Which 6.5X55?

[pitnie]

Hi Guy's
I've just got a 6.5X55 put on my ticket. So which make do I get? The more I read the more I'm unsure. My other gun is a CZ550 243, after a bit of fiddling I'm reasonably happy with it. I do want a free floating barrel and a stock/fore end that will not wobble with a bi pod. Not laminate.

Any thoughts on barrel length and twist verses velocity would be welcome as I'm not to sure I understand that too well.

I'm willing to spend circa £800 on the rifle.

So if it was your dosh what would you buy?

Pitnie

 

[Harry mac]

Hi Guy's
I've just got a 6.5X55 put on my ticket. So which make do I get? The more I read the more I'm unsure. My other gun is a CZ550 243, after a bit of fiddling I'm reasonably happy with it. I do want a free floating barrel and a stock/fore end that will not wobble with a bi pod. Not laminate.

Any thoughts on barrel length and twist verses velocity would be welcome as I'm not to sure I understand that too well.

I'm willing to spend circa £800 on the rifle.

So if it was your dosh what would you buy?

Pitnie

With that budget, I'd go for a 2nd hand Sauer 202. I may be biased though

 

[GarethW]

With that budget, I'd go for a 2nd hand Sauer 202. I may be biased though

Or a Tikka T3 Hunter

 

[pitnie]

This is my dilema, is a 2nd hand Sauer is better than a new Howa? If it was a shot gun no worries but I'm really unsure on Rifle manufactures.

 

[Alaska_Seth]

Yes a 2nd Hand Sauer is much better than a new Howa. I have both, the 2nd hand Sauer I gave $2000 USD for with 2 barrel 308 and 9.3x62.

I don't like the factory Howa stocks, and with Sauer you have about 30 choices in stocks if you don't like the one that is one it. Howa has quite a few stocks, and you could have Pete Lincoln from Roedale sex it up for you.

 

[flytie]

I will say up front that i have a Sako 75 in 6.5x55 and would recommend it/them to anyone.

Any decent rifle, like a Sako or a Tikka (or a Blaser etc) in a very moderately pressured calibre like the 6.5x55 will have a barrel life of many, many thousands of rounds (possibly tens of thousands) before accuracy will suffer. So if you buy a decent Sako 75 / Tikka that has been well looked after it will serve you well for many years. I mention these two in particular as they leave the factory with an accuracy guarantee of producing 1" groups or better with factory ammunition, and they are readily available second-hand.

If you wanted to spend a little more money you can find the odd Blaser in 6.5x55 second-hand for £1,400/ish.

I honestly believe that buying a second-hand decent quality rifle the first purchaser has taken the biggest price drop, and it will allow you to spend more money on the most important pieces of equipment, your rifle-scope and binoculars.

Good hunting.

This is what a Sako Finnlight in 6.5x55 will do!
Simon

Edit; Most 6.5x55's seem to be 1 in 8" to 1 in 9", mine is 1 in 8".

 

[204 Ruger]

I will say up front that i have a Sako 75 in 6.5x55 and would recommend it/them to anyone.

Any decent rifle, like a Sako or a Tikka (or a Blaser etc) in a very moderately pressured calibre like the 6.5x55 will have a barrel life of many, many thousands of rounds (possibly tens of thousands) before accuracy will suffer. So if you buy a decent Sako 75 / Tikka that has been well looked after it will serve you well for many years. I mention these two in particular as they leave the factory with an accuracy guarantee of producing 1" groups or better with factory ammunition, and they are readily available second-hand.


If you wanted to spend a little more money you can find the odd Blaser in 6.5x55 second-hand for £1,400/ish.

I honestly believe that buying a second-hand decent quality rifle the first purchaser has taken the biggest price drop, and it will allow you to spend more money on the most important pieces of equipment, your rifle-scope and binoculars.

Good hunting.

SimonView attachment 5615This is what a Sako Finnlight in 6.5x55 will do!

Id agree with Simon. Ive recently bought the 6.5 x 55. If I was buying new id have bought a Sako. I managed to get an excellent deal on used (less that 200 rounds) a Steyr pro Hunter. yes it has a palstic stock and yes its stock is wobbly at the forend but it shoots awesome and was a real bargain. But new Id have bought the SAKO. Good luck with it, you really wont be dissapointed, its a great round.

 

[pitnie]

Macleods have a Sako AV, is that an oldser model?

 

[palo]

I have a sako 85 stainless 6.5x55 and had the 75 version before that.
Both very accurate rifles with and without a bipod.
They have a 1 in 8 twist which is supposed to be best with heavier bullets but mine will shoot 85 grain sierras as good as the 140s.

 

[flytie]

Macleods have a Sako AV, is that an oldser model?

Pitnie, from what i can quickly see on the internet the AV was made in 1979/1980, so you would have to have a word with Gregor Macleod to see what the condition is, does it have rings/scope etc. The early Sako's are highly regarded by some.

There is a nice stainless synthetic 75 on guntrader advertised for £750, and another rebarrelled by Norman Clark that would be well worth a look as he does very good work.


Simon

 

[macberran]

I have a Sako in 6.5, its in timber which I prefer and its a delux. Shoots a dream. Great actioned great handling gun. And maybe even a good investment.

 

[MrYou]

what about a nice Browning x / A bolt ? No problem here & plenty notches to account.

 

[RickoShay]

I have a 2nd hand Sauer 202 Select, wonderful rifle which in Classic may come within your range
Shoots Norma BST best.

 

[LuckyEddie]

Or a Tikka T3 Hunter

+1

 

[willtomand]

Ive a 202 in 6.5x55 synthetic stock fitted with harris bipod swaro 8x50 sitting on apel fixed mounts. Very very happy with combo only weak factor is my shooting skill! Shot all deers from munties to reds with this no problem when hit properly, little meat damage is another bonus with this calibre.

 

[pitnie]

Guy's Just to bring you up to date. I blew the bank, traded in my .243 CZ and got a new Blaser with 6.5 x 55 and a (to be delivered a shortened) .243 barrel. Oh added another Khales as well. Bought it from Macleods in Tain. What a nice guy Gregor is.

And.... I love it, just feels so right.

 

[flytie]

Guy's Just to bring you up to date. I blew the bank, traded in my .243 CZ and got a new Blaser with 6.5 x 55 and a (to be delivered a shortened) .243 barrel. Oh added another Khales as well. Bought it from Macleods in Tain. What a nice guy Gregor is.

And.... I love it, just feels so right.

Strewth, another Blaser convert I must be doing something wrong .

Congratulations, Simon

 

[Brithunter]

And.... I love it, just feels so right.

Hmmmm I wonder how much this feeling is caused by " it's cost so much it must be right!" and yes I have shot them high grade ones in .308 with price tags of over £4000 at the time. Yep they shot well with Federal American Eagle ammunition but if I had that money to spend, and i didn't back then either, I would have brought the 8x57R SxS Dbl Chapuis he also brought along for us to try.............................................. now that was a beauty but at £4500 out of my reach .


Now that was a cracking day spent in good company on Short Siberia but phew it must have been 12 years ago now.

Glad your happy but I do wonder at the spate of converts?

 

[William Grant]

I bought a Blaser R8 last year from Mcleods in 6.5x55. Very accurate and sweet to shoot with a mod, taking Reds, Fallow, Sika and Roe, 1/2" groups with factory 140grain ammo, a little pricey maybe but you get what you pay for, thinking of ordering a .223 barrel im that pleased with the R8.

 

[MrYou]

you guys have way too much money