Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 6.5x55 and 6.5 Creedmoor

I have shot quite a bit with both. It's probably a surprise to some, but a 140 at 2700 from a 6.5x55, performs EXACTLY the same as a 140 at 2700 from a 6.5CM. I find the Creedmoor to work a little better with low pressure loads. In a pinch, I can form CM brass from 308. GD

As I've mentioned before, my .26 experience began with a Swede, and I think it's sweet spot - as greydog mentions, - is a 140 gr. class bullet at 2700 based on a 24" barrel. In fact, I only loaded 140 gr. NPTs in that rifle.

But after many years I gave the rifle away. Naturally, I felt morally obligated to replace it with something familiar and ended up with my first CM big game hunting rifle.

No big surprise, this barrel luvs a 140 gr. class of bullet at 2700 based on a 24" barrel.

Go figure.

I bought a safe queen Winchester "European Featherweight" in 6.5x55 in 2016. I'm fairly certain it had never been shot except for proofing @ the factory. It had a
gloss Leupold 2x7 on it and neither the bases or rings had even been tightened. They only made 400 of them in 86" according to the last copy of Fjestads Blue book I had . The rifle has a set of sights on it with the front having a hood.
I took that scope set up off upon recieving it and put a set of Talleys on it with a gloss 2.5x8 Leupold . Did a little trigger job on it and dang that thing will flat out shoot.
It really likes IMR4350 with Hornady brass and a Hornady 140 interlock.

After hunting with it just once it is the one I always reach for. It punches way above its weight and is a pleasure to shoot. Plus, like a 300 H+H it has a certain kinda swag about it IMHO.

OP hold out for "TheSwede" , It's what you want.

We're talking about guns with 1200-1500 round accurate barrel lives assuming a CM barrel, more if you chase the lands a bit.

Now, with say an average of 5 rounds per hunt and maybe 200 rounds of load development at the beginning if you're really thorough, that works out to 200+ hunts.

The reality is there's very few people who go on 200 big game hunts in their life. Those that do can afford a rebarrel.

Interesting, just as we've been having a lovely chat here up pops an article by John Haviland on the Swede with references to the CM in the latest issue of American Rifleman. Interesting.

I know, let's ramp up a .375 H&H and .375 Ruger thread and see who publishes next!