Who chambers the 6.5X55? I don't really want to hunt down antique, or something out of production thats going to claim a premium price.
7mm/08 is fine, but I really would like to come up with a REASONABLY priced 6.5 for my daughter. hought about finding an old swede, or a Husky, but they are getting pretty pricey. Is the CZ American available in this chambering? Opinions? Suggestions?

CZ or winchester model 70

acsteele: to answer your question, the 6.5x55mm is chambered in the CZ 550 series of rifles including the American, with a 23.6 inch barrel, single set trigger, Turkish Walnut stock and rings. The caliber also is made in the CZ 550 Full Stock, which is a neat little rifle. I own a CZ 550 in 7x57mm and with my handloads, it shoots the 162 grain Hornady SST into nice little sub-half inch three shot groups. My brother owns one of the fullstocks in 7x57mm and that puppy puts three 160 grain Nosler Partitions into a .75 inch group with no problems. Some folks have complained about the stock feeling clunky. I have to admit, the stocks are not dainty, but they are solid. The single set trigger is a joy to shoot and if you or your daughter does not like the set feature, just don't use it and you would never know it is there. Just go to www.cz-usa.com and click on large bore centerfires to take a look at the lineup. You should be able to pick up a CZ 550 American for about $490 or thereabouts. There is a shop in Olathe which carries them and if I'm not mistaking, I believe you have a couple of shops in your area as well. In my opinion, the CZ line of rifles is about the best bargain out there for a good, solid hunting rifle which will not break the bank. I think it would be best to take your daughter with you when you go to a dealer and have her throw one to her shoulder to see how it feels. Good luck ... Tom Purdom

I have to admit, I like the looks of the CZ's!
My daughter is 15 , and not at all recoil shy. (she prefers shooting my Beretta 12ga. O/U to her 20ga youth model AL391) She was a little (very) angry with me when I sold a .308 Savage, but it was a 10FP, and a bugger to carry.
I am hoping she will be happy with a 6.5, and I beleive with stout Partitions, at reasonable range, it should be able to drop an Elk. (we ain't even going into the 2-2.5 in groups she shoots at 300 meters)

I've created a monster.

Thanks for the info on the CZ, teamed up with a 3X9 Nikon Monarch, she'll be able to whip me on a regular basis.

AC:

My wife shoots the 6.5 and has had wonderful sucess in Africa on two hunts with it.

I barely have time to reload for myself so I have her using the 155 gr Lapua factory load in her rifle, a Blaser R93 topped with a Kahles 2-7. Very accurate and perfect performance on game from impala to blue wildebeest.

This was the first rifle over a .22 rimfire that she had ever shot. She is not really recoil shy as she is a sporting clays shooter using a Citori in 16 gauge. Now I couldn't pry the 6.5 out of her hands. I did use her barrel on my rifle to take a warthog and a top 10 impala in RSA in 2004. I like the cartridge also.

We are looking for a lighter bullet for her to use on our planned hunt in New Zealand in 2007. Guess I'm pretty lucky we came upon this round that she enjoys shooting so much that she has planned hunts through 2009!!

These kind of monsters are a good thing. only problem is she is really a one gun shooter with no interest in any others. Maybe we can cure that.

Acsteele Winchester, Hornady,and Remington, all make ammo in this round. Also Federal,Lapua,norma, and PMC.Ther maybe A couple more out there. But if you don't load your self, then the Hornady light Mag load in 129 grain is A good one for deer size game.

Tikka make the T3 light in 6.5x55, I have one. They are not expensive and shoot very well.
There is quite a lot of plastic in the T3, this puts many people off it, it might do the same for you, but it is worth some consideration. Mine with a scope tips the scales at 7lbs 4 ozs which should prove ideal for a young lady.
Should you buy one get the Optiloc rings which clamp onto the grooves not the separate rings and bases.
Oh yes, I've just remembered, Ruger offer their standard bolt action in 6.5x55 but it will weigh as much as the Tikka before a scope is set into the free rings.
I used to have one of them, it too was accurate, infact all three 6.5x55 I've owned have been tack drivers.
The one fact which has stuck in my mind for years is that the 129 grain bullet in 264 diameter has a sectional density of 264, which gives good penetration.
The "Little Swede" is a great deer cartridge.

