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

[cpr0312]

My brain is scrambled, need help from you knowledgeable riflemen out there. First of all, does anyone have these caliber(s) from any of these manufacturers?

I've been looking at the 6.5x55 Swede recently, as well as kicking around the idea of the other 2 calibers. The main purpose of the purchase would be for deer, antelope, small/medium plains game.

I have a tikka rifle and really like it, so I am curious about the Tikka Swede offering. The Ruger African is also out there now in 6.5 Swede. The only winchesters I'm seeing are in the featherlite variety.

Anyways any thoughts, experiences, etc with these calibers and manufacturers? Thanks

 

[Sand Rat]

Son just bought the Tikka Hunter and I went with the Ruger African, both in 6.5X55. I like the Ruger better and so far it seems more accurate. You may have already seen these on the other thread.

Also love my CZ 550 American in 7X57, 24" barrel. They are extremely hard to locate. I've seen two on Gunbroker in four years and I own one of them. Can't go wrong with either Mauser, both have light recoil and are fun to shoot. I reload for both.

 

[cpr0312]

Thanks @Sand Rat ! The Ruger looks pretty sharp! I do also like the look of that CZ

 

[Bullthrower338]

Hey Charles!
I love the 6.5 on speed goats, but if I were going to use it in Africa, I believe I would choose the 7 Mauser. If you look hard you can still find a NIB supergrade M70 which would make a splendid rifle. Also MRC makes a couple models in 7x57. The Ruger Hawkeye African in either chambering are nice rifles also. Let me know if I can help you out bud.
Cheers,
Cody

 

[Divernhunter]

I do not have a 7X57 but it is much like the 7-08.
I do have a 6,rX55 and a 7-08 in a couple of Tikka T-3 Lites with 3X9X40 Leupold scopes on them in the factory rings. They are great rifles and I really like to hunt(and shoot) them.
I cannot help you with the other brands in those cartridges but I looked before I bought and am real glad I got the Tikka rifles. I especially like the 6.5X55 but then I have seemed to have lost interest in the 7mm cartridges lately. I do own rem and ruger rifles in other cartridges but prefer the Tikka in 6.5X55 and 7-08.

 

[mdwest]

Cant help you with the 6.5 sweede, although I have been looking pretty hard for one as an alternative to a 6.5 creedmoor that I thought I was originally interested in.. I just havent found the "right" gun yet to make a purchase on..

I do own a 7x57, and have owned a 7-08 in the past. To me the 7mm's are pretty close in performance, but the 7x57 gives you a few more options in terms of projectile weight and case capacity..

My 7-08 was a Winchester 70.. My 7x57 is a LR Mauser custom that I built from the ground up.. I concur with @Sand Rat .. Cant go wrong with a Mauser type action and either one of those cartridges.. Both of mine function flawlessly, reliably eat and shoot a wide variety of bullets, provide solid accuracy, and produce very mild recoil..

I wouldnt hesitate for a moment to use any of the three on the animals you describe.. I think its truly just a matter of preference..

 

[cpr0312]

Thanks for the quick feedback guys!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Realguns just came out yesterday with an article on the Mod 70 Featherweight compact (20" barrel) in 7mm-08. A good take away from the article is the difference in the report of a 20" barrel vs a 22 or 24".

https://www.realguns.com/articles/1005.htm

 

[Rick Cox]

Basically what has been said above. The Tikkas are very popular here in Canada, with a reputation for excellent build quality and accuracy. But in my opinion they lack a little soul. I have one in .223 and like it. But I also have a CZ550 in .375 that has nice wood. It too is accurate, and has a ton of soul. @Sand Rat those are a nice pair of guns you've got there. I ordered a 7mm-08 Winchester M70 Super Grade. Can't wait to get it. I decided to go with the 7mm over a 6.5 to hedge my bets should I run into a moose or elk while deer hunting.
Here is a recent target @100yds. The .375 is five shots. The group on the right is off sticks... the left group is the Tikka .223.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I have ZKK600 in 7 x 57.
My prosition CZ or Mauser M98 in 7 x 57.
Witold

 

[cpr0312]

Let me know if I can help you out bud.

