Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Versatility - 6.5x55/9.3x62/.308/.30-06

Been thinking - all are versatile calibers. 20.5" barrel, plinking (cans, bottles, targets) and future hunting.

6.5x55
+ Reloader-happy, can drop mice and moose(with a good shot), very versatile, but only really useful between 100gr and 140gr.
+ Low-recoil for extended shooting

- Hard to find, more expensive.
- Limited selection of rifles carried in.
- No semi-auto's (exc. AG42)

9.3x62
+ Puts things on the ground. Hard.
+ Very versatile, drops all from deer to bear.
+ Widely used in Europe, wonderful all-around caliber.

- Puts small or recoil-sensitive shooters on the ground. Softly.
- EXPENSIVE.
- Also hard to find.
- Rainbow-Brite! (in terms of trajectory)

.308
+ Versatile caliber, 120gr-200gr ammo, .30 is THE caliber of American rifles.
+ Great range, consistent accuracy
+ Short-action, faster recock/rechamber.
+ Lighter, easier to carry
+ Found EVERYWHERE
+ Preferred round of barrels world-wide (in terms of longevity)
+ compatible with .223/5.56mm sabots

- Drops quicker than others
- Close to .30-06 recoil, for smaller round with less punch
- EVERYBODY has one, or makes a rifle for it.
- Short action. Doesn't give that nice, solid, long-throw feel of "I'm chambering a round that will put it on the ground."

.30-06
+ "Cover" is actually only "Concealment"
+ Guaranteed to put it on the ground.
+ VERSATILE as can be - 110gr varmint to 220gr Grizzly. Same shell, different bullet.
+ All-American ammo.
+ Found EVERYWHERE (including grandma's pantry! :P)
+ Not bad on the wallet, reload recipes everywhere.
+ Can work with .223/5.56mm sabots...

- Not a plinking round.
- Not your little sister's first-gun kind of round.
- Punchy, but not as flat-shooting.
- Not wise to put in a 6lb. field rifle...*winces*

Thoughts? Caliber choice for a CZ-550 Fullstock. Possibly wrong concepts in pros and cons here, correct as necessary. I do not preach these on a soap-box or as gospel. Correct as necessary, add/remove/suggest.

I have rifles in all the calibers you listed except the 9.3mm; the 6.5x55 is handsdown my favorite.

Sounds like you need a .270.

If the CZ-550 is your choice, for sentimental reasons (European rifle needs a European caliber), I'd also recommend the 6.5x55. For practicality, .308. But that is dependent on how much plinking you want to do and what type of game your future hunting will include.

If you shoot alot and plan on keeping your hunting to New England whitetails, either the 6.5 or 308 will work.

I am also recoil shy (read wuss if you like), the 30-06 or the 9.3x62 will recoil more, but all bets are off if you plan to handload. 30-06 can be brought down to a 308 level and with Barnes bullets available down to 110 grains, it can be very mild. Add to that, the little extra weight of a longer action, it may be a little more versatile.

The 9.3x62 also can be loaded down but does not have the bullet selection of a 30 caliber. It does have the coolness factor of being legal for dangerous game in a couple of African countries.

In the end, it is all up to you. If you plan to shoot lots, then get into reloading and pick your favorite (mine would be the 6.5x55 from your list). Bullet ranges I've found are 87 grains to 160 grains.

Good luck in your choice.

get some of each! (My CZ550FS 9.3 is on order)

if you like the looks of the CZ550FS it MUST be in a european caliber! so get that 9.3x62. The 6.5x55 used to be hard to find ammo, now every factory makes that ammo, but other than the CZ, no guns. Every few years Ruger makes a run of #1's in 6.5 for Lipseys, so hold out for one of those.

if you want a semi-auto plinker/coyote gun thats bigger than a .22 LR get an AR-15 style in .223, AR stands for "America's Rifle".

I almost always recommend .30-06 for an American's first or only hunting rifle. If there are no Elk in your state then a .270 is 2nd choice. If you don't reload and want to practice a lot with surplus FMJ ammo then .308.

Oh, you should have a .22 LR bolt action too.

Poole

For what you've described, the 6.5x55.

Not that my opinion matters, but in that platform, my choices would be:
1. 9.3
2. 6.5
In that platform, the other two are non-starters.

I'd do a Swede and call it good.

Best Regards

in response to 9.3 - it is a consideration, but the shooter is 5'7 and about 135lbs or so. :P However, I used to fire my M39 Mosin one-handed with 2moa accuracy at 25yards.
I shot a 1903 20" recently (sporterized, had recoil pad from 1974 mostly-dried-out :P), .30-06, 180gr ammo (Remmy). Was fine shooting, but upon firing I couldn't be sure of where the round was going, and the kick was right on my upper limit (no more than maybe 5-10 rounds and I'd be finished).
Another question - when I was handling CZ Fullstocks (452 and 527), and doing a "Recoil-test" ("pulling" the rifle hard into my shoulder w/front hand, following barrel in line of force), it seemed to direct all the recoil straight BACK, with limited muzzle lift...
Also, my old M39 would go BACK hard, but not a lot of up. The swede tends to want to lift more...

In practice, do hogbacks actually reduce or increase muzzle-jump?

Don't think you can go wrong with the CZ 550 FS in 6.5 x 55. Fine rifle, I love the set trigger.




You might also look at the 260 rem. Fine cartridge there and can be had in a number of light weight rifles.
A kimber montana loaded with 120 gr. ballistic tips or 125 gr. partitions works pretty good on the hogs, turkey and deer I pointed mine at.

GWB

30-06 does it all, if that is the question.