I bought a used Steyr pro hunter. There are many on here that would suggest that its a bad purchase due to the floppy stock, but I got it at a bargain price. All I can say is that every bullet type and weight that I ahev loaded for it so far has produced tight groups adn so far Ive never had a flyer. I tested some new loads at the range at the weekend and grouped sub MOA at 300 yards. However, if I was buying new and had £800 to spend on just the rifle I would ahev gone for a Tikka or for a few extra quid a Sako purely becasue of the risk of getting a bad one that produced flyers every now and again.
Which 6.5X55?
- Thread starter pitnie
- Start date
There are a lot of answers to this question. For what its worth I would advocate buying a good quality second hand rifle that doesnt have too many plastic working parts and feels good in your hands. EG I bought a ten(ish) year old Heym SR20 because it was there available, I liked the guy, he'd looked after it etc. Only then did I apply for a variation to 7/08 because thats what it happened to be. But its all wood and metal and I hope and believe that I'll have it as long as I live. Equally a BRNO from the eighties would have the same appeal to me, if in good nick. £300 to £500 should be all you need for a really good quality rifle that will last you a lifetime. (I'm sure there will be many who disagree, and I welcome the ensuing discussion)
Edit- sorry I had already read you'd bought a blaser but promptly forgotten! Doh.
Edit- sorry I had already read you'd bought a blaser but promptly forgotten! Doh.
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Sako and Tikka is nice.
I would avoid Sauer as there will become a forend problem on the gun, where the separate forend in the future will touch the barrel.
They have not made thatsolution really well.
Sako
I love the open action, perfect for normal hunting and the 85 classic is a wonderfull gun that I would really like to have.
Tikka
Better accuracy than Sako due to stiffer action.
Better scopemounting possibilitys (i hate the conical dovetails)
Separate magazine wich is needed because of the small ejection port, and if that is bad or good is up to everyone and have an opinion on.
On a normal light hunting rifle I really like the fixed mag of sako.
So I would defintely have a hard time to chose betwen the two, and the accuracy need together with the purpose would make my decision betwen the two
Håkan
I would avoid Sauer as there will become a forend problem on the gun, where the separate forend in the future will touch the barrel.
They have not made thatsolution really well.
Sako
I love the open action, perfect for normal hunting and the 85 classic is a wonderfull gun that I would really like to have.
Tikka
Better accuracy than Sako due to stiffer action.
Better scopemounting possibilitys (i hate the conical dovetails)
Separate magazine wich is needed because of the small ejection port, and if that is bad or good is up to everyone and have an opinion on.
On a normal light hunting rifle I really like the fixed mag of sako.
So I would defintely have a hard time to chose betwen the two, and the accuracy need together with the purpose would make my decision betwen the two
Håkan
T3 Varmint, 6.5X55 , excellent rifle, no problems with trigger or bolt.
HWH.
HWH.
buck52
Well-Known Member
I disagree Håkan, I have a 4 year old Sauer 202 (wooden stock & forend) its been out in the worst wet weather possible for days on end, its all about looking after it properly, the forend does not touch the barrel, and it has a Harris bipod fitted.
Buck 52
I know I am right as a former gunsmith I had a number o Sauers that came in with just this problem.
Likely is the problem very dependent on the wood quality and the fitting against the recivier.
Those guns that I have worked on was imported to sweden likely in the 90th so the guns have had some 10-15 years and then started to shrimp.
Just slightly but definitely enogh to cause accuracy problems.
Håkan
I know I am right as a former gunsmith I had a number o Sauers that came in with just this problem.
Likely is the problem very dependent on the wood quality and the fitting against the recivier.
Those guns that I have worked on was imported to sweden likely in the 90th so the guns have had some 10-15 years and then started to shrimp.
Just slightly but definitely enogh to cause accuracy problems.
Håkan
I have just bought a sporterised Swedish Mauser for a very low price and expect it to do everything a modern rifle with all the bells and whistles will do.
Get something on a Mauser (small or large ring action) and put the rest of the money into the scope. You do NOT need to spend £800 for a decent rifle.
Get something on a Mauser (small or large ring action) and put the rest of the money into the scope. You do NOT need to spend £800 for a decent rifle.
It all depends on what accuracy and reliability one wants. Just about every factory rifle is fine to side on chest shoot a deer at 100yds.
For head/neck or longer range shooting with almost 100% reliabilty I would not rely on any factory rifle. Some rifles might only need small
tweaks to put them right others need bigger changes. For many hunters traditional looks of their rifles is first priority and are more important
than an accurate reliable tool. Wood as a stock material might be a nice material to look at but is not ideal. Cheap plastics have mechanical
problems and are just as bad.
I don't think one has to spend a fortune to have a reliable accurate rifle. Howa has possibly the best action design which is a very close
copy of an early Sako action. T3 is generally a good basic rifle and if one wants a light rifle even a Remington 700 can be brilliant.
Any of these if pillar bedded in their original walnut/laminate stock and well free floated will make a, not perfect but fairly good hunting rifle.
I'd rely more on a bedded remington than any unbedded sako....
edi
For head/neck or longer range shooting with almost 100% reliabilty I would not rely on any factory rifle. Some rifles might only need small
tweaks to put them right others need bigger changes. For many hunters traditional looks of their rifles is first priority and are more important
than an accurate reliable tool. Wood as a stock material might be a nice material to look at but is not ideal. Cheap plastics have mechanical
problems and are just as bad.
I don't think one has to spend a fortune to have a reliable accurate rifle. Howa has possibly the best action design which is a very close
copy of an early Sako action. T3 is generally a good basic rifle and if one wants a light rifle even a Remington 700 can be brilliant.
Any of these if pillar bedded in their original walnut/laminate stock and well free floated will make a, not perfect but fairly good hunting rifle.
I'd rely more on a bedded remington than any unbedded sako....
edi
Brithunter
Well-Known Member
where are the photos?Moonraker68
Well-Known Member
I bought a s/h Varberger in 6.5x55 from Norman Cark, for £685 including Apel mounts and a Lisenfield 1.5-6x42 scope (that I subsequently sold). It's a very well made rifle and is in good condition. It also groups at less than an inch with Norma 120 gn ballistic tips. There are plenty of bargains out there, particularly if you are happy with a traditional wood/blued rifle.
I. Farticus
Well-Known Member
I got my Sako 75 in 6.5x55 from Gregor - oh, and then decided 6 months later on a Z6i 3-18x50 scope from him as well. Great kit that will last me for ever - and then some! Nice customer service and I highly recommend them
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