Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Best Modern Factory Rifle in 6.5x55?

Classic Stainless M7 Featherwieght. Me, I'd re-stock in fiberglass.

My vote is for the CZ550. I haven't shot one, but given CZ's reputation it would be a contender if you can get past the backwards safety.


SS

Howa 1500 - best bang for the buck. Spend all the extra money you save on a very good piece of glass to mount on top of it. I'd vote for a 6X42 Leupold. You can even restock with a Boyds or McMillan stock and still come out with less money invested than all other factory options in a very good rifle.

My cheap and worthless opinion: Is Tikka T-3 or the Winchester. I'm pretty sure the Tikka would group a bit better. But we aren't talking Chucks at 400 yards. Are we?.. Essex

1B,

The Steyr Mannlicher Classic is probably the "best" factory rifle available in 6.5X55 SE; they also chamber it in their ProHunter line (several models).

jim

Sambo, If that finnlite is in good condition you should grab it for $975. Current retail is over $1300. The 6.5x55 is a suberb round. Better sectional density and penetration than with a 308 with lower recoil, the 308 will fit in a short action though. Not as high of velocity as a 270..................DJ

Sako Finnlight, all day long. IMHO the best factory rifle currently made---2MG

Thanks for all the input.

I have narrowed the selection and the hunt begins... for either a Steyr, Sako Finnlite, or a Winchester FTW.

I'll keep you posted.

1B

About two years ago I decided that I wanted a 6.5x55 mm Swede. I looked at Ruger M77, Win M70 FW, Sako, and Tikka T3 rifles-- but none were in 6.5x55. The Sako is, I think, only available in a synthetic stocked version. I wanted a wood stock. Also, it's considerably more expensive than the others. In my area this caliber is a special order item. You might be lucky in your area to have a real choice of off-the-shelf 6.5x55s. But where I live availability was a big factor in what I eventually chose. Also, because these are special order here, there are very few "deals." By and large it's full MSRP or more. I liked all of these rifles. The Winchester is the most elegant. I was very impressed with the Tikka, especially at the prices that they originally were going for. In the end I had a chance to order either a Ruger or Winchester. The Ruger was available at around $200 less than the Winchester, so that's what I ordered. I'm not dissapointed in my choice. I've gotten very good accuracy (0.5-1.4" @100 yds) from a variety of bullets and loads including Sierra 120s, Nosler 100 gr BTs, Hornady and Nosler Partition 140s, and Hornady 160s. Only the Remington PSPCL 140s won't shoot in this rifle. No idea why.

However, the trigger on the Ruger is pretty bad and not adjustable. I think almost anyone would eventually replace it. It isn't the worst rifle trigger that I've ever pulled (not by a long shot), but it isn't up to the accuracy potential of the gun.

So, if you just want the best made rifle, I think it is probably the Sako. Probably will cost you though. The Tikka is likely to be accurate right out of the box, it's also light and trim, and has an adjustable trigger. It doesn't have the feel of a traditional rifle though; if you're thinking 98 Mauser or M70, the Tikka might not float your boat. The Winchester is, to my eye, the nicest looking of the group. And the Ruger is well made, accurate, and probably will need a trigger. Maybe also some stock work (free float the barrel).

Mule Deer tested some Rem. 140 grain 6.5mm PSPCL's on his concentricity checking machine a while back, and I think he said they were the worst he had seen. If your bullets have a built in wobble they probably won't shoot!

mathman

Thanks for the info. I suspected something like that. For the record, my 3-shot groups with the 140 gr Rem PSPCL are all over 2.5" @ 100 yds. With Sierras, Noslers, and Hornadys I can't make the same gun shoot worse than 1.4" no matter how hard I try. What's up with Remington? I've got about 70 very small paperweights if anybody is interested...

FWIW:

I load and shoot that kind of stuff for practice. Four inch groups are fine for plinking.

If the stuff is real bad, I use it for Offhand practice at 25 yards (such practice is very humbling, by the way--even with good loads).

But I am funny that way, I like to shoot up my ammo and components before I buy more.

Some guys I know have over $1,000 invested in ammo and components (bullets, powder, and primers) that they ain't shooting. Yet they still go out and buy 200 rounds to go plinking with. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Good Shooting,

BMT

Jim Cloward did a superb trigger job on my M-77 Mk II in 35 Whelen.

Just remember that if you ever have to send it in for warranty work, Ruger replaces any parts that aren't within factory tolerances, and that includes tuned triggers.