Ruger M77 Mark II in 6.5x55
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=7895

-Bob F.

Chopper guy

If you hand load look at the the 130gr Barnes TSX, it should provide a very good balance of high velocity, great penetration, and lower felt recoil, than heavier bullets.I wouldnt doubt it if the the 130gr TSX would out penetrate all the 155-160gr bullets, when both are loaded to their max in the swede.

Gidday Chopperguy,

What are you going to be hunting here. The hardest to kill game here is a bull thar and he really isn't that hard to knock over.

If you were to go for anything else here you would probably find these tough penetrating bullets propounded by others with little knowledge of our game would sail straight through doing very little damage.

If you do subscribe to the North American prediliction for expensive premium bullets and extreme penetration the maximum I would go to here would be a Nosler 125gr partition at a reasonably high velocity (2800 to 3000fps).

That should cover just about everything we have here and be flat shooting enough to handle longer alpine shots.

I'm no expert but this is what I have found in 35 years hunting here.

Happy hunting

Hamish

Hamish:

I've been loading some Swifts (120 gr) and Noslers (the 125 you mention), trying to get the one that shoots the best for her rifle.

Both are pretty accurate so far, but I think I can do better in that department and either should do the job.

I'm open to suggestions. I've got plenty of time to play with loads. I'm after stag and thar and she'll be after chamois and fallow deer. At least that's the game plan for now.

Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by acsteele:
Thought about finding an old swede, or a Husky, but they are getting pretty pricey. Opinions? Suggestions?

My new toy: a Husqvarna 1600 "Special" in 6,5x55 with claw mounted German "Atlas" 3-7x31 Scope. Price: USD$ 150!
It's still possible to find some Hva for nearly nothing in Sweden..

I would buy 2, maybe 3 at that price

Hi Chopper,
For the game you mention then the 129 grain is the heaviest required. The Hornady 129 SP will kill both Chamoir and Fallow. The Swede will move them along at around 2,850 fps which is plenty fast enough.
Try them, I've used them on Sika to good effect.

quote:

Originally posted by acsteele:

I am hoping she will be happy with a 6.5, and I beleive with stout Partitions, at reasonable range, it should be able to drop an Elk.

Howdy,

Partitions are ok, but Swift is better. I would rather hunt Elk with a 6,5x55 loaded with 120/140 grs Swift, than a .30-06 loaded with Partitions. The 120 A-frame will give you 3000 f/s no problemo. The 140 grs 2800.
It will do a far better job than a .338WinMag with Hornady SP's.

OK, I have a sporterized 6.5 now, got it from M1Tanker (he is in Iraq now, and I hope he gets home safely)
Anyway, I had a buddy shoot it for me (long, sad story about fat guys trying to catch themselves while sliding down a flight of stairs... I get the wrist MRI done on WED!)

So this 22" sporterized Carl Gustav is actully boring in it's ability to shoot 1-1.25 5 shot groups of Federal 140gr power shok ammo(only factory ammo I had) Very impressed with the recoil, or actually the lack of recoil. I would have to compare the felt recoil to that of a stiff .243 105gr. hand load.I'll probably have wife/daughter use this load for this years deer hunt, unless I come up with a Nosler Partition load that can do way better than these Federals.

Anybody got a pet powder for the 6.5, and does anyone have another Swede for sale cheap? I am just guessing I'll be in the market for another one shortley!

Also when I shot it, granted, it was with the wrong hand, but I'm wondering if anybody has any experience with a trigger replacement.

I may end up swapping a like new Savage 114 Ultra 30/06 for a CZ550, or Ruger 77 in this sweet little caliber, if any one is interested, PM me or email acsteele@hughes.net.
I have a .223 and .243 for lighter duty, and a 7mag and .300win mag for bigger stuff. but this 6.5X55 has really gotten my attention for all of the fun shooting and deer hunting my family does. and getting rid a the 30/06 (don't hate me for saying this) would help me simplify my loading bench a little, as I already load for .223, .243,6.5X55, .270, 7X57, 7mm/08, 7mm Rem mag, .308, .30/06, .300win mag. .380, .38spl, .357, .45acp. .45colt, .454Casull.