6.5x55 Tikka shortage.

[NickJ]

Have you tried @Malmo Guns - they had a heap of Creedmoor's in when I was in on Monday and I'm sure one or two were Tikkas.

 

[JTO]

Maybe not quite the best time to start load testing and familiarisation with the shortage of components etc. It's over £350 to just replace my brass and dies (like for like) and both are on backorder. LoL

And to add to the wait, will you need a variation?

 

[Woodmister]

im thinking of selling my varmint tikka t3 in 6.5x55 round count from new is circa 100 rounds.

 

[tim@tcs]

I have a rem 700 barrel in swede that came from a donor rifle to create a 30/55 in the cabinet
I’m sure you can find a rem 700 receiver to fit it to, don’t want much to be honest I would rather it was being used than gathering dust

 

[User00040]

I have a rem 700 barrel in swede that came from a donor rifle to create a 30/55 in the cabinet
I’m sure you can find a rem 700 receiver to fit it to, don’t want much to be honest I would rather it was being used than gathering dust

£10 deal?

 

[WildBoarHunter]

Many years ago there was a very popular cartridge in central europe, the 6.5×57. It was eventualy phased out and largely replaced by the 6.5×55. Even the legendary Steyr Mannlichers can now be bought only in 6.5×55 and are no longer available in 6.5×57 for at least 15 years... It seems now the time has come for the 6.5×55 to be in turn phased out by the 6.5 CM.
I own both of the above calibers. Nothing wrong with either of them. I'd say fashion now simply favours the 6.5 CM.

 

[tim@tcs]

£10 deal?

If you collect maybe

 

[1894]

Many years ago there was a very popular cartridge in central europe, the 6.5×57. It was eventualy phased out and largely replaced by the 6.5×55. Even the legendary Steyr Mannlichers can now be bought only in 6.5×55 and are no longer available in 6.5×57 for at least 15 years... It seems now the time has come for the 6.5×55 to be in turn phased out by the 6.5 CM.
I own both of the above calibers. Nothing wrong with either of them. I'd say fashion now simply favours the 6.5 CM.

Umm that’s not right. 6.5x57 is still popular in non Scandinavian Europe and chambered by most manufacturers. It’s never been popular here as we have taken the Scandi lead. I suspect (but don’t know it’s just that UK Steyr importers don’t bring in 6.5x57

 

[tim@tcs]

Umm that’s not right. 6.5x57 is still popular in non Scandinavian Europe and chambered by most manufacturers. It’s never been popular here as we have taken the Scandi lead. I suspect (but don’t know it’s just that UK Steyr importers don’t bring in 6.5x57

I have a few boxes of x57 still

 

[WildBoarHunter]

Umm that’s not right. 6.5x57 is still popular in non Scandinavian Europe and chambered by most manufacturers. It’s never been popular here as we have taken the Scandi lead. I suspect (but don’t know it’s just that UK Steyr importers don’t bring in 6.5x57

Steyr dropped it many years ago. Heym just dropped it recently in favour of the 6.5 CM. Some manufacturers still offer it in their rifles, like Blaser. But the ammo selection is smaller and smaller every year and I have never in my 15 years of being a hunter heard of anyone buying a new rifle in this chambering. Frankly said it is doing it's last breaths. 10 years from now it will be gone.

 

[Sako75Hunter]

I celebrated the start of the Irish deer season this evening by taking a sika pricket at around 200m with a 6.5x55 Sako 120gr solid copper bullet. One shot in the hilar zone and he dropped on the spot.

I'll tell you this much: if the barrel on my rifle ever burns out, it'll be replaced with another 6.5x55. Such a great calibre - extremely low recoil and just bloody works, every single time.

 

[JTO]

It seems now the time has come for the 6.5×55 to be in turn phased out by the 6.5 CM.

That's my thinking.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

So I went into my local RFD for a mooch and while there asked about him about ordering a Tikka in 6.5x55 as nobody seemed to stock them anymore. Plenty of 6.5 Needmores about. I'd e-mailed GNK but didn't receive a reply.
I wanted one in a Laminate stock, Stainless Steel, 20" barrel with a set trigger. They're advertised on the Tikka website.
He said that Tikka had stopped taking orders 'till April 23 and, as it was a special model, if I ordered one it would probably be here in 2024!
I said I'd probably be dead, or in a care home by then. So I asked about a bog standard 6.5x55. No joy.
6.5 Needmore in a variety of camp (sorry auto fill - meant camo) stocks and configurations no problem!
What's wrong with the old 65x55 Swede?

Have new stainless Tikka 6.5x55 in stock
Can put it in any stock you want
Set triggers can be fitted

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

In a 20” barrel as many brands favour the 55 has a distinct edge over the Creedmoor in velocity terms when using 140gr plus bullet weights
Skating close to UK deer legal velocities
That is also displayed down range in terminal energy

Still very popular
Lot more pure hunting ammo in 55 than CM
Much more ELD VLD style ammo in CM

 

[Sako75Hunter]

Lot more pure hunting ammo in [6.5x]55 than [6.5]CM

Interesting, and good to know.

 

[norcan]

Here in Scandinavia, there are 2-300.000 active competition shooters, shooting only 6,5x55 exclusively each week.

Would guess 10-20 million rounds each week.. for decades.
And factory loaded Lapua match ammo costs $1 pr round...


The 6,5x55 is the entire reason why there is so many good 6,5mm bullets...

Just checked...

Its cheaper to buy fully loaded 6,5x55 Lapua Match ammunition... then just Lapua brass.

 

[Jelen]

Have new stainless Tikka 6.5x55 in stock
Can put it in any stock you want
Set triggers can be fitted

Thanks, I'm now sorted.

 

[25 Sharps]

It is quite different here in the UK. 6.5 CM is everywhere,. 6.5x55 SE, or SKAN, or whatever, not so. I know that you use it for things like moose, as well, which does seem a bit under-par really, from our perspective. But if that's all that you have got ...


The M18 is definitely a press-fitted (not sweated in) barrel. Adequate because the bolt locks into into the barrel, not the receiver. So the receiver takes no force. A useful cost saving measure to meet a price point. In short, a disposable rifle. I dunno about the M12, maybe that is made properly.

Is it?

How do you know a Vegan is a Vegan? Because they’ll tell you, just like (most) creedmoor shooters, except they shout about it.

There are still loads and loads of people shooting 6.5x55 in the UK, they don’t feel the need to shout it from the mountain tops (or shoot PRS).

I’ve had both for a number of years and your assertion that the creedmoor is better is nonsense. There is nothing between them bar maybe a few grains of powder and action length, ballistically they are twins!

 

[25 Sharps]

Last ten years 6.5 calibers I’ve rebarrelled or made as full custom

30% creed needy

10% 260 Rem

50% 6.5 x 47

20% 6.5 x 55

Oh and One 6.5 PRC and two 260 Improved


6.5 55 is not dead and very much alive as deer killer or target round

The young pretender is no “better” than 55 or 260

It does offer a performance (velocity) advantage over 47 in terms that it will handle above 130 g class bullets

Level playing field otherwise

Shhhhh.

No one wants to hear someone talk sense about all mid level 6.5s being essentially the same no matter the age of the cartridge!

 

[NullMac]

Just get with the programme and buy the 6.5 CM. It is the better, modern, widely available, cartridge.

Whereas the 6.5 x55 is nowadays a relic, for reloaders maybe. Or the obscure Scand-Wegians and Danish target shooters, mostly all using the SIG Sauer 200 STR and subsidised ammo.

SIG Sauer 200 STR - Wikipedia

Big girl

Go with a 6.5x55AI. Different class