Okie John

There is a Winchester FTW on GunsAmerica for $700.00 w/ Redfield scope, bases and rings....hmm why am I telling you this.
MCS

My experience with the m70 is that the throat is very long in this caliber. Mine would not shoot bullets lighter than 129gr very well. These rifles have 1 in 8" twists. The M700 usually has 1-9" twist and will not shoot some bullets over 129gr very well. Don't know about the others.

good luck choosing,

TBP

I have a 6.5-'06 with a 9" twist which is the American standard for 6.5s, a bit slower than the European standard of 7.87" (i.e. 200 mm). I have shot bullets from 120 grains to 165 grains in the 9" twist barrel with great accuracy from the lighter bullets. I can shoot 160 grain round nose bullets with good accuracy, but the 165 grain semi-spitzers yield groups with 4" to 5" spreads. Obviously the bullets are too long for the twist. My experience with 140 grain bullets is they shoot well from a 9" twist barrel.

This is a Shilen match barrel in a pillar-bedded action, but I would expect most rifles to perform similarly in either 6.5X55 or similar cartridges. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

jim

If you have the time,sporterizing an original Swedish '96 or '38 is not a bad way to go.I followed the instructions in Jim Carmichael's book,"Do It Yourself Gunsmithing"about 15-18 years ago,got a real nice rifle,excellent shooter.....almost all the surplus Swede military rifles will shoot,and are both plentiful and cheap.Lots of choices for aftermarket triggers,safeties,bottom metal etc.Stocks have plenty of wood to modify,or you can go aftermarket.
After two years of wearing me down,one of my hunting partners finally talked me into a trade.I don't think he ever got the chance to hunt with it.His oldest sone,then a teenager "adopted" it,and took it with him when he went out on his own.I had to buy the son another copy of the book so that he could build a second one,else he was in danger of losing his to his bride.
If you are willing to do the work you can wind up with a very nice sporter for under $300.00 and about 100 hours of work.Best part is you get to add your own custom features as you go.
I've got three in military that I'm testing for accuracy now,and nobody is getting the next one while I can still breathe.

It's nice to see that the little Swede is getting such attention on the other side of the pond! It really is a very fine and grossly under-estimated cartridge and is widely respected as a "do it all" for every species of European game up to 1500 lb elk.

Personally, I "saw the light" three years ago and after looking at Tikka's, CZ's (BRNO), a Husquavarna, a Steyr and a Winchester, I eventually settled upon the M70. "Why?" I hear you ask. Basically, it was a case of budget vs. practicality and safety. In essence, that left the Steyr and the Winchester to fight it out. Whilst I really do like the Steyr SBS, a classic half-stock retails for over $1400 less mounts. With a 6x42 Schmidt aboard, this was at the top end of my budget. However, the clincher was the fact that the closed receiver does not allow for easy inspection.

As most deer stalking in the UK tends to take place at first or last light, one invariably has to fumble in the dark to load / unload. Therefore, the only "safe" option was the M70. My particular model was made in the early phase of the USRAC tenure and came with iron sights, a 1-8 22" tube and an exhibition grade stock. I particulary liked the knurled bolt handle (cold, wet hands) and three position safety, but alas, the trigger was typical US manufacture, in terms of "political correctness". My pet gunsmith soon took all the creep and overtravel out and has set the trigger to break at a crisp and very predictable 3 lb.

Load-wise, with such fast rifling, I have found that 125 gr partitions are simply spat out, whilst 129 gr Hornadys fair only marginally better. Only with weights of 140 gr does this rifle start to perform. The 140 gr GameKing over 43gr H4350 barks well without pressure signs and shoots MOA. 142 gr MatchKings with 43gr N160 go into 3/4", but the load of choice is 160 gr Hornady RN over 43 gr N160, which has (if I do it right) 3 shot groups of 16 mm (0.63") at 100m and will literally go through the same hole at 50m. However, one caveat applies - let the rifle cool between shots for a minute or so. For hunting situations, this rule is naturally redundant. Nonetheless, this rifle / load combination is the mainstay for all my deer management (roe, fallow and sika) activities and will be parted with, only when I have to take that final stalk.

I hope that this helps in your purchasing decision. However, I would stress one thing. Whatever you pay for the rifle, make sure that you pay as much or indeed, more for the glass on top.

Good luck!

Jacobite

I am a real fan of the Steyr-Mannlicher Safe Bolt rifles. I have two . . . a stainless model in .260 Rem and a 6.5x55 blued. They are quite rare with wlnut stocks here in the states but I found both of mine on gunbroker.

Here are some pics of the .260. . .

Depends on the money one wants to spend. I have had a few 6.5's. Out of the box or needs work? My choices would be Tikka, CZ, Sako, and Steyr. I have or have had all of them. The Tikka is the least expensive and they just plain work. Sako, Steyr are more money but again out of the box as good as it will get. I have not had a CZ in 6.5 but have had others again a rifle that out of the box will get the job done and will smooth up with use.