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

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Dapesche

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Hey everyone,

So my rifle history is this.
  • 3 years ago I started hunting a the 300wm was recommended to me. I bought one in the 300wm and hated it due to recoil. This was my first rifle and I developed a flinch.
  • I did a ton a research and came upon the 6.5x55 so I sold the 300wm (hunter/stainless) and bought the 6.5x55 in a tikka (hunter/blued).
  • Now I have hunted a couple years with it and managed to get three animals with in. 1 small WT buck, 1 4pt MD, and a nice 6pt Bull Elk.
  • The Swede has gotten the job done.


So what's the problem?
I would like one rifle that I can be very good with, and I want it to be a nice rifle that I can keep for a long time.

Questions:
  1. I hunt in thick timber and all my shorts have been within 100yds. I am now wanting to try new areas while still hunting large game. With new areas, my shot distances will be longer and I do not reload the swede so I'll be using nosler 140gr AB factory loads. What have been others experiences with the 6.5x55 at distances over 200 yds? Have your results given you cause for concern or has the 6.5x55 been effective?
  • I consider myself recoil sensitive, and I would prefer to not have to reload due to time constraints. I really think the 6.5mm bullet is a good one so I have thought about the 6.5 creedmoor but would still have that potential effective distance issue. The 308 is of interest as well or the 7mm-08. I think for recoil reasons I have narrowed it down to: 6.5 Creed, 6.5x55, 7mm-08, and 308. Of those calibers which would do the best job of extending my distance without making practice a nightmare?
  • I had a stainless tikka rifle previously and I'd like to have a stainless laminate tikka if I could. I am Left Handed so my options are limited. In regards to build quality, should I be looking at a browning in a laminate/stainless rig or should I stick with a tikka?


Really appreciate any insights.

Thank you.
 
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 have the swede and i reload for it its great. You dont have to upgrade from the 6.5 if you got the creed, i would get one too if i had to shoot factory ammob
 
Those will all do the job from zero - 400 yards... for an all around rifle, I would tend to opt for the larger calibers; 7-08 & .308, but certainly the 6.5's will do the job just fine.
 
7-08 is the best second option. Still throwing those sweet 140gr pills around. Im running the 08 but will be getting a LH T3 in 6.5x55 one day

Fwiw I have a t3 lite in 7mm rem mag with a brake on it, and percieved recoil is less than my 7-08 its just loud.
 
Stick with the 6.5x55 it's a great round and has been around forever. Spend the money on optics or an upgraded stock. I have both the 6.5 sweed and 6.5 creedmoor stick with what you have . The creedmoor is a great round and fun to shoot . Just not that much better to justify spending money on another rifle. That is unless you have an itch to scratch and want somthing differnt nothing wrong with that. There is a reason the 6.5 sweed has been around for so long it just a great round.
 
Gr33zi3 said:
7-08 is the best second option. Still throwing those sweet 140gr pills around. Im running the 08 but will be getting a LH T3 in 6.5x55 one day

Fwiw I have a t3 lite in 7mm rem mag with a brake on it, and percieved recoil is less than my 7-08 its just loud.
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Good to know about the recoil.

I was looking at the tikka strata and thinking it'd be amazing. Unfortunately no left hand that I am aware of. Could see going up in power with that brake.

Regarding the 140gr AB's. That's where I hit the wall with the 7-08. I like the 6.5mm bullet and I thought it wouldn't make sense to go to a 7mm bullet in 140gr.

Its totally an option though because I want one multi purposed rifle.
 
HeliMD said:
Stick with the 6.5x55 it's a great round and has been around forever. Spend the money on optics or an upgraded stock. I have both the 6.5 sweed and 6.5 creedmoor stick with what you have . The creedmoor is a great round and fun to shoot . Just not that much better to justify spending money on another rifle. That is unless you have an itch to scratch and want somthing differnt nothing wrong with that. There is a reason the 6.5 sweed has been around for so long it just a great round.
Click to expand...

Appreciate the input. If you only had one option would you keep the creed or the Swede?
 
hoytcanon said:
Those will all do the job from zero - 400 yards... for an all around rifle, I would tend to opt for the larger calibers; 7-08 & .308, but certainly the 6.5's will do the job just fine.
Click to expand...

From the research I did, it would seem that the 308 would bring more bullet options vs. The Swede where nosler AB seems to be the go to.
 
Dapesche said:
From the research I did, it would seem that the 308 would bring more bullet options vs. The Swede where nosler AB seems to be the go to.
Click to expand...

The .308 will bring many more options to the table... for a single rifle, I think it is the best choice.
 
Dapesche said:
Appreciate the input. If you only had one option would you keep the creed or the Swede?
Click to expand...

Probably the creedmoor just cuz I have it already. I like playing with somthing new . I reload so it's fun playing with new loads and I already had lots of differnt 6.5 projectiles to play with . That also being said I get the ich to try somthing new. The sweed is a tika, 6.5 I have in a christisen ba tatical I just got and a 783 rem as well. Not to impressed with the rem . It's up fordale but that's just the difference between a rifw you spend few hundred dollars on to rifle that are 1000 or more
 
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 used to use a 6.5 swede for all my hunting needs, later i switched to 7-08 due to it's having a shorter 16 inch barrel. Other than the shorter barrel there is little to no difference in the performance of these two cartridges. They are both great hunting calibers with in my mind equal performance. I switched for the rifle not the cartridge.
I use 140 grain bullets in both.
 
Keep the Swede. I've never owned a Tikka, but hear good things about them. I use an old Model 94 .32 Special, so I can't offer too much advice. :p
 
The most accurate rifle I have ever owned is a Tikka T3 hunter in 6.5 swede. I handloaded mine to 260 Remington velocities and dumped a few truckloads of deer including my longest shot on a buck of 357 yards paced off.

When I hunted with the 260 rem I used a 125gr Partition and with the Swede 129 gr Hornady Spirepoints. Great cartridge.
 
bunny said:
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!
Click to expand...

john-brennan said:
You have what you need already, being recoil sensitive I would keep using the Swede they are a fantastic cartridge, bullet placement is key in harvesting animals.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
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