for the love of 6.5x55
- Thread starter jogforfun
- Start date
- Location
- Ottawa origanally Muskoka
I proudly own a Winchester M70 featherlight clasic in 6.5x55. It has a shortened barrel and the addition of a hooded elevation adjustable front sight. She has been fitted with a 3-9x40 bushnel trophy mil-dot and I aquired it when my father agreed to handle the firearm portion of a friends estate.
I test fired the gun then fitted with a rubber clad 4x 32 tasco and loaded some old federal 140gr bear claws and managed to stuff an entire mag into one hole
....SOLD!
Since then my go to loading is 42.5gr of BL-C2 under a 129gr Hornady SST....41gr of BL-C2 under a 95gr Vmax is also a deadly acurate round when seated long.
I have yet to hunt large game with it but have turned a few varmints inside out.
I'm looking forward to this fall.
On a side note: if anyone has some 6.5mm trophy bonded bearclaws they would like to sell PM me.
I test fired the gun then fitted with a rubber clad 4x 32 tasco and loaded some old federal 140gr bear claws and managed to stuff an entire mag into one hole
....SOLD!Since then my go to loading is 42.5gr of BL-C2 under a 129gr Hornady SST....41gr of BL-C2 under a 95gr Vmax is also a deadly acurate round when seated long.
I have yet to hunt large game with it but have turned a few varmints inside out.
I'm looking forward to this fall.
On a side note: if anyone has some 6.5mm trophy bonded bearclaws they would like to sell PM me.
Last edited:
- Location
- Ottawa origanally Muskoka
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...ge-CGN-264-Bullet-Test-Result**-(lots-of-pics!)
For those looking for 6.5x55 fodder
For those looking for 6.5x55 fodder
bumming around on the site looking at old posts and decided to give this one a update. The new 85 hunter is not so new anymore it has been with me on three elk hunts as well as a handful of deer hunts. it has climbed up mountains and down valley's and learned along the way with me. As I near my 40's and my hunting partner 50's we have taken on a few nephews. camps change hunting stories get added but the 6.5x55 will always be with me.
I bought my first Swede in 1990, a 1902 Husky 96 for $100 from John at LeBaron in Mississauga. I remember buying boxes of Pirvi Partizan FMJ’s for $8.50/20 and shooting the heck out of the Moon river on our camping trips. I was reading Jeff Cooper at the time, and have the guys at Toronto gun cut the barrel and help me mount up a Burris scout scope. I’ve never shot a rifle that was easier to hit a moving target with. I foolishly sold that rifle when I first started on CGN. I’ve tried to buy it back, but the guy sold it to sold it as well. I still remember the serial number by heart. It started my first metric centerfire/Mauser love affair, and it still going strong today with a Tikka T3. I’ve probably owned a half dozen other 6.5x55 rifles along the way, but none will ever replace my 1902. Interestingly, I’m still shooting all that PP brass that I bought from those camping trips. I never loaded it hot, and I’ve only trimmed it twice. I imagine I’ll get at least two more loads out of that batch.
I miss those LeBaron days....
I miss those LeBaron days....
The only thing wrong with the old 65x55 Swede is they don’t really you give any reason to buy another rifle ...light recoil,superbly accurate and ballistics that match a 270 after 100 yards.One Of the highest SDs in any caliber which makes it very very lethal.The low recoil means most people can shoot it very accurately yo7 can spend more but you really don’t get more ,in fact the new 260 does not offer much more than the 100 year old Swede does.
Last edited:
I think it was 1992 whenI read my first article on the 6.5x55. Still remember the statement, performance of the 270 Win, recoil of the 257 Roberts, and more accurate than either.
I came across a guy who had an older milsurp semi-auto rifle in 6.5x55 for sale with some ammo for $80 in 1994. Bought it and took it to the local gravel pit, and shot that Norma 139 gr ammo with the open sights. Shot very well. Could consistently pick off empty shotgun shell casings at 100 yards.
