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> Best 6.5x55
Best 6.5x55
@ 10:04 am (GMT) |
Edwin PughI have quite a large collection of rifles now but would like to add a 6.5x55 rifle to it. My budget would top out around 2000 dollars US. I have been looking at the Sako Bavarian 85 full stock but have not been able to physically hold one.I would like a oil finish and not synthetic. Any recommendations? |
Replies
@ 04:41 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Best 6.5x55Hi Edwin, coul you please go to our book shopping section, then click on the long range hunting rifles book link (don't worry about the long range angle) and scroll down until you see the video there. That should help answer your Sako question.Beyond the basics of rifle design, I think once you have established what is and isn't a sound platform, the rest is very much personel taste. One person may prefer one of the New Mauser M98 style rifles while another may find the stock not so handsome and prefer a semi custom build, perhaps based on a Sako AV or an original Swedish Mauser action (my personal preference if going wood blue). |
@ 01:57 am (GMT) |
Jared ThibodauxRe: Best 6.5x55I have a Tikka T3 Stainless 6.5x55 and without question it is far and away the most accurate rifle I have ever shot (I handload for two dozen rifles), sure I can get sub 1/4 MOA groups with a few of my rifles with one specific load but the Tikka is remarkably accurate across the board. I remember a load workup I did a couple years ago when I first got my 140gr Deep Curls I started at 42gr of RL 22 and worked my way up to 47.5gr the WORST group of that whole range trip was 1/3" at 100yds, my best group was one hole that measured 0.346" outside diameter, that equates to aprox 1/12th MOA! Never shot a heavy barrel rifle that would do that from granny load to max load. They do make a wood stock version though if you want the Sako name on yours I am sure they are just as good (same company)While I have yet to find a bullet the Tikka won't group with SSTs have given me impressive performance on paper and on game, this year I hope to test out my Partitions and Deep Curls on our local pig population. For what it is worth RL22 is my go to powder in 6.5x55 for everything 140gr, and RL19 or IMR4350 for 120gr. Whichever you get enjoy your Sweed, I sure do. |
@ 02:59 am (GMT) |
Mike NeesonRe: Best 6.5x55Unfortunately the Tikka T3 and the new Sako 85 are not the same. The Tikka has a recoil lug and the new Sako doesn't. Its a real shame. |
@ 04:47 am (GMT) |
thomas kitchenRe: Best 6.5x55hi edwin i normally stay out of these conversations since its above my experience level as a newbie. there is an italian brand zoli that might be worth a look at as an option if you want something different. i was talking to the nz importer a while ago and he was saying that zoli brought all the old husqavarna machinery so its pretty much a new husky.hopefully you find what your after and let us know how you get on |
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@ 03:49 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Best 6.5x55That is a grand idea Thomas. |
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@ 04:43 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Best 6.5x55A Tikka would be good Jared. That level of accuracy is quite common.Edwin may prefer all steel, no plastic, I don't know. Lots too think about huh. |
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@ 06:57 pm (GMT) |
Jared ThibodauxRe: Best 6.5x55True, the Tikka certainly does not have the feel of a walnut/steel sporter weight. I have a Ruger 77 for when I opt for feel over accuracy, aka when long range shots are not a concern. I had a new (FN) Winchester 70 Featherweight in 308 that had a fantastic feel to it, but my brother wanted to buy it from me when I left Alabama, not quite as tight as the Tikka but I could pull regular 1/2" groups with Varget and 150gr Speer BTSP, they did build the Featherweight in 6.5x55 but they are hard to find and in my experience those who own them will not part with them easily. While I LOVE my Tikkas accuracy I will be the first to admit that I can in no way shoot that good in field conditions, so the difference between a 1/12th MOA hunting rifle and a 1/2 MOA is miniscule to say the least. Rarely in the field do you ever get perfect bench conditions, deer just don't ever walk by when you have a solid rest in full light, the shots I always get are freezing cold turned halfway around in a tree stand with a major case of buck fever. Never lost one or missed one but I have hit a couple a few inches too far back or too high, and had to track them for a bit.All in all the 6.5x55 is my favorite hunting cartridge, it is powerful enough to cleanly take any game we have around here, recoil is very light, not alot of muzzle blast, and accuracy is top notch. I don't know why but I get wider wounding and larger exit wounds with the 6.5x55 then my 7mm-08 despite the fact my 08 drives a 140gr about 150fps faster. |
