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Author Topic: 6.5x55 or 280 Rem?  (Read 2484 times)

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Offline 22rimfan

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« on: March 29, 2006, 12:19:44 PM »
Hello all.  I have a quick question, between these two rounds which would be considered "better?"  I do not know anything about the 6.5 but am trying to learn about the 280.  I recently held a CZ 550 American in 6.5 in my hands and fell in love.  Is the 6.5 a good round for deer and hogs out to about 250 yards, how is it as say a varmit round?  Like I said, I know nothing about it.  I know that the 280 can compete with factory 7 Mag ballistics and has a wide range of bullet selections, but I have a 30-06 and am wanting something a little different.I do not reload, so I know I am at a disadvantage with both rounds.  Thanks for everyone's time and responses.
Aaron
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Offline killdeer

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2006, 01:06:52 PM »
.280 Rem is your 30-06 necked down to the next size .284. Pretty close to what you aleady have. The 6.5x55 (Swede) fires a .264 bullet and is quite capable and known for its mild recoil but ammo supplies may be more problematic. If you don't mind buying your ammo in advance the 6.5x55 will seve you well. The .260 Rem also fires the same bullet as the Swede but in a short action. To be able to walk into Mart-Mart and buy ammo you might consider the 25-06 which is the 30-06 necked to .257.



KD
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Offline Wynn

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2006, 01:11:51 PM »
First let me say that I have never owned or even fired a 280. I have heard that it is a excellent round. Second, I absolutely love the 6.5x55 and have taken several deer, at least 50+ hogs up to 375lbs, 3 bobcat and one coyote with mine. However; there is a minor (to me) downside to the Swede. At the present time, not one manufacturer is loading a premium bullet for the Swede. At one time, Federal loaded the Nosler Partition but no longer. Hornady loaded their "Light Magnum" with a good bullet, but no longer. That said, I have used Remington, Winchester, Federal, Hornady and S&B soft points and have never lost a animal to bullet performance.

I am amazed that the ammo manufacturers have so few offerings in this outstanding round given its popularity and 100+ years of superior performance ballistically. Of course, if you reload there is a wide offering of bullets available. I have not reloaded ammo in 35 yrs but plan to once again get set up for the 6.5x55. Just my 2c
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Offline coopershooter

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2006, 02:38:41 PM »
i hear the 280 is a great round, but i never had one. i think you can buy plenty of ammo for both. bi just got a 6.5x55 swede, back from the gunsmith. it's a model 96. it has a timney trigger, a synthetic stock, and talley rings and mounts. i had him put a 24"douglas medium barrel, with the action and barrel finished with a black flat or frosted look. i havn't even shot it yet! but it's one of a few swede's i own. it's a low recoil, flat shooting cartrige, that kills better than you would think!
  i saw some hornady premium's with the a-max bullets some where.
 good luck
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Offline 257 roberts

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2006, 04:46:20 PM »
On paper the 280 rem. wins but I would still take the swede. :wink:
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Offline kombi1976

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #5 on: March 29, 2006, 07:26:32 PM »
I love the idea of a 280 Rem but if you already have a 30-06 buy the 6.5x55 and don't look back.
It's really a pity you don't reload.
Even a Classic Lee Loader would open your world up, especially since the modern CZ action allows you to really use the 6.5x55 case's full capabilities.
It would also allow you to develop some fine varmint loads using 95gn bullets like Hornady's V-Max.
Even without reloading though 6.5x55 is a great cartridge.
140gn loads are gentle on the shoulder but really put the hurt on game.
Norma have 5 loads including 120gn & 140gn loads great for sheep, antelope & deer and three 156gn loads designed for elk & moose and if you really want serious hunting ammo you can't get better than that.
Mind you, you also pay for the priviledge.
But yeah, buy the 6.5x55.
Why is it that every bullet company worth their salt are manufacturing premium bullets in 6.5mm & yet no one is bright enough to factory load premium stuff?! :?
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Offline Mac11700

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #6 on: March 29, 2006, 09:20:49 PM »
I've never owned a 6.5x55..and I'm just getting my first 280...but..finding quality factory loaded ammo..is just a mouse click away...for just about any cartridge you could want..

http://cpcartridge.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_34

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

http://www.grafs.com/ammo/168

http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=3&Categoryid=7524&categorystring=653***690***[/url]

http://www.cabelas.com/


So you see...ammo isn't a problem for either one..some of it is expensive..but a-lot of it isn't...Since your not reloading yet..you probably won't be shooting a-lot...so..save your brass till you do...

Mac
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Offline Slamfire

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #7 on: March 30, 2006, 01:56:39 AM »
A .280 is a .270, is a .280, is a .270. And there ain't enough difference to sway you one way or another.
A 6.5x55 now is a 6.5x57 is a .260 is a 6.5x55. Lots of difference in the rifles you'll find chambered for each.
6.5x55 are primarily milsurps + some big name models produced after the 80s re-release of the Swedish Mausers.
6.5x57, ballistics are the same and the rifles are primarily commercial Mausers made between the wars.
The .260 is ballistically equal, and is available in modern short action rifles. But seems to be disappearing from the marketplace. A shame really, and a good reason to take up handloading. As are the other two.  :wink:
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Offline one eye joe

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2006, 03:18:22 PM »
If you  cronograph the .280 factory ammo, I think you will find it well short of the 7mag.  That said, most factory 6.5x55 is underloaded to be safe in older military guns. I still like the 6.5. It doesn't recoil much, is fairly quiet, generally accurate, and good to 300+ yards. I have, and presently own a 6.5, and next to my .25/06, it is my favorite caliber. That's a shame, as I have a .30/06, a 7mag, .300mag, and .243 gathering dust. I don't think you will be disappointed with a 6.5.
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Offline Coalminer7

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #9 on: March 30, 2006, 03:52:24 PM »
Have a .280 Mtn rifle, best rifle I have ever owned.  If you have 06, swede my be a better choice for versitility.  If looking for something smaller, I might check out a .243.
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Offline kombi1976

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #10 on: March 30, 2006, 05:50:20 PM »
Quote from: Coalminer7
Have a .280 Mtn rifle, best rifle I have ever owned.  If you have 06, swede my be a better choice for versitility.  If looking for something smaller, I might check out a .243.

