I need some of your wisdom on a 6.5 Swede sporter!

[Hedge774]

Hey gang! I'm currently shopping for a 6.5x55 mauser action sporter for plains game (Within reason! No eland, etc.) I have several prospects that are sub $800 that I could a ton with. My question is this: All things being equal (This is going to cause chaos) such as condition, price, etc., would you reccomend Veore, Husqvarna, Gustaf, of something I've never even heard of? Thanks for your thoughts ahead of time!
Hedge

 

[pilar]

Husqvarna , but I am biased because my grandfather bought a few of them for family
And that’s what we had .

 

[wesheltonj]

A Husqvarna in 6.5 Swede.

 

[Flbt]

Hey gang! I'm currently shopping for a 6.5x55 mauser action sporter for plains game (Within reason! No eland, etc.) I have several prospects that are sub $800 that I could a ton with. My question is this: All things being equal (This is going to cause chaos) such as condition, price, etc., would you reccomend Veore, Husqvarna, Gustaf, of something I've never even heard of? Thanks for your thoughts ahead of time!
Hedge

I have a old sportarised 96 it’s one of the ones that the old kimber company did
It shoots s&b 140gr soft points well
I like the rifle Evan with its cheap ram line stock.
I think it was around 300$ a few years ago.

In all honesty if I was looking for a kick about rifle like that
I would look for another one of the kimber modified rifles.
I found out that they made some in 338 wm
If my shoulder was not hurt I would be on the look out for one.
And with my experience with the 6.5 would be willing to go up to the 650$ range

 

[jruby]

I built mine on a 1903a3 springfield. Think it worked fine

 

[Joker12]

How about a Ruger African 6.5 Swede.

 

[Hedge774]

I've never seen a Ruger African in 6.5!

 

[pilar]

Norra hammer is made by Husqvarna and are very fine sporting rifles imported to the USA, worth looking into
(Norrahammer N900 was a special model to sell at a lower price point than the rest of the Husqvarna line)

 

[jruby]

I hada veore sporterized mauser. Well built rifle but it was too light. It was chambered in 30-06. The same rifle in a sweed would have been almost perfect. No issues with the rifle other than I wanted a tad heavier.

 

[MS 9x56]

Husqvarna 6.5x55. Use 160 grain bullets and it will serve you well for plains game.

 

[Hedge774]

That seems to be the way fate is taking me. I have to jump on it in the morning!

 

[Aaron N]

How come there doesnt seem to be any nicer Swedes out there? I feel like its either Husq’s or Gustafs, no eye catching customs

 

[Hedge774]

Check on Simpsons. I saw some out of my price range today!

 

[Joker12]

I've never seen a Ruger African in 6.5!

They did run of them for Lipseys about 10 or 12 years ago. I have one and they are quite nice rifles.

 

[Flbt]

Or if you can find it a cz full stock in 6.5x55

 

[Hedge774]

I have a 375 and a 338 Win that I love dearly.

 

[Hedge774]

In Rugers that is.

 

[Mauser78]

Mauser M18
Tikka
CZ
Bergara B14

 

[GuttormG]

I would stay clear of the Swede's built on pre-m98 actions (they are beautifully machined and strong and all that; but a failed case means your face and eye will be sprayed with debris. Thrust me, I have seen it happen and the shooter wasn't happy to get to know the eyedoctor really good...). Some of them are downright dangerous (example Stiga marked ones in 30-06 and 9,3x62; magazine opening extended by simply machining away material behind the locking lug, and many of them built on factory 2nds actions..).
The ones built on m98-actions are an excellent choice! FN made actions, Swedish barrels and finish.
1600/1640; this are nice rifles, well built and finished; but spares do not exist (they share close to no parts with m98 and m94/96/38).
If you can find a Hva/CG model 1900-buy it; it is a fantastic action. Smooth, and really nice! They also exists as "Viking 1900" and "Antonio Zoli 1900".

If I were to buy a 6,5x55 for hunting today I would buy what is probably the most boring rifle ever produced, a Tikka T3x. Cheap(ish), accurate out of the box, available anywhere (here in Scandinavia-I can buy milk, bread, butte, a Tikka T3 and a moderator at the local Co-Op..).
If the purpose was range use the choice would be a Sauer 200STR/SSG3000.

If one looks at how the 6,5x55 is loaded by Scandinavian target shooters today and how it perform-wow-this is a little magnum! Please do not attempt thoose loads in any old gun..

 

[Hedge774]

I would stay clear of the Swede's built on pre-m98 actions (they are beautifully machined and strong and all that; but a failed case means your face and eye will be sprayed with debris. Thrust me, I have seen it happen and the shooter wasn't happy to get to know the eyedoctor really good...). Some of them are downright dangerous (example Stiga marked ones in 30-06 and 9,3x62; magazine opening extended by simply machining away material behind the locking lug, and many of them built on factory 2nds actions..).
The ones built on m98-actions are an excellent choice! FN made actions, Swedish barrels and finish.
1600/1640; this are nice rifles, well built and finished; but spares do not exist (they share close to no parts with m98 and m94/96/38).
If you can find a Hva/CG model 1900-buy it; it is a fantastic action. Smooth, and really nice! They also exists as "Viking 1900" and "Antonio Zoli 1900".

If I were to buy a 6,5x55 for hunting today I would buy what is probably the most boring rifle ever produced, a Tikka T3x. Cheap(ish), accurate out of the box, available anywhere (here in Scandinavia-I can buy milk, bread, butte, a Tikka T3 and a moderator at the local Co-Op..).
If the purpose was range use the choice would be a Sauer 200STR/SSG3000.

If one looks at how the 6,5x55 is loaded by Scandinavian target shooters today and how it perform-wow-this is a little magnum! Please do not attempt thoose loads in any old gun..

Thank you very much for the well thought out answer!