6.5x55 or 7x57 or 7mm-08 (Tikka, Ruger, CZ, Winchester)

[Milan]

OK so it is a zg47.
There's a tiny 47 on the side of the action
View attachment 273819 View attachment 273818
We're going to load 140gr berger or Hornsey elx''s ... what powder and what amount to load from your own data?

That is a 21H (although from the picture it almost looks like the 22H - carbine, 20" barrel, with half stock). How long is the barrel? 20 or 24? Either way, made in 1947...the 47 is the year of manufacture. Great rifle.

 

[Ole Bally]

That is a 21H made in 1947...the 47 is the year of manufacture. Great rifle.

Thank you for that!!
Have you any more data for me? Twist rate 1:8?

 

[ZG47]

Model 21. H and F suffixes are a North American invention.
Nice looking rifle.

 

[Milan]

Model 21. H and F suffixes are a North American invention.
Nice looking rifle.

So is Model 21/22 designation. Though from old advertising 21 seemed to refer to rifles and 22 to carbines, usually full stocked but rarely half stocked. So if this one has a 20" barrel it would be a 22H and not many of those are around. Most common ones are probably 21H and 22F, then 21F and 22H being least common. Also I never knew 22F was made and always thought is I see one, I wonder of previous owner swapped the half stock from something else. It would be nice to see factory piece with stock serial number matching the rifle somewhere. To Czechs they are all simply called "Z" (Zet), short for CZ. No model designation.

Twist rate should be the old 1 in 220mm or 1x8.66". You can measure it yourself using a cleaning rod.

 

[Dewald]

That is a mod 21H. In fact the correct term is model 721. H&F were designated to the rifles in the USA catalogues. It has a round receiver, and the bolt handle would not be bent for scope use.

1948 saw the change to the integral dovetails with a bent bolthandle, additional bolt guide and groove in the receiver. At serial number 23000 this took place.

Here the differences are clearly visible on my 6,5x57 and 7x57.

Note the progression from round receiver Mod21 to 22 to ZG47.

 

[cpr0312]

Thanks for all the recent replies! I ended up with a 6.5x55 and its a sweet shooter!

 

[Milan]

That is a mod 21H. In fact the correct term is model 721. H&F were designated to the rifles in the USA catalogues. It has a round receiver, and the bolt handle would not be bent for scope use.

1948 saw the change to the integral dovetails with a bent bolthandle, additional bolt guide and groove in the receiver. At serial number 23000 this took place.

View attachment 274059
Here the differences are clearly visible on my 6,5x57 and 7x57.

View attachment 274060
Note the progression from round receiver Mod21 to 22 to ZG47.

Not to argue but the 21 vs 22 is more likely rifle vs. carbine rather than early receiver vs. later (not sure if that is what you meant by the above, though). I have also never seen either model with the bend on the bolt handle you have on the later rifle. I have such rifle and it does have the same handle as the early model. But that does not mean there were not some transition period versions. I would appreciate close up pictures of the said bolt and the corresponding notch in the receiver rail and/or stock if you don't mind posting those or sending them to me privately.

Also the 721/722 designation is not know in Czech Republic either. Purely import countries thing I think.

Beautiful rifles you have regardless of the designations etc. Thanks for the pics.

 

[leslie hetrick]

being a lefty I wanted a light weight left hand woods rifle with a 20" barrel and choose the Remington sps in 7mm08 and it was less than 500.00,i mounted a leupold 2.5x8 scope on it and I have shot quite a few deer with a 120 gr nosler BT bullet at close to 3000 fps with varget powder.

 

[Nevada Mike]

I own a 6.5 X 55 (model 96 sporter). It is VERY accurate - sub MOA. If you handload this is an excellent general purpose cartridge for medium game in NA. It is, IMO, not a perfect pronghorn antelope round, since this hunting can sometimes require a longer shot than the 6.5 X 55 is comfortable with. Not impossible, but a challenge in the wind at over 300 yards.

