6.5x55 or 7mm-08

[dale]

I have both in tikka t-3's I have to sell one, which one should I keep?

I love the 6.5 but the 7mm-08 reloading componts are easier to find.

[miatakix]

6.5, obviously, a good Nordic rifle deserves the best Nordic chambering

[City Slicker]

The 6.5 is a classic....and one day when circumstances change the 7mm08 will be easier to replace.

City Slicker

[dale]

Im buying a house thats a short sale, so I have to pay all the closing cost and repairs the bank requires to loan the money. I have to sell one.

[oscarflytyer]

HEard great things about teh 7-08. But I have a Win M70 FW in 6.5. And I know all the deer that it has taken, and VERY efficiently and clean. My 14 yo just took it this weekend. He has taken 3 deer, 2 w/ the 6.5. One at 25 yds and one at 100. And both dropped in their tracks. Also finishing a Swede sporter build. If it were me, I would DEF keep the 6.5.

[Littlemarlin]

Think I'd hang on to that 6.5!!

[miatakix]

Looks like it's unanimous, Dale, and for good reason. Guess that settles that. Next question?

[T-Bone]

It's up to you of course. You could keep the hum drum 7mm-08, or you could keep the round that is soft on the shoulder but has the power that many a Swedish moose fear. Quite accurate too. If it was me, I'd sell both the Tikkas and get a CZ full stock in 6.5x55, but that's me.

Just kidding, the Tikka in 6.5 should be a wonderful rifle that will last a lifetime. You don't have to worry about ammo if you pick up reloading, and .264 bullets don't seem to be that hard to find if you can shop the Internet.

Good luck with either choice.

[luvalever]

keep the 6.5 and replace the 7mm-08 later in life. wont be that easy with the 6.5

[308/338]

I hate to go against the grain but I would go with the 7mm/08 for a number of reasons.
1) Availability of ammo.
2)Availability of components ( cases ) commercial and military.
3)Can be loaded from 100gr. to 175gr. for varmint and big game. Better selection of bullets.
4) A 7mm/08 is said to be in performance on the heels of the 270 Win.
5) It can out perform the 6.5 X 55 and the 260 Rem. with equal weight bullets.
6) Although the 7mm/08 is considered on the light side for large big game and the 6.5 X 55 Swedish has been noted for harvesting Moose. The answer for this is easy. The 6.5 X 55 Swiss was adopted in 1894 by the Swedish military. Millions of 6.5 X 55 Swiss surplus were sold cheap. My older brother bought one for $12. 50 years ago and the gun shops had them by the crates.
It can be said the same about the 7mm X 57 Mauser.
The 7mm/08 was introduces in 1980 84 years after the 6.5 Swiss and in different times because today we have choices, a selection of calibers in different cartridges. We can selected the cal./cartridge to suite the game. So if giving a choice we would probably use a 30/06 to a 300 Weatherby mag. for Moose.

So if your aim is to have a modern accurate deer rifle the 6.5 or 7mm is as good as each other. But I would pick the 7mm/08 over the 6.5 X 55 any day. Just my opinion.

TO NY