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i like and own both of these great cartridges 257 Roberts and 6.5 Swede but both are hard to find ammo for these days and yes its a real shame. so for that reason i would buy him one of these cartridges for your son 243 WIN. ,7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for these 3 are easy to find at a gun store or a ma-pa store.

Last edited by pete53; 01/14/20.

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6.5x55 for the win. Utterly versatile- load it down for a youngster's sensibilities, load it hot for yours. Bullet weights and styles encompass a broader range than the .25. Fix him up with one and he'll be set for life. (Spoken as someone who was, and is, a huge fanboy of the .257 Roberts but who is an even bigger fanboy of the 6.5x55.)


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I love my 6.5 swede but for a grandchild or child of my own I would go 6.5 creedmoor everytime. It gives them the option of tons of widely available shelf ammo in stores all across America. Should the youngster decide not to reload they are not stuck in what could be a tight situation


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I have both; along with a 260 and a 6.5 Creedmoor and I think I would lean toward the 6.5. I really like the 257 Roberts but the 6.5's just make sense today due to component availability etc. GD

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Originally Posted by Trystan
I love my 6.5 swede but for a grandchild or child of my own I would go 6.5 creedmoor everytime. It gives them the option of tons of widely available shelf ammo in stores all across America. Should the youngster decide not to reload they are not stuck in what could be a tight situation


I've told this story before, but it illustrates the challenge of being off the beaten path with a rifle chambered for a less common cartridge and no ammo for it.

A number of years ago I was hunting deer on the high plains near Wray, CO. A hunter from OH was staying a couple doors down from us at the motel we were staying in and had made the trip from Pomeroy, OH, without any ammo. He called every gun shop that he could find a telephone number for in western NE and eastern CO, but couldn't find any 6.5x55 ammo east of Denver. I loaned him my spare rifle, a S&W C in 30-06, so he was able to go hunting on opening morning and punch his tag. If he'd had a rifle chambered for a more common cartridge, he might have found ammo and been able to hunt with his own rifle.

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Got'em both, like'em both.

But, right now, I'm shooting my 7-08 for WT's and hogs.

I can always swap to another rifle and go from there.

A Loony needs options...

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Whatever LOP fits best with least amount of recoil would be my recommendation. Make it as comfortable as can be when the trigger breaks.

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A first rifle can be a special thing. A good 6.5x55 might allow elk and moose abroad in years to come. Of course he may become a gun nut and collect more but a 6.5 gives more flexibility and recoils no more with 100gr.

Last edited by OttoG; 01/14/20.
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Plus if you use a rifle chambered for an obscure cartridge you gotta plan ahead. I took my swede to Pennsylvania but I had a spare 270 for that reason. Year before that i took a 257 and a 243.

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Originally Posted by mjbgalt
Plus if you use a rifle chambered for an obscure cartridge you gotta plan ahead. I took my swede to Pennsylvania but I had a spare 270 for that reason. Year before that i took a 257 and a 243.


In my neck of the woods both the 6.5x55 and .257 Bob are obscure. Only two shops in the Metro area have both on the shelf. Most everywhere else you won't find either. Of the two, my personal favorite is the 6.5x55. Both my sons started off with 6.5x55's. Hard to go wrong with either though.

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If it were for your self I would say 257 but for your son the 6.5x55 would be a nice alternative. If the stock can be refitted longer as he grows or a second stock in a few years then it could become a life time rifle. The 6.5 is a bit more versatile than the 257 especially if game larger than deer are factored in.

Ammo can always be ordered but off the shelf availability is a nice option if he doesn't reload later. If the choice were based on ammo options then the 243 or 6.5 Creed would be the top choices as other have posted. My sons I did a 22lr, 223, 243, 270 progression. One son decided he didn't care to hunt the other is an avid hunter shooting a 270 Nula/Colt light Rifle. Both still like to shoot.

The 6.5x55 Forbes rifle has become my go to rifle even though I just finished two others recently.


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6.5 CM and be done with it.

My .257 Roberts is my favorite rifle and with +P brass and ammo it oes most everything I need done. But the 6.5CM is the winner in terms of ammo and component availability. Buy the kid a rifle he can use all his life.


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Putting my money where my mouth is, my single "nice" wood blue rifle is chambered 6.5x55. No flies on the others. But, that is where I put my money....



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Why not another 260 Rem for the youngster? You already have 260 Rem stuff on hand.


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I've got both and I really like them both. Between the two, I'd give a slight edge to the Bob for a kid. It is really a splitting hairs situation between them. For what it's worth, I started both of my kids with a .30-30. I started with it as well, and wouldn't change a thing.

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I'll likely end up going with the 6.5x55, although I am still considering the .257. Even if he doesn't like the Swede, he can always hunt with one of the other rifles in .243 or .260...but I think he will like the 6.5x55 just fine. He isn't a small kid, and hasn't been recoil shy shooting some of my heavy barrel .308s, so he should do fine.

As far as ammo availability goes, its really a non issue right now. I reload, so it won't be a problem to keep plenty of ammo on hand.

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The Roberts has minimal recoil with a 100gn bullet around 3 000fps but the .264 100gn Ballistic Tip would also have low recoil in the 6.5x55. Or even a 120gn bullet a couple of grains under maximum to start him off. I'm a life long fan of the Roberts but I also like my 6.5x55 as well. I don't think you could make a bad choice.

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The simple answer is get a 6.5 Creedmoor. I currently own - and like - all three, Creed, Swede, and Roberts. I like them all, but, IMO, the smart one to get is the Creedmoor. Accurate and cheap factory ammo, accurate and cheap factory rifles, modest recoil....what's not to like?


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Originally Posted by Jason280
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Why not take the path of least resistance and buy a 243?


I actually have a Browning BLR .243 and Rem Model 7 in .260, and he may end up using one of those, but we still want to pick up either another 6.5x55 or .257 Bob. Not really sure why I'd want to put together a hunting rifle in 6.5x55 when I already have a perfect hunting gun in .260, but there's just something about these old cartridges that suck me in.


It reads more like you are putting one together for you. In that case pick whatever one your want.


If you're doing it for your son, I'd go 6.5 Creedmoor. Quality ammo everywhere.

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EXACTLY what I was thinking. For a kid neither make any sense.
For a kid buy a 243, 260, 7-08, or either creed.

Last edited by boatammo; 01/15/20.

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