Great cartridge for almost any deer hunting. With premium 140 grain spitzers it could work on elk with proper placement at ranges under 300 yards. I prefer my 7mm RM for elk.

 

[Scrumbag]

Not really a bad choice among them in my view. Shot all happily and wouldn't feel unhappy being handed any to go deer hunting with in the future. I'm not a huge fan of 7-08 but it works...

 

[Nkawu]

I’ve been thinking very hard about getting a left handed Zastava M70 (M98) in either 6.5x55 or more likely, 6.5x57 as I have a slot for a 6.5mm here in the UK. Anyone got any experience with either the Zastava or the 6.5x57?

 

[Scrumbag]

I'm not sure Zastava have an importer in the UK currently so might be worth checking.

Scrummy

 

[Nkawu]

I'm not sure Zastava have an importer in the UK currently so might be worth checking.

Scrummy

I had some correspondence with a business called the Hampshire Smokery & Gunroom a while ago- they said they could bring in Zastava’s.

 

[Scrumbag]

Good to know, thanks!

 

[Von Gruff]

I’ve been thinking very hard about getting a left handed Zastava M70 (M98) in either 6.5x55 or more likely, 6.5x57 as I have a slot for a 6.5mm here in the UK. Anyone got any experience with either the Zastava or the 6.5x57?

I built my 6.5x57 on a 1916 Erfurt small ring 98 action having a 23 in barrel with a match chamber. It is all the medium game rifle that could be asked for with its 139gn bullet at 2800fps or the 120gn TTSX at near 3000fps and both with excellent accuracy.
A light rifle with blind magazine it is a joy to carry and shoot.

 

[Deleted member 43267]

I found a 7x57 Winchester Model 70 featherweight last fall. It did better than 1 inch groups with handloads and no other tweaking. Nice gun and I did not regret my choice. I like that caliber for Nostalgia, but you can shoot everything from 120 to 175 grain bullets. A classic, but good guns in that caliber are somewhat harder to find ... Which I can't figure out because it works so well.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[sgt_zim]

Thanks for all the recent replies! I ended up with a 6.5x55 and its a sweet shooter!

I have the exact same rifle, except mine is a lefty.

Most reloading data is for the 6.5x55 Swede. These newer rifles are 6.5x55 SE, which can go higher on pressure/velocity than the Krag Jorgensens. Vhitavuouri is one of the few places I've seen which publish data for both the Swede and the SE. Their SE loads are hotter.

 

[Nevada Mike]

I’ve been thinking very hard about getting a left handed Zastava M70 (M98) in either 6.5x55 or more likely, 6.5x57 as I have a slot for a 6.5mm here in the UK. Anyone got any experience with either the Zastava or the 6.5x57?

I also require left handed rifles. I recently bought a LH Ruger M77Mrk. II and a lightweight Dakota Model 76 LH short action. The Ruger will become a .338-'06 and the Dakota I will probably convert to .284 Winchester. I thought about the LH Zastava Mausers, but several of my gun making friends told me that the quality (polishing, fit and finish, etc.) were likely to be poor.

Both the Dakota Model 76 and the M77 MrkII are CRF actions and produced to high quality standards. You might look at these rifles also.

 

[sgt_zim]

I also require left handed rifles. I recently bought a LH Ruger M77Mrk. II and a lightweight Dakota Model 76 LH short action. The Ruger will become a .338-'06 and the Dakota I will probably convert to .284 Winchester. I thought about the LH Zastava Mausers, but several of my gun making friends told me that the quality (polishing, fit and finish, etc.) were likely to be poor.

Both the Dakota Model 76 and the M77 MrkII are CRF actions and produced to high quality standards. You might look at these rifles also.

Not wrong about fit and finish. Mine is definitely a Truck Gun, but it shoots straight and has a decent trigger.

 

[ronp]

We make a great 6.5 in about any configuration. BUT My best bet would be the 7x57 for what you are looking at!! GREAT CALIBER FOR ANY PLAINES GAME!
ESPECIALLY THE NORMA ORYX BULLET!
RON