6.5 mm - Is this a good idea?

[bsbowles]

Tell me if I am wrong. I have been looking for a new rifle but I need one I can use for many different purposes. I need something to use for killing paper, varmints, deer, or larger game. The 6.5 swede looks like the way to go. I am also looking into getting some simple reloading equipment - nothing fancy. If I go this route I can load a multitude of different weight bullets/powder combos for whatever situation I might encounter. I figure I could save money by reloading and not having six different rifles like many of my friends do. I like shooting but I would rather have one "go to" rifle instead of a small arsenal of guns that rarely get any use. I have a Marlin 917 HMR that I like, but if the wind is blowing more than 5 mph the accuracy suffers. I have been looking at the .223 caliber but it is only good for target and varmint shooting. I have an M96 Mauser but it is too heavy for practical use and I don't want to butcher it by mounting a scope on it.  From what I have read the 6.5 is very versatile but it doesn't get much lip service from the people I know - they are mainly deer hunters hung up on magnums and other one dimensional rounds.

Am I on the right track here? If so, what manufacturers do you recommend? I have done some research and I know that Ruger, Howa, CZ, and Tikka all make this caliber. I would like to stay around $800.00 since I need to buy a good scope and some reloading equipment. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

[Mikey]

Yep!  The 6.5x55 Swede is an excellent idea.  Good for more types of critters than you can imagine, from varmit size to bear.  The Swedes use it a lot on Moose, and so do many knowledgeable American shooters and hunters.  It is an easy cartridge to reload and reloading is definately the way to go.

You can get the 6.5 Swede in a Remington (700 I believe), Winchester M70 if youcan find one.  Tikka, Howa, CZ certainly.  Possibly ruger, but I stay away from those rifles .  You can also go the mil-surp route if you want to go with a 'budget' package that may well outshoot a new rifle, and you will have money left over for a good reloading set-up.  JMHO.  Mikey.

[bsbowles]

I checked the Remington website and I couldn't find anything in 6.5 swede. Why they have 10 different models with 40 different variations I don't know. They do have their own version of the 6.5 cartridge, I guess that's why they don't offer the swede version. Howa doesn't have a listing either but I think they used to make one. I was leaning toward a Tikka anyway. CZ listed their barrel twist on the 550 at 1 in 9. The Tikka T3 has a 1 in 8. As for military surplus, I don't know enough about the sporterized versions to know if I'm buying a good rifle or someone else's hack job. Thanks for the input.

[one eye joe]

Remington made a 6.5 for one year in their classic. Both Winchester and Howa no longer make a 6.5. I have thought about the Tikka, have a CZ, and will probably buy another. I am not sure, but thought the CZ had a 1 in 8.6 twist. Anyway, it will stabalize 140's with no problem. The 550 American is a tad heavy and the stock is a little thick. Otherwise, in my opinion, it is a great gun. Just don't care for the plastic, removable clip, and small ejection port on the Tikka. Hear good things about them though. If you shop around, you should be able to find either for $550+/-. That leaves $250 for a scope. Should give you a nice set up.

[bsbowles]

The CZ barrel twist is 8.6. My mistake. It still looks nice.

[rzwieg]

Is there a problem with the Ruger M77? I have one in 6.5x55.

[kombi1976]

Is there a problem with the Ruger M77? I have one in 6.5x55.

Only if you hate Rugers....which IMO is ridiculous.
Here in Australia it's my opinion that there is no better all around cartridge.
The only animals here that it's less advisable for are scrub bulls (feral cattle) and water buffalo although I know of a guy who took more than 10 buffs using a sporterised M96 and 140gn S&B factory loads and the Swede performed the task with ease.

[rzwieg]

Thanks mate.That's what I thought. I love mine!

[Slamfire]

I think your idea has considerable merit, but then I've been a died in the wool 6.5mm shooter since 1962. I picked up a Model 94 in 6.5x55 before headin' west. Took a couple of nice mulies bucks, then in a moment of weakness sold it. 
I replaced it with a Type 38 Arisaka, chambered for the 6.5x.257, a wildcat with similar powder capacity, than hunted in the Yukon with a couple I went to high school with. Had no trouble takin' a couple of nice caribou bulls.
Then I met a guy who was a shirttail relative of some ranchers in the Chama, NM area. We were young and were sent into the timber to chase the elk out to the older folks. I managed two ragheads and 3 cows, all with 140 grain bullets, my pard had a 6.5 Remington mag, and with a 129 Hornady, killed a cow faster'n any thing I'd seen.
I played with a 96 Swede, but it wouldn't shoot no matter what I tried. Had an old Belgian Mannlicher in 6.5x53, but it was a bit to moderate for my purposes. Built a 98 Mauser to .256 Newton, and it wasn't any better'n the 6.5x55. Lastly rebored my old Savage 110L from .243 to a cartridge called .263 Express in those days, now recognized as .260 Remington. Rechambered a Type 38 to .260 for a brush gun, and find both rifles prefer the 129 Hornady, but still shoot the 140s. The Savage has an 8.5" twist, and will shoot the 160 round nose bullets quite well, The Arisaka will shoot the 160s good enough for the black timber. Now I'm usin' it here in TN for white tails, hogs, and black bear, it killes 'em all sudden like, if you can put the bullet in the vitals. Recoil is mild enough so you can concentrate on the shot, and not holdin' the rifle just right. 

[Brithunter]

Hmmm not sure who in the American makers still offer the 6.5x55 SE but all the European makers do as it's very popular in Europe  The Germans are partial to the 6.5x57mm whihc was the Mauser varient.
   
     Norma offesr bullets and cartridges in 6.5 SE from 77 grains to 160 grains.

