I have is a rebarrelled Winchester Model 88, while my wife's is a Steyr Mountain Classic. Haven't had much time to play with mine yet, but hers shoots the Nosler 140gr AccuBond ammo into sub-MOA groups. The handload that it likes is a 140gr Sierra Pro Hunter that will shoot 1/2 MOA groups for her.
There are 155/156gr loads fro the Swede and 150/154gr loads for the 7mm-08, and for handloading, there are 160gr bullets for both cartridges. For the longer shots, I would choose the 140-154gr loads. For elk, moose, bear and deer in the thick brush, any of the loads will work. Just find the one that your particular rifle prefers!
Both the 270 and 280 are great cartridges that provide more reach and energy due to increased velocity by burning more powder. It does come at a cost of burning more powder and has more recoil, but for the average shooter is still tolerable. Both have proven very effective on game for years. Of the two, I prefer the 280 Rem.
Yes, muzzle brakes reduce felt recoil, but are noisier than hell and will reduce your sight picture by blowing dust, grass, leaves or snow around at the shot. And most people also flinch as much from the noise of a shot as they do from the felt recoil. I personally do not like, nor will ever have one on my rifles. But that is just just my opinion.

Great info. Thank you!
Awesome to get feedback from folks with a few of the rifles.

 

[Dapesche]

I reload for my T3x Laminate Stainless.

Hornady 140SST and the Hornady 160 Interlock 'pencils'.

140SST's at 2800 fps are no slouch - accurate and hard hitting on game. 0.35" groups at 100. Most of my game is shot at 100yds or less but this load is still grouping very well at 300 yds.

The 160's at 200yds are still a good hunting round, I'm getting 1.75" groups at that distance with a muzzle vel of 2570 fps.....


If you don;t reload, the factory Hornady 140SST and 160 Interlocks's are still a good way to go in 6.5x55



I also don't like recoil and was going to go with 7mm08 until a friend let me shoot a couple of his Swede's. I was hooked after that.

Let me know when you get bored of your tikka lam Ss and I'll buy it

 

[brybenn]

If youre recoil sensitive and looking for a bigger rifle a 308 rifle set into a chassis system adds weight and ergonomics and reduces felt recoil. Mdt is a great chassis and add a ergo delux palm swell pistol grip and a stock stock with a nice pad on it recoil seems to get transfered thru the palm and arm instead of the shoulder. Also with various stocks the perfect cheekweld can easily be found. Just a thought anyway. Brakes are loud and hard on the ears especailly if you hunt in thick cover. I actually swapped my brake out for a fake can

The 6.5x55 is a great cartridge and more than capable of taking game well beyond 200 yards if your skills are up to it. As much as i find the 308 boring i cant argue its effectiveness. If you feel the need to buy another rifle id go 308 if i were you. Or a heavy 280

 

[6.5Jonny]

I would stick with the Swede. Loaded with the right bullet it is plenty for most Canadian game out to 300 yards. I've done the majority of my hunting in the last thirty years with the old 6.5, first in a M96 mauser and for the last two decades with a Ruger M77. I've taken 3 moose, 4 elk and a whole lot of deer with that round. Generally I go with 140gr partitions for bigger game and 130gr accubonds for everything else. I've taken an couple shots out to 400 yards with no issues.

As long as you're able to shoot your rifle accurately at at the ranges you'll be hunting at I personally don't see the need for you to switch to a different calibre. The old Swede will get the job done.

 

[BigBraz15]

If you are looking for a change can I suggest just doing some mods on your current 6.5. I spent many years chasing the "next best thing" and have just found the past couple years a one gun hunter knows that gun so well that it's a more intimate experience. Don't get me wrong I have other guns, but after upgrading my current M7 Remington seems to fit and shoot great. If you are looking for weather resistance perhaps try to ceracote it, you can swap the stock, trigger, upgrade the scope... at the peak of collecting I had 30 rifles, and it always seemed that they were never sighted in or ready to go. I now have 4 and have used only one for hunting the past 2 years.

 

[Dapesche]

If youre recoil sensitive and looking for a bigger rifle a 308 rifle set into a chassis system adds weight and ergonomics and reduces felt recoil. Mdt is a great chassis and add a ergo delux palm swell pistol grip and a stock stock with a nice pad on it recoil seems to get transfered thru the palm and arm instead of the shoulder. Also with various stocks the perfect cheekweld can easily be found. Just a thought anyway. Brakes are loud and hard on the ears especailly if you hunt in thick cover. I actually swapped my brake out for a fake can

The 6.5x55 is a great cartridge and more than capable of taking game well beyond 200 yards if your skills are up to it. As much as i find the 308 boring i cant argue its effectiveness. If you feel the need to buy another rifle id go 308 if i were you. Or a heavy 280

It's very true and I find I am constantly leaning towards the 308. Nothing fancy but great recoil numbers paired with decent speeds and energy.

In reality I think I'm between being ok with the 6.5x55 but knowing if I'm going to buy my 'one rifle' I'd likely go 308 for the great selection of factory ammo.

Deep down I know the Swede is good enough and it's obviously worked a few times now on my Wt, Md, and elk.

 

[Dapesche]

I would stick with the Swede. Loaded with the right bullet it is plenty for most Canadian game out to 300 yards. I've done the majority of my hunting in the last thirty years with the old 6.5, first in a M96 mauser and for the last two decades with a Ruger M77. I've taken 3 moose, 4 elk and a whole lot of deer with that round. Generally I go with 140gr partitions for bigger game and 130gr accubonds for everything else. I've taken an couple shots out to 400 yards with no issues.

As long as you're able to shoot your rifle accurately at at the ranges you'll be hunting at I personally don't see the need for you to switch to a different calibre. The old Swede will get the job done.

Accuracy is key for sure.

I'd love to be able to buy factory 140gr partitions loaded to the true potential of my generation of 6.5 Swedes.

I think this issue is my biggest problem. 6.5 SWEDE seems like it is perfect for a retiree or someone younger that has time to reload. ��

 

[Dapesche]

If you are looking for a change can I suggest just doing some mods on your current 6.5. I spent many years chasing the "next best thing" and have just found the past couple years a one gun hunter knows that gun so well that it's a more intimate experience. Don't get me wrong I have other guns, but after upgrading my current M7 Remington seems to fit and shoot great. If you are looking for weather resistance perhaps try to ceracote it, you can swap the stock, trigger, upgrade the scope... at the peak of collecting I had 30 rifles, and it always seemed that they were never sighted in or ready to go. I now have 4 and have used only one for hunting the past 2 years.

Right now I have the leupold vx2 4x12.

For local hunting it has more reach then I need.

 

[dan belisle]

Reloading is easy, and will bring out the best performance of your Swede. It's a great cartridge, I've had a few over the years (still have a couple, along with a 6.5x57, which is just a wee bit quicker). They are all accurate and certainly powerful enough with the right bullet for anything this side of the big bears. - dan