I ordered a Remington 700 Classic when Wholesale Sports announced them in their catalog. Mounted a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 on it and took it to the range. It shot that Norma ammo into nice cloverleafs at 100 yards (did not measure). I quickly ranout of the Norma ammo and was unable to find more. The Hornady Light Magnum Euro spec ammo shot very similarly. A buddy wanted my old semi, so I sold it to him and he still has it.
That Classic shot great! Eventually mounted a Leupold Vari X II 3-9x40 on it, and put a Rem 700 Arylon stock on it. And got into handloading for it.
It shot the max load of IMR4350 with both the 140 gr Partitions and X Bullets as found in their respective loading manuals very well. It slightly preferred the X Bullet and would consistently put 5 rounds into less than an inch at 200 yards. I would put 500-700 rounds a year throughthat rifle at the range. It was so fun to shoot! That action slicked up so nice, I could cycle the action with my thumb without removing my hand from the grip. That rifle accounted for a number of deer and moose, and a stones sheep over the years. At some point, I foolishly traded that rifle for another in a magnum chambering, which I also no longer have. Promised myself to someday own a lefty 6.5 Swede rifle!
My next Classic had prettier wood, but just did not shoot as accurately as my first rifle, but was still fun to shoot and hunt with. As I was starting to get more into left handed rifles, this Classic was sold to another person who wanted it more than I did.
It took a few years to get another, but my wife bought me a Sako 85 LH Hunter in 6.5x55 in 2017. Beautiful rifle that will stay with me!
This rifle is a tack driver! It's first 3 shots went into a 3/8" cloverleaf at 100 yards, and the Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40 only had to be adjusted one click to be zeroed for 200 yards! Best bore sighting job I had ever done! So far I have only harvested a cow caribou with it, and have now switched the scope out for a Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 BRH. Still need to work up a good load with the 140gr AccuBond for this rifle.
Love the 6.5 Swede! Fun to shoot, accurate, great performance on big game, and will put a smile on your face every time you shoot it!
I came across a guy who had an older milsurp semi-auto rifle in 6.5x55 for sale with some ammo for $80 in 1994. Bought it and took it to the local gravel pit, and shot that Norma 139 gr ammo with the open sights. Shot very well. Could consistently pick off empty shotgun shell casings at 100 yards.
I ordered a Remington 700 Classic when Wholesale Sports announced them in their catalog. Mounted a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 on it and took it to the range. It shot that Norma ammo into nice cloverleafs at 100 yards (did not measure). I quickly ranout of the Norma ammo and was unable to find more. The Hornady Light Magnum Euro spec ammo shot very similarly. A buddy wanted my old semi, so I sold it to him and he still has it.
That Classic shot great! Eventually mounted a Leupold Vari X II 3-9x40 on it, and put a Rem 700 Arylon stock on it. And got into handloading for it.
It shot the max load of IMR4350 with both the 140 gr Partitions and X Bullets as found in their respective loading manuals very well. It slightly preferred the X Bullet and would consistently put 5 rounds into less than an inch at 200 yards. I would put 500-700 rounds a year throughthat rifle at the range. It was so fun to shoot! That action slicked up so nice, I could cycle the action with my thumb without removing my hand from the grip. That rifle accounted for a number of deer and moose, and a stones sheep over the years. At some point, I foolishly traded that rifle for another in a magnum chambering, which I also no longer have. Promised myself to someday own a lefty 6.5 Swede rifle!
My next Classic had prettier wood, but just did not shoot as accurately as my first rifle, but was still fun to shoot and hunt with. As I was starting to get more into left handed rifles, this Classic was sold to another person who wanted it more than I did.
It took a few years to get another, but my wife bought me a Sako 85 LH Hunter in 6.5x55 in 2017. Beautiful rifle that will stay with me!
This rifle is a tack driver! It's first 3 shots went into a 3/8" cloverleaf at 100 yards, and the Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40 only had to be adjusted one click to be zeroed for 200 yards! Best bore sighting job I had ever done! So far I have only harvested a cow caribou with it, and have now switched the scope out for a Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 BRH. Still need to work up a good load with the 140gr AccuBond for this rifle.
