Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Would you choose 7X57 or 6.5X55 for ...

A rifle to be used mainly on deer sized stuff and main by me, but I'd like the possibility of using it as a youth rifle as well.

Never fired a 7X57, but I assume it reasonably close to the 7-08, which I would consider maximum for a 12ish year old. Is the Swede a tad more tame?

Know anybody who can handload for you? Loaded down 7x57 loads can be really tame.

7 Mauser.

You can make either one kick or either one tame. Started my son with a .260 (6.5 Short) and mid loaded 100 gr bullets. In a Stainless Model 7 you don't lose the sight picture at 100 yds but it kills deer. Moved up to 129 Hornadys at full speed a few years later. Recoil still not bad. On the other hand I find factory 140 gr loads to be fair kickers in the little rifle. He got a 7x57 Ruger added when he was 13(?)and shot it well. Wife shoots a 7-08 MicroHunter Abolt and handles full load 139's. You really can't go wrong with either choice. I just sold a 6.5x55 but will be buying another soon. That's my personal biased choice but would not fault the 7x57 in the least.

Choose a cartridge for which youth or reduced recoil rounds are made. Or load your own.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rem_managed_recoil.htm

http://www.remington.com/product-families/ammunition/centerfire-families/managed-recoil.aspx

Go back in time 5 years and both calibers were on my short list. I went with the 6.5x55 and don't regret it one bit. However, I tend to think that if I had gone with the 7x57 I wouldn't be any less happy with it. 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other.

Pick which one appeals to you more, for whatever reason you can think of, and go for it.

+ 1 on the 7x57 Mauser. Load it for mice to mammoths. And with a huge selection of bullets.

I'm a wild and crazy guy. I'll go with the 7X57.

Steve

Nothing wrong with 7X57, but 6.5's seem to be easier to get to really shoot accurately. Swedish Mausers with obviously worn bores often shoot amazingly well. Lethality and bullet selection is good for either one.

I'm a huge 6.5x55 fan, but I don't see anything wrong with the 7x57.

Last year the 260 rem or 6.5X55 was the campfire caliber to aquire, this year its the 7X57.

Doc

The answer I came up with years ago was to own and hunt with both the 7x57 and the 6.5x55. I love both cartridges. Sensible and classic.

I don't know about the 6.5, but every almost American brand of 7x57 is already reduced recoil. I think the 7x57 is the bee's knees. I can't find a fault with the 6.5x55 though.

Either would be marvelous. Have multiples of both. H4350 works well with many bullets. I'd pick the 6.5x55 for a youngster. Might want to check factory loads if you don't roll your own-that could be the deciding factor.

Since you want a choice, I've got to pick the 6.5x55 Swede. Light recoil, easy to load for, and kills way beyond it's paper stats.

Owning both, and using both..
given your intention as stated above..

the Swede will recoil less on average..
6.5 bullet are usually more aerodynamic

Average Swedes are typically more accurate than the average 7mm Mauser...

But if you handload especially, the above points are just academic..

Either choice is going to give you a rifle and cartridge you are going to really enjoy...

having both is why I can't pick one over the other..so I own several of each... and the one I take hunting strictly has to do with my choice d'jour..

I am powerfully prejudiced towards the 6.5x55, but have killed lots of toothy stuff with it, so feel tenderhearted to the old round. Accurate, excellent penetration, and absolutely reliable. Having said that, I would love a 7x57.

Randy

Don't think you can go wrong either way. Think the 6.5x55 is picking up steam as far as ammo availability goes.

I too have multiples of both. I would first go with the Swede and second with the 7mm-08 rather than the 7x57.

Changed my mind 6.5 Swede and 7mm-08 are a tie. There, I said it

It's already been said several times and I gotta agree with about the same. I've got several copies of both and use both for whitetails and cannot tell much difference. They are both near perfection for the whitetails we have around here.

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