Sportco vs 6.5x55 Swedish CG80 or CG63

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Brocky

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In searching for an entry level precision rifle I've been lured into the 6.5x55 Swedish mystique and am quite impressed by this fine old caliber and to make the search more interesting I recently discovered in a local swap meet a 308 Sportco rifle.
The pedigree's of the Sportco and that of the Swedish 6.5x55 CG63 and CG80 are impressive.
In comparing the three there is not a great deal of online information.
Has anyone had the benefit of first hand experience with these rifles and would you like to share your experiences?
Thanks in advance.
 
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One of the features of the Sportco 44 was that it could be rebarrelled, without fitting, with a Sportco replacement barrel. This is because the bolt lugs lock into the barrel itself, not the receiver. The barrel with integral lug seats threads into the receiver. This does not make the Sportco particularly suitable for rebarrelling in other calibers. In addition, the Sportco does not have the best primary extraction. Not a problem with the NATO ball for which they were designed, can be a problem with ammunition with commercial cases.
The two CG rifles are built up on M1896 Mauser actions. They were intended for iron sighted 300m shooting. If you want to use a 'scope, you will have to go through all the joys of altering a Mauser military action to accept a 'scope.
The 6.5x55 is an outstanding cartridge.
Don't know what "precision shooting" you are anticipating doing.
There are most likely better choices than either a Sportco or a CG.
 
Rifle choices

A good CG-63 will cost you $500-$600. The CG-80, while it might seem to have some improvements, is really not that much better for normal accuracy, but it is a heck of a lot heavier.

As mentioned, you have not stated just what your intentions were, except to shoot targets. What ranges and types of targets are you contemplating?

The Swedes regularly shoot out to 600 Meters with iron sights, in their "Fieldshooting" competitions.

The CG-63 will do you for the Military style competitions, but it you are looking at some really serious long range shooting, then a commercial Remington 40X, Savage, or other purpose built target rifle is a better way to go. And parts and accessories are more readily available.
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I am aiming towards more casual shooting competitions and just plain fun shooting all inside of 600 M and down to 100 M.
I realise costs can escalate at an alarming rate in serious competions along with the great amount of practice required to be competitive these competions I am quite happy to watch and read about, I really want to keep it simple and more fun.
I already work my own reloads for my 308 Browning BAR hunting rifle this I thoroughly enjoy although the BAR has limitations its accurate within real hunting distances inside of 250 M.
Now I would like to work up loads for a more precise rifle to accurately reach out to the 600M mark.
Thanks again.
 
Not to take away from either rifle. I would guess they will both be used. For the price consider a savage rifle. You can get a long action 111 and rebarrel it with a precision barrel for not much more that you would pay for either of the guns you are talking about. The benefit is you get a brand new barrel and a stronger action.

In my case I get 250fps better than the loading manual says I should. I have a 28 inch magnum barrel on a savage 110 action and a Ross thumbhole stock. I would guess I have about 800 total into the gun including a decent 6-24x40 scope.
 
Brocky said:
In searching for an entry level precision rifle I've been lured into the 6.5x55 Swedish mystique and am quite impressed by this fine old caliber and to make the search more interesting I recently discovered in a local swap meet a 308 Sportco rifle.
The pedigree's of the Sportco and that of the Swedish 6.5x55 CG63 and CG80 are impressive.
In comparing the three there is not a great deal of online information.
Has anyone had the benefit of first hand experience with these rifles and would you like to share your experiences?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

You can genersally pick up a M44 for about $450-$500 with sights, which is a good deal for an irons rifle.
Replacing the igsisting barrel with an after market one is not that big a deal, there are adapters out there just for that, or as mentin, get another M44 barrel twisted on.
I have several rifles in both Swedish Mausers and Sportcos, and both do well.
Cat
 
Thanks all for sharing your experience and insight.
A good used modern rifle is also a consideration especially with a stronger action that I can reload to the max my manuals allow.

I think using the older rifles I would be limited to the medium loads suggested by my manuals, please correct me if they can be loaded to modern day specs.

The 6.5x55 Swedish I have dies for along with my 308 dies a rifle in either caliber would suit me fine. I prefer a heavier rifle to keep my range shooting "comfortable", all suggestions are welcomed.

Cheers,
Brocky
 
An M44 Sportco is a modern rifle, and they are very strong. I never had any trouble feeding mine commercial cases and heavier loads, plus it really, really liked 175 grain Bergers. The way I would call it is if you are looking to shoot with a scope, go with a new Savage, whichever model you want, possibly put a new Shilen or McGowen barrel on it. If you want to shoot with irons, grab a Sportco, as they will normally be found with nice peep sights installed.
 
The idea of using aperture sights is intriguing I've since been reading up and find out they can be used to shoot at considerable distances. The last time I used them was many years ago on an ancient 303 British these were quite basic but allowed for accurate shooting in hunting situations out to 150 yards.

The aperture sights on the Sportco are high quality Parker Hale target sights
In conversation with the present owner of the Sportco rifle the original owner had the Parker Hale aperture sights installed in Bisley England.

In Bisley the barrel was also proofed and stamped with some interesting marks on the barrel consisting of a small rectangle along with 20 Ton proof.
I assume if this was metric tons it would equate to 44,000 psi or imperial to 40,000 psi, which presents the question why stamp to these pressures when a 308 can reach 62,000 P.
Was this certification for the minimum standards of the time?

Cheers,
Brocky
 
All barrels that are installed in the UK must be proof tested.
I have a Sportco in .223 that I am in the process of setting up for long range shooting. The plan is to shoot the .223 matches at the CFRC in Ottawa this summer in addition the the whole grand agg with my .308 (not a Sportco).
 
Thanks everyone for the information and suggestions.

Maynard how did you manage to convert the Sportco 308 to 223? If you do not mind me asking what is the cost of this conversion and where can it be done?

Cheers,
Brocky
 
I just bought the rifle and it was in .223. To covert one or to make barrel changing a little easier you need a Neilson adaptor. Or you could get your gunsmith to make an adaptor out of the barrel shank that is on your rifle.
 
Total Solutions Engineering in Australia (google it, they have a website) currently hold the rights to the M44. You can still get parts from them, and I am sure you could get all you needed to do a .223 conversion. IF, you can get them to ship to you. I tried to order a .223 firing pin from them and they said they could not ship gun parts out of the country.:confused::confused: A couple of weeks later I ordered a trigger from Davies Triggers, who said they had no problems shipping parts out of country, so I don't know exactly why TSE says they can't.
 
Australia does have strict export controls. Maybe Davies is set up for export, TSE isn't. There are Sportco parts in this country, the trick is finding them. Older shooters who have been around DCRA and the PRAs might have leads.
One catch with machining a barrel breech into an adapter - because the bolthead locks into the barrel itself, the breech is hardened.
Last time I saw a quantity of Sportcos in use at Connaught was the last season the cadets used them, before getting the new rifles. They were shooting Radway Green Green Spot 155gr target ammunition, iirc. All along the line rubber mallets were being passed around to hammer bolts open. Cleaning rods were also in use to knock out cases. Some report no primary extraction problems, but the cadets were sure having their share.
Sportco boltheads are numbered. I assume that this is for headspace adjustment, akin to No. 4 rifles.
No reason a reducing collar could not be installed in a boltface, and a new extractor made, to convert to .223.
 
In my search online I found the New South Wales Rifle Association they also sell the 223converson kit whether they can ship out of Australia is yet to be seen.
The easiest solution is to find out if the present 308 barrel is still accurate.

I can say its been fun gaining all this new knowledge, thanks and please keep the suggestions coming in!
 
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