Love the 6.5 Swede! Fun to shoot, accurate, great performance on big game, and will put a smile on your face every time you shoot it!
Grabbed a Tradex Sabbatti 12g over .222 combi a month ago and then realized they had an extra barrel set in another section that is 12 g over 6.5 Swede - they showed up yesterday and the gun closes perfectly on the new set . Excited to give it a go this weekend .
To date best group I’ve ever shot at 200 m is with my M96 , it’s kind of evil how much joy I take in telling the 6.5 Cr crowd how old and cheap it is . I never mention it’s been bedded , Bold trigger & re crowned .
To date best group I’ve ever shot at 200 m is with my M96 , it’s kind of evil how much joy I take in telling the 6.5 Cr crowd how old and cheap it is . I never mention it’s been bedded , Bold trigger & re crowned .
I started experimenting with 6.5 rifles with an older 6.4x54 M-S. I was impressed with it's mild manners and effectiveness on game.
I shot only the original Dominion loading - a 160 grain bullet advertised at around 2160 fps. But it killed deer and Black bear very well.
Eventually sold that old rifle due to difficulty of mounting a scope. Was without any 6.5 for a bit, then Remington announced their
700 "Classic" in the 6.5x55 chambering. As soon as I saw one at the LGS, I bought it. Absolutely no regrets. This rifle has been shot
a lot....it is now on it's 3rd barrel, and in the interim has taken many deer, many Black Bear, a couple of Elk and 4 or 5 moose.
I shot only the 125 or 140 Partitions till recently, but my last Muley I shot with the 130 Accubond, with the expected results.
I like Norma MRP, IMR 7828, Vihtavuori N560, Reloder 22 and 25 in this case with 139/140 grain bullets. Have used W760 with the 125
with stellar results. Dave.
I shot only the original Dominion loading - a 160 grain bullet advertised at around 2160 fps. But it killed deer and Black bear very well.
Eventually sold that old rifle due to difficulty of mounting a scope. Was without any 6.5 for a bit, then Remington announced their
700 "Classic" in the 6.5x55 chambering. As soon as I saw one at the LGS, I bought it. Absolutely no regrets. This rifle has been shot
a lot....it is now on it's 3rd barrel, and in the interim has taken many deer, many Black Bear, a couple of Elk and 4 or 5 moose.
I shot only the 125 or 140 Partitions till recently, but my last Muley I shot with the 130 Accubond, with the expected results.
I like Norma MRP, IMR 7828, Vihtavuori N560, Reloder 22 and 25 in this case with 139/140 grain bullets. Have used W760 with the 125
with stellar results. Dave.
- Location
- Ford Nation
I remember back in the early 1980's Imperial Ammunition Company had a two page add in outdoor magazines that had a picture of all the centre fire cartridges they made and what type game species each cartridge would be good for.
I remember the 6.5x55 standing out among the other cartridges because of how long the bullet stuck out of the brass casing, for some reason that fascinated me and I had to one.
I now own a few Swedish Mauser's, a model 94 carbine, a model 96, a M38 husky and one heavy stocked, heavy barreled target one. Except for the target one I have customized them all with laminated and synthetic stocks, some with new triggers lower safeties,etc.
The cartridge is one of the most accurate I have ever shot, low recoil, seems to hit game way harder than it should. It is by far my favorite cartridge and the Swedish Mauser Rifles are a great way to introduce yourself to this Great old cartridge.
Side note... I never hurt a surplus full military rifle to make a hunting sporter I would never do that, all of mine came to live with me all ready sporterized.
I remember the 6.5x55 standing out among the other cartridges because of how long the bullet stuck out of the brass casing, for some reason that fascinated me and I had to one.
I now own a few Swedish Mauser's, a model 94 carbine, a model 96, a M38 husky and one heavy stocked, heavy barreled target one. Except for the target one I have customized them all with laminated and synthetic stocks, some with new triggers lower safeties,etc.