@ 09:47 pm (GMT) |
chris murphyRe: Best 6.5x55[quote]Hi Edwin, coul you please go to our book shopping section, then click on the long range hunting rifles book link (don't worry about the long range angle) and scroll down until you see the video there. That should help answer your Sako question.Hi Nathan the issue you found with that sako 85 only seams relevant to the wood models, i have a sako 85 ss in 7mm rm and that poor excuse for a recoil device actually works on the synthetic stock. the action is still sloppy side to side with the block (if you take the block out) but because the stock is such a good fit to the action and the block sits tight in the stock i don't get the sideways play. I have just replaced the barrel with a trueflite um (yet to do load development cos i stuffed my back) but with original barrel b4 it wore out i was getting consistent groups all touching it 100 with 168 vlds mv 3050. with that wood model you had (and looking at mine) i believe bedding it and keeping the block as the recoil device would had improved it. anyway thats just my 2cents of input weather it is useful to anyone I'm not sure?? Nathan I'm waiting for my back to come right so i can get you some results of my vld annealing process. |
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@ 11:54 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Best 6.5x55HI Chris, unfortunately I get complaints about this rifle on a week to week basis from around the world. Over the last week it has been almost every day.What you say about stock fit makes sense but its still hit and miss across the board, whether plastic or wood. Some go OK, some don't. The trouble is, its a poor design no matter which angle you come from. Metal should never touch metal in that manner. This design does not have the deadening effect of a full contact chassis- its quite the opposite. This becomes most apparent by removing the chassis and mating it to the action out of the stock. You can then see the very poor contact area. With your rifle, the effects on harmonics happened to be complimentary. These rifles improve with complete removal of the little chassis and a redesign. The reality is, folk who buy a Sako are paying the full price of an action milled with a recoil lug, but are receiving a cost cut item which is designed in the same manner as the T3 and Savage Axis. Sako lose, the customers lose while Beretta make increased profits. Beretta being the company that charge $80 for two M6 screws. How is this acceptable? |
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@ 01:08 am (GMT) |
chris murphyRe: Best 6.5x55yes i fully agree my 1st rifle was an older sako 75 in 25-06 i loved that gun but it suffered a fatal quad bike crash and this was before i new about re barreling and such like.because i loved the sako so much i stuck with it and forked out $3100 for the 85 7mm i was very disappointed the hole feel of it was wrong then after my brother purchased i tikka t3 i realized i was paying extra for a name. Thanks Nathan after hearing what you have said i think i will go ahead and bed it with a proper recoil lug.[b] |
@ 12:52 pm (GMT) |
John SmithRe: Best 6.5x55My two 6.5x55 rifles are my favorites. One is a sporterized SwedishMauser Model 94. The other is a Ruger No. 1A. For the Ruger I reload with 46.5 grains of RL22 using a 140 grain Nosler Partition bullet. For the Swede I switch to a Hornady 140 grain SST. I use Norma brass and WLR primers. Both rifles are deadly accurate and consistently put deer down with one shot. |
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@ 06:52 am (GMT) |
Edwin PughRe: Best 6.5x55Well after trying to deal on several used 6.5x55's I fell prey to an impulse and bought a Mannlicher Schonauer in 30-06. Non import beautiful rifle (not full stock) with claw mounted Hella scope. Circa 1956. Rifle had been on my bucket list for years.Now if I can only sneak it in the house without my wife seeing it I will be all set. |
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@ 02:22 pm (GMT) |
Jared ThibodauxRe: Best 6.5x55Good luck with the sneaking :) You cannot go wrong with a 30-06, as big a fan of the 6.5x55 as I am even I own one, while it is a bit excessive on our local deer I use it when larger hogs might be in the mix, not that the 6.5x55 could not put them down, but when game can exceed 150kg I just like a 30 caliber, a healthy hog around here is VERY thick in the body, just as thick as farmed pigs IMHO. |
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