So stopped into Cabelas today to see what they had in the library and used racks. I found a nicely sporterized Carl Gustav. It has an ok wood stock and a Williams rear sight, it's wearing an older Tasco 3x9
which seems pretty clear.

The barrel is 20" I believe and the lop is fairly short, not too short (clears my face fully out of battery).

Metal looks in good shape but I did not really scrutinize it.

I have been looking for a carbine length woods gun, something I am not going to agonize about a scrape or 2.

Will primaraly use it for NTX hogs and whitetail, max range around 300m.

I have read 6.5x55 does not like anything under 22" but I have seen just as many people say it's not a huge deal.

Any issues using modern round like the 140gr fusion or SST 140gr? I believevit has 1 in8" twist.

Did not see the year but was not looking closely.

They want 499.00 for it?

Thoughts?

They also had a nice Red Label with an Englush stock for 899.00 I might need more or the Chap in .470 nitro....

I hate living 5 minutes from Cabelas

If the 6.5x55 did not like short barrels, it would be hard to understand why the Swedes made so many carbines with 16" barrels! I never heard that Old Wives Tale, but there is no truth to it. You should have no problems using conventional bullets of 160 grains or less. I have bought a few used rifles from Cabela's and they have always come off their price, I would offer them $350, it is a sporterized surplus rifle, I bet they take it and you will have a great rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
If the 6.5x55 did not like short barrels, it would be hard to understand why the Swedes made so many carbines with 16" barrels! I never heard that Old Wives Tale, but there is no truth to it. You should have no problems using conventional bullets of 160 grains or less. I have bought a few used rifles from Cabela's and they have always come off their price, I would offer them $350, it is a sporterized surplus rifle, I bet they take it and you will have a great rifle.

Good advice. $350 would be about right, $499 is way too high.

The 16" carbines were for cannon crews bicykle ordonanses and similar use. 6,5*55 were the standard military cartridge used for everything. Replaced by the CG .45 smg(also used by navy seals).

Like others, I think that is way too high for the gun as described. You should be able to buy a nice Tikka or similar (700 Classic?)6.5x55 for just a bit more and have a helluva lot more gun for the money. I wouldn't pay over $250 for it, which means, of course, that I wouldn't buy it but that's no loss.

Be careful of "Bubba" Swedes. One of the only (of two) bad deals I ever got over the internet was a similar "Bubba" CG, plastic stock. Upon inspection, long afer buying it, I found that some idiot had ground receiver down to paper thin and the front mount was falling out. Been sitting in a corner ever since.

Buy the Ruger, it's a better deal.

Remember, the original 6.5 used a 156 to 162 grain bullet; very long for the caliber, and FMJ, round nose; designed to penetrate through quite a lot of stuff and it didn't depend on velocity to do it. I would want a longer barrel but 20 inch will certainly work.

I wouldn't pay anywhere near $499 for that rifle. ~$300-350 is nearer the mark.