The cartridge is one of the most accurate I have ever shot, low recoil, seems to hit game way harder than it should. It is by far my favorite cartridge and the Swedish Mauser Rifles are a great way to introduce yourself to this Great old cartridge.
Side note... I never hurt a surplus full military rifle to make a hunting sporter I would never do that, all of mine came to live with me all ready sporterized.
My 6.5x55mm story also involves gunsmith 'John Pullen' along the way, too.
Circa 1991 a friend, who has sadly since departed, introduced me to the 6.5x55mm when we were sighting in other rifles at the SVIR range. His rifle was a Winchester Model 70 featherweight in 6.5x55mm. I was hooked right from the start. At the time factory sporters in 6.5x55mm were quite scarce.
Within the next few months I picked up a Model 96 Swede short rifle [24' brl] that was no longer minty but the barrel was shiny inside & the price was right. [Think it was around $175 at the time]. I sourced an after market synthetic stock from an ad in the old "Gunrunner" newspaper that used to come out each month. ['Course this thing call the Internet was not heard of in those days]. Eventually, took my Swede to 'smith John Pullen & had the action drilled & tapped for Weaver scope mounts, the straight bolt handle bent & a low scope safety installed. Barreled action was then bedded to the synthetic stock. I mounted a cheap Tasco 3-9x40mm on it & bore sighted using buddies Bushnell boresighter. However, after being spoiled with my buddies M70 F/W 6.5x55mm that sporter Swede just couldn't measure up. Nor should it have really been expected to. I never did hunt with it but plinked many targets at the range.
Circa 1992 the sporter Swede & I had parted company when I lucked into a NIB Ruger Model 77 MkII blued in walnut stock in 6.5x55mm from Lever Arms while on a trip to Vancouver, B.C. That Ruger was then topped with a B&L Elite 3000 3-9x40mm. It shot like a house on fire right out of the box. While I didn't hunt that rifle it shot circles around my old Swede sporter punching lots of paper.
Ruger 77 MkII 6.5x55mm
I kept the Ruger until on an early incarnation of CGN I lucked into a Remington Model 700 Classic in 6.5x55mm off the EE. I sold the Ruger after acquiring the Remington.
Remington 700 Classic 6.5x55mm
Then a couple years ago I was able to find my 'Holy Grail' of rifles..... Finally, a Winchester Model 70 featherweight in 6.5x55mm:
-------------
NAA.
I just found one of those too. Definitely on the never sell list!
Attachments
I had a Tikka T3 Hunter in 6.5x55. Awesome accurate little rifle. Shot Moose, Bear and Deer with it using Norma 156 gr Oryx. Foolishly got rid of it to clean up odd calibers in my collection. Decided to stick with .308, .30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag.
DaveMachine
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- That one place with a cowboy complex
Personally, I would have ditched either the 308 or 30-06 and kept the 6.5.
I also have had Swedish model 38 and 96. But when I got my first Tikka 695, The light went on! Wow could this rifle shoot!
Then someone wanted it, and I sold it. Now with my second one a blued with a walnut stock, it also shoot a great group, and I just started.
This is what I got! Love this caliber!
Then someone wanted it, and I sold it. Now with my second one a blued with a walnut stock, it also shoot a great group, and I just started.
This is what I got! Love this caliber!
My first 6.5 was also my first rifle. Gentlemen in Bentley, Ab had a Husqvarna M38 sporter with a black synthetic stock. Paid more for the Boyds stock than I did the rifle.
View attachment 257871
View attachment 257871
I picked up a BSA 6.5x55 Swede a few years ago on the Nutz on a trade and let my 16 year old daughter try it out with some 100 grain nosler partitions with the reduced loads from hog don in 4895 powder. She is now 20 and has 4 whitetail bucks and two does to her name. (she is shooting full loads now) First buck at 325meters. why ruin a good thing.
