Compare the .270 Winchester vs. 6x5x55 Swede. Then pick one.

[Huffmanite]

Well I been thinking some more (I know, thinking and that getting into trouble thing, but I just can't help it!) and I believe I have found a way to have my cake and eat it too. I am going to start with a Savage 110 in .270 winchester and then order a 6.5x55 barrel. Keep both barrels and set it up to swap between both. Might take some tinkering to get it figured out, but it may just be the ticket.

I've had two .270 rifles, one was a Ruger and it became a 7x57 when I rebarreled the rifle.  Then I found a new Stevens 200 in .270 for $179 and tried it for awhile just shooting paper.  Will install a Shaw barrel in 6.5x55 in it.  I certainly do not have any regrets changing the Stevens to a 6.5 Swede.

[FW Conch]

  Righty Tighty... Lefty Loosey

[JASmith]

Righty Tighty... Lefty Loosey

That barrel nut acts like a jamb nut, so the direction of turn will surprise you!

Make sure you read the how-to discussion carefully.  Same thing for the screws holding the stock in place.  The newer Model 16s seem to have the trigger guard screw going directly into the plastic of the stock, so can't handle much more than about 5 in-lb of torque.

[mcwoodduck]

Ballistic twins as far as I can tell, espacally if you reload.
I am not a fan of 270.  Growing up my uncles had them and shot the smaller faster 130 grain bullets that just jellied deer meat. 
But is it hard to argue with a bullet that is .264 Vs one that is  .277 .  .013 is not going to make a difference in proformance on deer.
I own a 96 Swede and it is light kicking and fun to shoot.  I keep looking for another 6.5 as a hunting rifle.  I had a 38 Swede short rifle that recoil was a little more and not as much fun to shoot as the long 96 so I sold it.  I don't think any of the 270's I have shot were as much fun as the 96. 

[JASmith]

...I keep looking for another 6.5 as a hunting rifle...

Have you looked at the 6.5 Grendel?  Game won't notice the difference and a 200 yard zero will give you pretty much the same vital zone sight picture out to past 275 yards.  After that, you're probably going to be lasing and you should have close to the same chances of hitting out to ranges one should not consider shooting at medium game.

And yes, while the Grendel was designed as an AR-15 deer cartridge, it works just fine in bolt action rifles and single shot pistols.

You can read about it here: 6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbook.  There are other discussions about the Grendel on that site.  Just follow the menu.

[cleveland48]

I have a 270 in an old a-bolt medallion, a 6.5 swede in a model 70 classic featherweight. Also had a 260 in a browning synthetic stalker. All 3 shot great, and killed deer dead. I will say I had more bang flops with the 270 and standard cup and core  bullets than with any other caliber. The 260 had them beat in groups on average, but all 3 had loads they shot under an inch. I gave the 260 to my brother I killed 20 deer with it. The old 270 is retired now with 24 kills and only 2 blood trails which is awesome caliber testimony I believe. My go to gun is the swede mainly because I love the fact it is such an old classic and I love the model 70 classic featherweight. Even though its not a real "classic" featherweight it feels and shoots great with old hornady soft points and H4831. Whichever u choose will kill any deer that ever walked as far as u can accurately shoot. Good luck!

[D Fischer]

I like the 6.5x55, not crazy aabout the 270, would rather the 280. Truth is there is no real world difference between either. But it is a lot cooler when someone ask's what I'm shooting to say 6.5x55!

[Siskiyou]

I had a sporterized M96 Swede given to me for a retirement gift.  Killed deer with it and enjoyed it.  I re-scoped it, did a bunch of load development and like the results.  Son-in-law sensitive to recoil so I gave it to him.  He loves it.
It was easy to give up because my rifle(s) of first choice are chambered for the 270 Winchester.  If there was a debate over what rifle I was going to hunt with it, the choice was between 270's.
 
A lot of the choice has to do with the rifle itself, not the caliber.  If the 6.5X55 had been on a different platform I might have hunted more with it.  My brother has a nice commercial Husqvarna light weight commercial series that I would like have.
 
I found the 6.5X55 round to be effective on blacktail and mule deer.  But the 270 Winchester is effective on them.  I used the 140-grain Nosler Partition in the 6.5x55.  I prefer 140 and 150 grain bullets in my 270s.

[hillbill]

you already have 2 of the noble old calibers in your collection.the 7x57 and the 06. why not continue with the 6.5?all are redundant as either will do what the other will do in your game size range.i enjoy reloading and shooting the 6.5 most of all so that makes it my pick.

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

Righty Tighty... Lefty Loosey

That barrel nut acts like a jamb nut, so the direction of turn will surprise you!

You are KIDDING, Right?