Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 6.5x55 vs .257 Roberts

Good argument.

I also have all three. For someone who doesn’t reload or for the sake of efficient simplicity, hard to beat the Creed for reasons you outline.

DF

243win or 6.5 CM
Keep it simple stupid for now

Well, there is one sure thing, that nearly every Wal-Mart that sells ammunition will carry 223, 22-250, 243, 25-06, 6.5 CM, 270, 7MM RM, 30-30, 308, 30-06, and 300 WM, so if you don't reload or find yourself in a pinch, you can probably find ammo within a reasonable distance from nearly anywhere in the contiguous 48 States.

I don't recall ever having seen a single box of 257 Roberts or 6.5x55 factory ammo at Wal-Mart and it is less common, with less variety, than any of the 11 cartridges listed above at the 3 biggest retailers that carry ammo near me, Cabela's/BPS, Guns Unlimited, and Scheel's.

I have 2 Swede's and 2 Roberts. Hard to pick between them. Roberts cases are harder to find, but not impossible. Another option is to stay with same caliber bullets and get a 6.5 Grendel. I got one in the Howa Mini-Action for my 10 years old daughter to use. I put a Boyd's stock on it for its shorter length for her. It is surprisingly accurate with 100g NBT. It worked well on her deer this year. Grendel cases are easy to find.

Being a Roberts fan I would never discourage anyone from getting one.

Regarding the Roberts, I think it would behoove any one that has a Rob to contact Hornady requesting brass.

I've emailed them in the past, and they responded they are contemplating it.

More emails would undoubtedly help:

https://www.hornady.com/contact/

6.5x55 is my recommendation.

Many more components and availability.

I agree and I own a 257Roberts as well. I don't own one but the 6.5CM is the best choice here.

Yup, and I too own a Roberts but currently no 6.5 CM.

BUT, I'd rather start an 11 yo on light 6mm bullets than on light 6.5's, and frankly think a 223 is better yet.

When I went to New Zealand they had 6.5x 55 in all the stores. Just getting on 6.5 Creed stuff.

Of those two choices, hands down the 6.5x55. Id seriously consider a 6.5 Creedmoor, as the selection in rifle choices seems to be ever expanding in this caliber.

I personally shoot 6.5x55 Rem 700, as one of my favorite rifles for hunting season, but by the end of 2020 I’ll have a 6.5 Creedmoor in the stable as well.

It’s nice to have the option of buying factory ammo.

Every kid is different. While my 8 YO could shoulder my CZ 527 in 7.62x39, the recoil was too much. Instead, he preferred a custom stocked 6.5x55 with 100 grain Ballistic Tips loaded to 2600 fps. He could shoot those into bug holes and, in fact, on his first outing bagged a huge bodied 6 pt. Bigger than any Whitetail I've ever shot. There is no one best solution.

I can see the draw of the 6.5 CM, but really no point with already having a .260. In fact, its really too bad Remington didn't support/market the .260 better....but the great thing about the popularity of the 6.5 CM is its brought even more .264 cal bullet options for reloaders.

I'll probably get in the 6.5 CM eventually, but for now I am far more interested in the Swede.

I was going to mention the 6.5 Creedmoor in my post but thought I'd better not, just keep it to the two mentioned cartridges. But the fact is the 6.5 CM is the logical choice for a youngster/first time shooter. Low recoil, easy to shoot, powerful enough for deer/pig sized game, accurate and very popular with lots of available ammo and components. I love my .257 Roberts rifles and my 6.5x55 but in 2018 I had my old .243 rebarreled to 6.5 CM. I think it is a fantastic little hunting round.

A mate is looking for a rifle for his son who will be old enough to get is licence soon. The 6.5 CM is what I am recommending to him.

I wonder if Hornady realised what a great little round they were developing.

That's the velocity I loaded the Grendel up with the same bullet for my daughter to use. Works well.

Strictly logic says the Swede for logistical reasons.

But if it were me I'd get the Bob, just for nostalgia purposes. It's an oldie, but it's a goodie.

I look at it from a different angle....IF I was the boy, I would want a rifle that Dad had kills/stories with. I would set one of those up for him and have a great father/son time together! For my youngest grand daughter, I am being pre-emptive ( my money in my mouth) and bought a little CA Mesa in 6.5 Creedmoor. I will kill some stuff with it, and have some stories when she comes along. Essentially, it is "her rifle". If I have to, I will have it rebarreled for something different, but keep the Creed barrel for when she comes along. Just something to consider? Also, have him shoot as many does, smaller bucks as legal, get him some game experience, then you and he can go on a special hunt for Ol Bruiser. Remember, when he gets a bit older...girls and malls are hard to compete with unless you make hunting together really special...then he can "dream" of his girlfriend while he is on the Deer Stand!

But the 6.5 is older, and gooder!

6.5x55 for sure, I keep one of those cheap elastic Allen cartridge holders on the stock that holds 9 rounds. That way if I forget to pack shells there’s allows nine rounds with the gun.

I've pretty much decided to go with the 6.5x55, now its just time to decide on a barrel...the base rifle we are using for the build is a Marlin X7.

The only potential monkey wrench in the whole deal is one of the local shops has a Remington Model 7 synthetic, which has been rebarreled to .250-3000. Its another one of those classic cartridges I've always had a soft spot for, and it wouldn't cost me much more than I'm getting ready to sink into this project.

Buy yourself a 257 Roberts.

Let the boy shoot your 243 BLR.

I like the 6.5x55. Killed a few Catskill Whitetails with the o'l Norma 160 grain RN's. Loaded light won't impress me much. Heavy bullet and moderate velocity is what turns me on about the Swede.

Dan