Middle of the road 6.5

Another vote for the 6.5x55. Every gun shop I've been into also carries the factory stuff...more so now than before, and with a much better variety too !
I had the 6.5's all my life in one form, make, or other. I finally found a Tikka T3 Forest in my beloved swede 3 yrs ago...amazing shooter, my daughter loves it also...no recoil to speak of !!!
 
Just getting back into my 6.5x55 load development now that I have acquired the proper rings for my Ruger African. Looking forward to hopefully putting some meat in the freezer with it this fall.
Now onto measuring its chamber since it doesn't want to handle a max COAL load...
 
98ssuck said:
6.5x55 is the only option. The only question is wether to AI it or not imo. No other 6.5 is as capable and available. I went with a 6.5x55ai on a 84l. For two reasons.
1 my handloads for a 6.5x55 would have been way above safe pressures for a 96 or 94 Mauser action
2 it didn’t cost anymore to do. Sure dies cost more but I can still put non ackley ammo in the gun.
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The older actions can handle the pressure they just don't handle gas escape from case failure and you will get hurt.
 
6.5x55 takes up a lot of spots in my safe spanning 120 years of manufacturing from an 1899 Obie to a newer Howa.
Bullet selection is fantastic, and loads can be tailored to a wide velocity range for each bullet weight. It's very easy to load for too.
 
Another vote here for the 6.5x55.... :cool:

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bcsteve said:
I’m a big fan of the 6.5x55, it was my first big game rifle and shot my first deer with it. But... if you’re using a long action anyway, I’d go 6.5-06.
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The 6.5-06 is a very good choice, but the 6.5x55 has the advantage of a much better selection on loading kit.

I like to use Lee collet dies and Forster BR seaters. These are not offered for the 6.5-06.
 
Another vote for the 6.5x55!
While its number on paper may not be as impressive as some other cartridges, itperforms beyond its numbers.
Easy to load for, fun to shoot and easy on the shoulder, and more accurate than most of can shoot.
Have been a fan for 25 years and am on my 4th rifle in this chambering, having finally gotten a left handed Sako Hunter. First three rounds went less than 1/2" at 100 yards with factory ammo. Need to fine tune a handload for this rifle with the 140 gr Nosler AccuBond.
 
Well I ran into a snag with the project. I re-fell in love with the donor rifle. Damn. Dialed the load back 1/2 a grain and it now puts them around 2.5 inches at 300 yards. Can’t ask much more than that out of a 6 lb package. Back to the drawing board.
 
Slimbo said:
Well I ran into a snag with the project. I re-fell in love with the donor rifle. Damn. Dialed the load back 1/2 a grain and it now puts them around 2.5 inches at 300 yards. Can’t ask much more than that out of a 6 lb package. Back to the drawing board.
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This thread was a great read right up to here! I had visions of a super swede and then they fell off a cliff :) oh well, good shooters are keepers
 
Yes the 84L is too small for any magnum cartridge. I thought of 6.5-06 but if I go that route I may as well save a pile of cash and get a 270
 
Slimbo said:
Yes the 84L is too small for any magnum cartridge. I thought of 6.5-06 but if I go that route I may as well save a pile of cash and get a 270
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Either way, as per your OP, there will be a new barrel installed. The only difference fference between a 6.5x55 and a 6.5-06 will be the difference in the cost of dies for the wildcat die set.
 
Slimbo said:
Well I ran into a snag with the project. I re-fell in love with the donor rifle. Damn. Dialed the load back 1/2 a grain and it now puts them around 2.5 inches at 300 yards. Can’t ask much more than that out of a 6 lb package. Back to the drawing board.
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Been there, done that... several times.

I have Ruger M77 MKII 7X57 and 6.5X55 that were purchased as donors, but they just shoot too good as is. Your old M77 MKII stainless .350 RM is now a 6.5 RM though.
 
SuperCub said:
Either way, as per your OP, there will be a new barrel installed. The only difference fference between a 6.5x55 and a 6.5-06 will be the difference in the cost of dies for the wildcat die set.
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Not gonna lie the 300 pieces of Lapua 6.5x55 and Redding comp die set already on the shelf are influencing my decision.

Hoyt that 6.5 rem is a really neat one. My dads neighbour has an old 660 I think I’m just waiting for the day he wants to part with it
 
Slimbo said:
Not gonna lie the 300 pieces of Lapua 6.5x55 and Redding comp die set already on the shelf are influencing my decision.

Hoyt that 6.5 rem is a really neat one. My dads neighbour has an old 660 I think I’m just waiting for the day he wants to part with it
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It worked out well, as I picked up 600 pieces of new R-P 6.5 Rem Mag brass cheap, and I kept the original .350 Rem Mag barrel to swap out in my other M77 MKII Stainless .350 RM, should I ever shoot the barrel out... I shot both .350's a considerable amount to decide which one was going to become the 6.5, and yours lost, or won, depending on how you look at it.
 
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