[Sweet 6.5]

I have taken two impala and one warthog - all one shot kills. (140gr - 2600fps)
Yes, I think it is a good idea.

[nasem]

6.5X55 swedish is great..... and if you REALLY want one, you can get one from a tikka (some of the best rifles in the world) for just about $600.

But if you want me to talk you into another caliber, that IN MY OPINION is a better round than the 6.5...... and that is the 7mm-08.
I wanted a 6.5 for a long time, until I started doing some "paper punching analysis" and found out that the 7mm-08 can do everything the 6.5 can and more.

The 7mm can have different bullet weights ranging from 100 grains all the way up to 175.... Not that the 6.5 doesn't have a huge spectrum, the 6.5 can have bullet weights from 90 all the way up to 160... which is good but I don't think its better than the 7mm spectrum.  Plus the 7mm-08 can be found EVERYWHERE and many rifle makers chamber for them...

[Cheesehead]

I have four 6.5x55's. I think it is a very good idea.

Cheese

[bsbowles]

Thanks for all of the info. With all of the bullet selections/powder combinations I think reloading can keep me busy for a long time to come. I have looked into the 7mm 08 and it is not off of the short list.

Does anyone know if the recoil is similar between a 6.5 SE and 7MM 08?

[kombi1976]

Thanks for all of the info. With all of the bullet selections/powder combinations I think reloading can keep me busy for a long time to come. I have looked into the 7mm 08 and it is not off of the short list.

Does anyone know if the recoil is similar between a 6.5 SE and 7MM 08?

The 7mm-08 is renowned for it's low recoil and highly efficient performance.
To all intents and purposes it's identical ballistically to the 7x57 Mauser and this cartridge is known for it's kindness to the shoulder and vengeance upon game.
I count the 7x57 and 6.5x55 as equally the best all around cartridges available.
Both have a wide range of bullets and giant killers compared to their paper performance.

[nasem]

The recoil of a 7mm-08 and the 6.5X55 is very similar, maybe give and take 1 pound difference.  They are both very light on the shoulder and hit hard with authority.

In my opinion, the 7mm-08 is the king of all 7mms.  Think about it, you can load up a 175 grainer(at about 2600-2650 fps) and only go about 250 fps slower than a 7mm mag and uses about 2/3 the powder.  Thats enough energy to drop the biggest Elk anywhere under 350 yards.
Or you can load it down to 100 grainer and make it your varmint load.

I see the 7mm-08 being more of a "all around" cartridge than the 6.5X55. 

[The Sodbuster]

Bsbowles opined:

I figure I could save money by reloading and not having six different rifles like many of my friends do. I like shooting but I would rather have one "go to" rifle instead of a small arsenal of guns that rarely get any use.

Man are you looking for advice in the wrong place!  I like the idea of a "go to" rifle too, but not at the price of giving up the "arsenal".  Any excuse for a new rifle is a good excuse in my mind.  So many makes and models and calibers to choose from! Where to stop?  Why limit yourself to just one?

As far a 6.5 goes, I can't speak from experience, but if someone offered one in a left version, I'd want to get my hands on it.

[Slamfire]

Thanks for all of the info. With all of the bullet selections/powder combinations I think reloading can keep me busy for a long time to come. I have looked into the 7mm 08 and it is not off of the short list.

Does anyone know if the recoil is similar between a 6.5 SE and 7MM 08?

Actually the 6.5 is a bit milder in recoil, since the velocity of bullets of similar sectional density is virtually the same,, and those of the 6.5 are lighter, the recoil is slightly less. 

[kombi1976]

Hate to say it but I'm a purist.
The 7mm-08 is good, as is the 260 Rem for that matter, but they're both reinventing the wheel using a 308 case and I don't think it's superior to the 7x57 and 6.5x55 respectively.
I also really don't believe the hype about short and long actions but that argument isn't for this post.
Both of the original military cartridges have over 100years of field experience under their belt and achieve their performance using at least 10,000psi less chamber pressure.
Any argument of more modern advantages is arbitrary.
The same powders that allegedly make the 308 and its offspring better further increase the 6.5x55 and 7x57.

[TC2]

You might also consider a TC Encore.  That is what I did.  TC makes a 26" barrel in 6.5x55.  On Midway's web site they run about  $240(not the pro hunter).  The whole gun would be around $600 or less.   

I went another route and bought a custom barrel for mine.  I love the round.  Just bought the gun and barrel this year.  Shot a nice little buck this fall using 140grn factory loads.  One shot and it fell on the spot. 

And if later you want a different caliber you can just buy a new barrel and scope. 

[usherj]

My vote is a yes. The choice for me was between the Tikka and CZ in that caliber. I went with the Tikka because of the weight, balance, smoothness of action, trigger and 1 MOA guarantee. The CZs were a bit on the heavy side (even the 550FS), but they also have fine reputations as shooters. Carrying the Tikka all day in rough areas was enjoyable. I couldn't get the T3 Lite in that caliber, so I have the Hunter (Walnut/Blue). Jim Carmichel did an article introducing the 260 Rem, and he discussed the issue of rotational speed and it's bearing on killing power. I believe that is how the 6.5 x 55 is so effecient and kills well beyond its caliber - in large part due to the 8" twist. Good luck.   

[Guy Pike]

Got my Husqvarna model1640 from Simpsons Ltd. Under $500 and a beautiful piece. Accurate too. They have more. Good hunting!

[fordisto]

You will not go wrong with the 6.5. This past February, just before they went out of production, I got a Winchester Model 70 Classic Featherweight Stainless in 6.5. This is not only a beautiful gun, it shoots like a dream. Low recoil, excellent accuracy, and plenty of knock down. What more could you ask for?

[bsbowles]

Thanks for all of the replies. There is a lot of good information here.