I see you point but I've always thought that there's an enormous gap between the 6mm & 25 cal cartridges and 6.5 cal.
25 cal bullets end at about 120gn and 6.5mm projectiles are made up 160gn.
Few people would choose to take moose with a 25 cal, even a 25-06 and yet 6.5x55 commonly accounts for such game.
Here in Australia many shooters worship the .243 Win; they call it "The Pope Gun"....the cartridge God uses! :roll:
Personally I think 6.5x55 is possibly the best overall cartridge and only sambar deer(which have a legal minimum of .270 cal) and buffalo are outside its capabilities.
Heavier cals are used for feral horses, donkeys and camel but the Swede is quite up to the job with correct bullet choice & placement, certainly far more than a .243.
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Offline Don Fischer

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2006, 06:51:05 PM »
In my opinion you need three. The 6.5x55, the 280 Rem and a reloading set-up! The two cartridges above along with the 260 Rem, 7-08 and 7x57 just may be the best of the best in North America.

The 30-06 and 308 are never wrong but, the 280 will scare the pants off factory 7mm Rem Mag loads with a LOT less recoil. The 7-08 and the 7x57 will handle anything you'll likely hunt with even less recoil and both 6.5's do the same with even a bit less recoil.

Were I limited to one rifle and one only, it would be the 280 Rem but in truth the 6.5x55 will run right along with it at any reasonable range. I haven't cronoghaphed my new 6.5x55 yet but I did my ex-wife's. With a 140 gr Hornady I got right at 2800 fps. That was right on the heels of my 6.5-06 with the same bullet. Her's was buith on a Parker-Hale 1200 action.
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Offline 7x57

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #12 on: April 01, 2006, 09:21:56 AM »
The Swede is my choice 120 grains for varmints, 140 for deer etc and those long 160 hornady round nose will mess up any moose's day out to two hundred yards.

I spent many years in Thunder Bay Ontatio, and the old school Finlanders there don't know that moose can't be killed with anything less than a
.338 supershort minniemagnum thundercannon retina detacher, so every year they drop a mean pile of moose with the 6.5 !!!
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Offline Old Griz

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2006, 05:01:58 PM »
:cb2: My vote goes to the 6.5x55 as well. My old Mauser shoots great with PMC ammo. Had a scope mounted on it, but that meant new bolt and safety as well. It's one of the most popular calibers of all time in Europe, but it just didn't catch on here. Guess it isn't big enough for most American shooters. They take moose with it all the time with 140-gr. bullets. I'd love to get a #1 in either 6.5x55 or .260, but Ruger, in their wonderous wisdom won't make one. Guess I'll have to go with an Encore.
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Offline Cement Man

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #14 on: April 08, 2006, 04:07:41 AM »
Choosing between the .280 and the 6.5 Swede is a choice between "wonderful" and "superb".  There really is no bad choice between those two.  I guess if you want diversity, as you already have an '06, the .280 is a little closer to the '06, so the the 6.5 is a little more diverse(?)  :D
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Offline TNrifleman

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #15 on: April 08, 2006, 07:13:05 AM »
I love both the 280 and the 6.5x55 and have used them both for years. Since you really liked the rifle you handled in 6.5x55, that is probably your best choice. Later, you might get the itch for a good 280. The Swede may just win your heart for keeps, though! :grin:
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Offline smokepolehall

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #16 on: April 27, 2006, 06:22:04 AM »
Hey both are great, i have a 6.5x55 Swede. I would say its the best all around cal. You just have to own one to learn all its abilities. Nothing in North America that it hasn't taken! :grin:
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Offline Coalminer7

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #17 on: April 29, 2006, 02:46:28 AM »
Who makes rifles now for the swede?
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Offline Don Fischer

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #18 on: April 29, 2006, 03:38:32 AM »
I think I saw where CZ does. Also most european companys. Mine is a Winchester Featherweight bought new in Feb 2006.
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Offline 22rimfan

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #19 on: April 29, 2006, 06:12:42 AM »
Hello everyone.  Thanks for everone's replies.  After reading all that everyone wrote, I'm still saving up for a CZ in 6.5x55.

Coalminer7 CZ makes the rifle, with full stock and regular (Full stock http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=17 , and American http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=18 ) Ruger make a 6.5 in the M77 ( http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=7895&return=Y ) Hope this helps.
Aaron
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Offline Old Griz

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #20 on: April 29, 2006, 12:17:12 PM »
:cb2: Ruger offers their M77 in 6.5x55 Swede. Too bad they do not have this or the .260 in the #1. I'd sure have to buy one if they did.
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Offline smokepolehall

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6.5x55 or 280 Rem?
« Reply #21 on: April 29, 2006, 04:00:56 PM »
Sako/Tikka And several other good rifle makers in Europe.
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