Cody,
I'll take any pointers I can get regarding these calibers. If you have some time let me know, I've got a few questions I could bounce off of you!

 

[Graham Hunter]

I have all of the above calibers in all makes of guns. Throw all the names in a hat. Which ever one you pick will be good to go.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Cody,
I'll take any pointers I can get regarding these calibers. If you have some time let me know, I've got a few questions I could bounce off of you!

Sending you a PM

 

[ChrisG]

6.5X55 all the way! I like all my guns to be CRF and my Ruger M77 MKII is one of the most accurate I own. 6.5 penetrates into next week. Kicks like a .243, hits like a pile driver!

 

[cpr0312]

I have all of the above calibers in all makes of guns. Throw all the names in a hat. Which ever one you pick will be good to go.

Well that didn't make it any easier...lol!

 

[Shootist43]

Charles, buy a 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser that has been decently Sporterized providing it has a 24 " barrel and never look back. The Swedish Mausers have a very strong action and were actually proofed at pressures higher than the .308. As far as accuracy goes it will outshoot most if not all modern rifles. I had a test target consisting of two pieces of electrical tape on a 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. One horizontal, one vertical. Over a three year period I fired one shot each year into the intersection. All three shots were inside the intersection and none of the holes touched the outer edges. I load my own ammo and get 2775 FPS with 140 Gr. bullets. Compare that to modern 6.5 cartridges and you will see that the old girl doesn't leave much on the table. I freely admit that I's somewhat biased. P.S I have 2 7x57s that haven't seen the light of day since the first Swed. showed up.

 

[Alexandro Faria]

Okay, hold up, if you want to use it on plains game in Africa, you need to be careful with regards to regulation. A lot of countries have a minimum caliber, so I would suggest the 7mm as top option... From there, you'll probably want to go with the mauser, 7-08 is not popular and ammo may become an issue. I can find 7mm mauser in literally any dorpie I walk into. Also, the mauser has history and tradition... the 08 is just a bastard child trying to play catch-up.

 

[ZG47]

Okay, hold up, if you want to use it on plains game in Africa, you need to be careful with regards to regulation. A lot of countries have a minimum caliber, so I would suggest the 7mm as top option... From there, you'll probably want to go with the mauser, 7-08 is not popular and ammo may become an issue. I can find 7mm mauser in literally any dorpie I walk into. Also, the mauser has history and tradition... the 08 is just a bastard child trying to play catch-up.

Also, the 7x57 feeds reliably because it was designed to feed and extract reliably. The 7mm-08 is based on the T65/.308 Winchester/7.62x51 that was NOT designed to feed and extract reliably. If you doubt my word on that, just look at all the factory rifles that have a 5-round magazine capacity when chambered for the 6.5x55 SE, 7x57, 8x57, 7x64, .30-06, .270 Winchester, etc; and which have a 4-round magazine capacity when chambered for the .308 Winchester, .243 Winchester, 7mm-08, etc.

 

[enysse]

I own a Winchester Featherweight 7x57. Very nice rifle!

6.5X55 all the way! I like all my guns to be CRF and my Ruger M77 MKII is one of the most accurate I own. 6.5 penetrates into next week. Kicks like a .243, hits like a pile driver!

I'm sure it would be a nice plains game rifle.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Also, the 7x57 feeds reliably because it was designed to feed and extract reliably. The 7mm-08 is based on the T65/.308 Winchester/7.62x51 that was NOT designed to feed and extract reliably. If you doubt my word on that, just look at all the factory rifles that have a 5-round magazine capacity when chambered for the 6.5x55 SE, 7x57, 8x57, 7x64, .30-06, .270 Winchester, etc; and which have a 4-round magazine capacity when chambered for the .308 Winchester, .243 Winchester, 7mm-08, etc.

I'm going to challenge your comment on the 308 and it's offspring not feeding and extracting reliably. The semi auto performance of the AR10, M14 and others suggests otherwise.

As far as ammo available, yes in Africa the 7mm-08 is probably a tough find. In the US, not the case.
Midway USA shows 32 offerings in 7mm-08, compared to 1 for 275 Rigby and 12 for the 7x57. For the 6.5 Swede, there are 18.