6.5x55 swedish mauser find

[n2t]

Went to a gun show today and found a 6.5x55 in an old swedish mauser for sale. Has been placed in a sporterized stock that fits the girfriend well, has a cheap simmons scope. The guy wants 380 dollars for it, I'm not thinking that's a very good price but am unsure on the value of these arms. Also, the scope base on one side has been hand filed, no idea why, that would be, easy to replace unless it's due to some other issue like it being tapped of center or something. Anyway I'm thinking about that gun, a lever action 30-30/.357mag or a marlin bolt action youth rifle in 7mm-08 for her first rifle, opinions welcome.

[2ndovc]

Will,

The 6.5 Sweede is an outstanding cartridge. Mild recoil but will take just about any critter in the lower 48.
$380 isn't too bad for a nicely done sporter.
If you buy it let me know, I'll send you some ammo and brass to get you started.

jb

[stew71]

Agreed. I love the 6.5 Swede. And so will you.

[Sixgun]

Although I have never owned one, my good friend Gunny has several and I've shot his out to 500 meters. Those babies really shoot! very mild recoil. The bullet has excellent sectional density and is noted for deep penetration.

Personally, I think $380 is a bit much for a sporter as nice original specimens go for less than that. Offer the guy $275-$300--show the money--he will bite

As you said, your looking for a gun for your sweetheart. I think you would be better off with a modern bolt gun in a mild caliber like the .243, 7-08, or 260 Rem. Less headaches than with some old military gun that you don't know the history of.-----------Sixgun

[O.S.O.K.]

The 6.5 Swede is an excellent round. Soft recoil, hard hit - strange but true.

I would look the sporter over real good - make sure you're not getting more problems than you want to deal with. $380 is a little much for a sporter Swede... they are obviously trying to get the scope's value out of the deal.

Will, your .243 Win would be a great gun for her and that would leave you to need a rifle - just a thought. A .270 Win or 30-06 Stevens is a more versitile rifle for you... for example and could be had for just a smidge more than that sporter Swede....

Just saying...

[Hobie]

That is a retail shop trade price. I don't like that the wrong base has been used OR the correct base had to be modified. It indicates that the rear ring wasn't ground correctly (I take the charger bridge is gone). If that wasn't done right, what else might be wrong. You can get a good Stevens 200 in 7-08 for about that much if you look. The thing with getting guns for the ladies is that they had best never have a problem. They tend to remember such things and not handle it the same way guys do. Most guys will just work around the problem but most ladies tend to mistrust the equipment forever and simply won't be happy until it is replaced. This means it would cost you twice! No good.

[jnyork]

Listen to Hobie.

[n2t]

Yeah Hobbie hit my worries right on the head. Love the round, not trusting the rifle it's chambered in..that scope base..idk..it's not like people just file those for fun..something has to be wrong for that to have been done. I think a marlin xs series or savage in .260 or 7mm-08 or a nice levergun may be the right track to take. As for giving up my .243, nah, I have a .35, I don't know of any game that a .243 or a .35 rem can't handle. And though a 06 is a great all around rifle, it's bigger than needed for 90% of my hunting, and I love taking the little rifles out for a spin. I think that little 6mm can do a lot more than what is thought they can and I am going to have some fun trying. The hogs in texas sure are not a fan of it.

[mescalero1]

Caliber good, price bad

[model55]

I think the Howa 1500 still comes in 6.5x55 in a Hogue overmould stock for not too much more then that.The swede is a very good caliber.

[Rusty]

Hobie nailed it. trust is everything with a woman. I wouldn't risk it.

[Pisgah]

If the conversion is professional grade, I might not flinch too badly at a $380 price. But if it is the typical whack-off-the-barrel-and-drop-it- in-an-inexpensive-sporter stock amateur job, about $200 is the max I would go.

[76/444]

+1 w/Hobie.

Excellent caliber,... not the best price.

You could wait for another , ....with a more in line price , to its condition.

[shawn_c992001]

Here is an idea, tell him he can keep the scope, rings, and bases then offer him $200. Take it home and clean it up good, find some good bases, rings, and a nice Leupold scope for it to wear. She will have a fine rifle that will take more animals than she can imagine. The 6.5x55 has taken more moose than any other cartridge, and has also killed many elephants!!! The Swede's also used it as their sniper round for a long time! Those 6.5mm bullets are accurate! Here is a great breakdown of the cartridge, "Shoots flatter than a .270, has the recoil of a .257 Roberts, and penetrates like a 7mm Mag". With all that what's not to like about it?

[Dave]

I would be real reluctant to give that much for an unknown rifle. The cartridge is a good one but the fact the base has been filed indicates there is some kind of problem going on. Maybe it is solved but maybe it's not.

For $400 you could get a new Savage bolt gun in 7-08 or other useful caliber, a Marlin lever, or a whole lot of other guns. If that gun belonged to someone you knew and you knew it shot well and was a good gun that would be one thing. To me the chance of getting a sucker gun is too great since that gun has been restocked by someone you don't know, drilled for a scope by someone you don't know, and who knows what has been done to the gun that isn't readily visible without shooting it. Guns like that are almost impossible to sell in my area.

For an unknown quality sporterized gun you might gamble a couple hundred bucks on it but around here you can buy used Savage bolt guns with the promo scopes that came on them for $250-$275 all day long. I would much rather have something like that for the money.

