Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 6.5 x 55 SE

What's your opinion on it as far as it being a good choice for most medium-sized game? How would you compare it to other rounds, like the .25-06 Rem., .257 Roberts, or .260 Rem.?

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!

heavier bullets than the .25's

i think the .260 is usually made with a twist that likes the lighter bullets and the 6.5x55 heavier bullets.

Poole

The 6.5x55 in a SS M70 Featherweight is my go-to rifle for deer.

This is an oft-repeated discussion; do a search and you're likely to uncover a wealth of info.

My opinion:
- 6.5x55 has a larger case than the 260 and thus an be loaded a bit hotter in modern rifles
- older chambering has a nice bit of history
- only downsides to the Swede -- 1) factory ammo is anemic, and 2) it can't fit into a short action.

That's my dream rifle. After looking for a while I bought a wood/blue M70 FWT in 6.5x55. It's a beautifull rifle and shoots great. But I'm a stainless/synthetic guy. I thought about having it coated and throw it in a synthetic but it such a nice rifle that I just can't do it.

So I decided to go to the dark side (Remington and .260 ) and I'm building a light .260 on a SS Rem 700 s/a with mtn countour barrel in a Ti stock. I will be the Winchester's evil twin.

I read that the old Sweede was #15 in reloading die sales which is a good barometer of popularity. 15 is pretty high considering how many calibers are out there.

I picked up a T3 SS Lite 6.5x55 about a year ago. I love it. The 6.5x55 is known as an accurate, good penetrator, effective killer, and light recoiling round. There is little hunting that could not or should not be done with one around the world except the usual disclaimer for dangerous game. It is best used by those who will load for it to wring out it's power and accuracy potential. There are a number of good factory rounds made for it but most stores will not stock them, Lapua and Norma, and will need to be ordered. Hornady used to make a light mag in the 6.5x55 but may have discontinuted that offering.

My own 6.5x55 is a remarkably accurate rifle. I have shot several one hole or clover leaf groups with a moderate velocity (3K) 100 grain Nosler over RL19. I have shot many sub .5 moa groups with 120 TSX, 129 and 140 Hornady Interlocks all running at full or near full velocity (2700/140, 2850/129, 2950/120). I have yet to use it on game but do not forsee any issues. All in all, there is nothing not to like with a 6.5x55.

I have a m38 that was sported. It loves the 140's from Hornady. Will shoot them to about moa. Tryed the 120's but they were a no go.. still waiting for something to come out in front of me when I have that rifle in my hands. I say go for it. It is light kicking and accurate. I am wanting one of the tikka's in this caliber.. M8x57

6.5 is the uber round in my book. Does more on the business end with less on the receiving end. I prefer the 260 for its short action - splitting hairs though. The action length on the Swede is the only thing I have ever heard questioned but same for the 257R. Kind of a short\long action tweener. Someone correct me if I am mistaken on that. Would love a Roberts but new rifle choices are extremely limited and used ones are going for a premium now. I have shot a grand total of one 25-06 and never warmed to them. Personal choice only. By all accounts they require 24" barrels and the one I shot seemed to kick more than I thought it would (but nothing bad), was loud and for that case I see no reason not to go the 270 route. I talked Dad out of his 7mag and into a CZ 6.5x55 and he is in love with it. VERY soft shooting rifle -like 243 kind of soft. For my 260 I use 140 Sierra's and find the speed perfect for that bullet design and holy cow does it drop deer fast. I like the fact your cartridge choices are not run-of-the-mill. I would say 260 or 6.5x55 of those mentioned.

I've got three Swede's and have been using the cartridge for about 20 years. Never had a problem; the older son uses one, too. I also have a pair of .260's but I'm a devout 6.5 slut, so it's only natural. Functionally a Swede on a short action.

I prefer the Swede and tend to use the heavier bullets, which is one of the things about it that got my attention to begin with. Recoil is mild, it's accurate and kills stuff dead, quick. I just don't see how you could go wrong.

Can't speak to the .25's because I've never tried one. Hunted some with a friend of my wife's family in North GA years back who used a .257 and he never had any trouble filling tags. Truth be known there ain't no flies on any of these that I can tell.

Best Regards

The one I have is a 700 Classic very nice shooter. Found a bunch of FED Prem 140's at a gun store a few years back and bought all 9 boxes. Have yet to have a deer get out of sight after the shot. Still got 7 1/2 boxes left a life time supply at my age.
DD

Ruger MkII in the Swede dropped this one with 140g X-bullet with one shot. I truly love my 6.5. Light kicker, even my niece likes it. But plenty of poop on the busines end.

IMO it's a great choice for lots of medium game hunting and a great target round as well. The others you list are also great rounds for the same purposes, so I won't get into which is better than the other.

I picked the 6.5x55 because I like the history and it's just a little different. The .260 and .25-06 definitely have it beat in factory ammo availability in my experience. Components (cases) for all the alternatives you list are probably a little more consistent, so they might be easier/more convenient to load. But, once I understood the issues, reloading the 6.5x55 is as easy as any other rifle round. You can get a .260 in a short action if that floats your boat.

Good luck with your choice!

This cartridge is extremely popular in Scandinavia for moose. I think it is a near perfect round for Western big game hunting. While there are certainly others that might be "better" the 6.5MM Swede is certainly than good enough! I would not mind owning one. In fact, if I am forced to go with a lighter recoiling rifle, the 6.5 Swede will certainly be given considerable thought.