[76/444]

Here is an idea, tell him he can keep the scope, rings, and bases then offer him $200. Take it home and clean it up good, find some good bases, rings, and a nice Leupold scope for it to wear. She will have a fine rifle that will take more animals than she can imagine. The 6.5x55 has taken more moose than any other cartridge, and has also killed many elephants!!! The Swede's also used it as their sniper round for a long time! Those 6.5mm bullets are accurate! Here is a great breakdown of the cartridge, "Shoots flatter than a .270, has the recoil of a .257 Roberts, and penetrates like a 7mm Mag". With all that what's not to like about it?

BINGO!!!!.... I think I see a winner!!!

[Nath]

I ain't so sure of this example but 6.5 yes, I would recomend that over a 243 any day!

Nath.

[awp101]

Caliber good, price bad

Agreed. Here's another option that should make both of you happy:

Buy a Stevens 200 and hit up E.R. Shaw for a 6.5x55 barrel. The Stevens is the same as the Savage without the Accu-Trigger or Accu-Stock. I have a 7-08 I bought on sale for $220 OTD IIRC, Shaw has the barrels for $155 and the barrels are dead easy to swap from what I have read and everyone that has done it has told me.

Add another $75-100 for the proper tools (barrel vice and action wrench or build your own) and headspace gauges and for not much more than the price of the Swede sporter you can have a 2 barrel set-up to handle whatever might suit your/her fancy.

I would suggest a long action BUT it seems the short actions are longer than most everyone else uses as mine will feed 139-140g factory rounds like there's no tomorrow.

The only downside I can see so far is right now no one makes a wood replacement stock for the new Stevens centerfeed actions. If you want plastic, they're out there but a solid or wood laminate is going to be a custom proposition right now.

[O.S.O.K.]

I ain't so sure of this example but 6.5 yes, I would recomend that over a 243 any day!

Nath.

Don't read that Will...

He likes his .243 Win Nath...

[Old Time Hunter]

CZ550 FS chambered for 6.5 X 55.....SWEET!

[model55]

The Howa package deal MSRP is 575.00 all you need to add is a sling. http://www.legacysports.com/products/ho ... pepkg.html

[Old Time Hunter]

Yes, but this is "class":

http://cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-550-fs/

[model55]

Great looking rifle should include a drool rag! That thing would be a heirloom to hand down!

[Nath]

I ain't so sure of this example but 6.5 yes, I would recomend that over a 243 any day!

Nath.

Don't read that Will...

He likes his .243 Win Nath...

Oops I did not mean to upset anyone or slant 243. I personally found 243 more of an abrupt recoiler than the 6.5 but that may of been down to the rifles involved.

Nath

[n2t]

I don't think the guy is going to knock off 180 dollars for keeping a buggered set of rings and a fifty dollar simons scope I'm afraid. We'll just go shopping around for a nice old marlin 336, savage 99, or one of the various savage or marlin bolt actions in a nice short action cal like 7mm-08 or .260 rem for her. If she really wants a 6.5, I am sure I can get a TC for close to 400 in that cal. And trade my .243 in for another round? Never, blasphemy!

[76/444]

Yes, but this is "class":

http://cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-550-fs/

CZ,... very fine stuff!!

[Dave]

Here is the American 6.5 cartridge in a rifle that really says "I love you"

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =157725263

[Swampman]

Find a 336 Marlin and forget the bubba'd Mauser.

[O.S.O.K.]

I don't think the guy is going to knock off 180 dollars for keeping a buggered set of rings and a fifty dollar simons scope I'm afraid. We'll just go shopping around for a nice old marlin 336, savage 99, or one of the various savage or marlin bolt actions in a nice short action cal like 7mm-08 or .260 rem for her. If she really wants a 6.5, I am sure I can get a TC for close to 400 in that cal. And trade my .243 in for another round? Never, blasphemy!

So, you're going to get your girl a bigger cartrdige than you hunt with?

[TwistedSerpent]

So, you're going to get your girl a bigger cartrdige than you hunt with?

Hehe I know, all sorts of things can be implied following that thought....

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

If it's a Husqvarna or Carl Gustaf I would consider it after looking the mounts over. The Oberndorf's didn't shoot near as well. I have a Carl Gustaf m94 that is very accurate.

[pokey]

i like this one,

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =157492591

should have bought one for 700.00 when i had the chance.

is there a "kicking myself" smiley?

[Lawyer Daggit]

The swede round is very similar to the 7x57 mauser and would be an excellent gun for your girlfriend.

[n2t]

Yeah I'm a huge fan of the round, not being very informed on old mausers though I think I'll step away. They also had a 30-30 stevens bolt gun but it was past it's prime lets say. And some type of sharps clone in .357 mag that had been rechambered from a black powder gun..which was pretty..but the diff in preasures worried me, so for 700 I left it alone. As for her getting a bigger gun, that's actualy the plan. I don't mind having to figure out where to shoot what I'm shooting to get the result I want. I waited forever for that hog to turn toward me and put his head down so I had a flat serface. He was angled away for most of that time..then at the last second faced me dead on and I got him. That's kinda the part I enjoy with the little round, having to pick and choose my shots more. For her, I want her to be successfull. Not miss or wound game cause she hit a shoulder or such. So a more penetrative round seems best. We'll take out time and find something nice for her.