6.5X55 or .257 Bob?

[taylorce1]

I can't make up my mind as to which cartridge I want. I have a HVA 1600 action and stock but no barrel. I've already added a Dakota 3 positon safety and a Timney trigger to the action. So now I have to decide on a barrel. I'm thinking a FWT/UL contour that finishes around 21" in either of these cartridges should make a dandy deer rifle.

 

[drakehammer]

6.5 would be my choice of the two. Bullets bullets bullets.


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[HAWKEYESATX]

As with drakehammer, I would suggest the 6.5 Swede. It has an amazing bullet weight range, is intrinsically accurate, and outperforms its paper ballistics by a long shot. You don't need to hot rod it, because the SD of the 6.5 and the BC are outstanding for such a small caliber.

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[Anonymous]

I'd have to pick the Swede...no flies on the Bob, but an HVA is perfect for the 6.5x55.

 

[taylorce1]

I'm leaning Swede as well, used to have one and still have brass and dies. However, I've always wanted a .257 Bob as well. I have a buddy who has had great success with that cartridge and has made me a believer in what it can do.

 

[JD338]

For deer hunting, the 257 Roberts is a smooth shooter. With a 115 gr BT at 3000-3100 fps, it will take the biggest zWT deer well past the 400 yard mark. Easy to load and easy on the shoulder too.

JD338

 

[1100 Remington Man]

I would take either but would end up with a 6.5x55.

 

[cloverleaf]

Taylor- Didn't you have a 250 AI? If so that cover the .25. (even though I am an unabashed fan of the quarter bore, and the Roberts is one of the best) there is currently a wide variety of 6.5's. You could follow the crowd and get a Creed? A 257 AI is an impressive round as well. Not to complicate things.... :grin: CL

 

[Bruce Mc]

A 6.5 would be my choice since I already have a Bob. I think I would enjoy a fwt 6.5, a great rifle for a long hike.

 

[35 Whelen]

You would really limit yourself with bullet selection going
.257........... The 6.5 on the other hand has dozens of options, that would in itself be a deciding factor to me.
Good Luck
E

 

[6mm Remington]

Man a 6.5 Swede would be great but how about a 6.5x57 Mauser?? Just neck the 7x57 down. The .257 Roberts is a great cartridge also, but it's little brother the 6mm Remington is a nice deer cartridge also.

 

[taylorce1]

Taylor- Didn't you have a 250 AI? If so that cover the .25.......You could follow the crowd and get a Creed?

I have both the factory versions of the .250-3000 and the .25-06. I don't really like my .25-06, but that's because I made some mistakes with it and it's too heavy. So I really don't need the .257 Roberts, then again I don't need a Swede either.


While the Creedmoor is cool, it would be a waste in a long action. That's the only reason I'm thinking a Swede, it will fit just fine in the long action. I've actually thought of using a 30 degree improved shoulder on the Swede, but I probably will skip that and stick with factory.

You would really limit yourself with bullet selection going
.257...........

I really don't feel like I'd be limited by .257 bullets, there is a lot of great choices in that caliber. Especially for hunting bullets, there are a lot of options that'll work very well at ranges I'm going to hunt.

Man a 6.5 Swede would be great but how about a 6.5x57 Mauser?? ........but it's little brother the 6mm Remington is a nice deer cartridge also.

Thought about a 6.5X57, but I have all the Swede dies and brass left over. I love 6mm cartridges but I've always gravitated to the .243, 6X47 Rem, and 6X45. The 6mm Creedmoor has looked interesting but I have a fast twist .243 so I really don't have a reason for the Creedmoor.

 

[Polaris]

I have to vote 6.5 Swedish as well. The truly high quality bullets and readily available match grade brass make it hard to ignore, especially in a strong modern action. Your HVA already speaks the language too.

The Bob definitely has some cool factor, but the Swede just does everything a bit better.

 

[HAWKEYESATX]

I have to vote 6.5 Swedish as well. The truly high quality bullets and readily available match grade brass make it hard to ignore, especially in a strong modern action. Your HVA already speaks the language too.

The Bob definitely has some cool factor, but the Swede just does everything a bit better.

I have to fully agree with her!

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[ethmoid1999]

Go with the Swede. I have almost all the 25's but the Swede can run heavier bullets. Anyway, you will not be disappointed either way but having the Swede setup. I'd go that way.

 

[PJGunner]

About the only reason I would go with the 6.5 Swede is I already have two rifles in .257 Bob and two in 25-06.
The Bob is an M70 FWT push feed and a Ruger #1B. The Ruger is a tack driver and the FWT so far hasn't cooperated worth beans. The two 25-06's are Ruger #1 B's, one that looks like it was rode hard and put away wet and it a tackdriver. The other looks almost mint, really gorgeous wood and groups like a cylinder bore shotgun. :?: Go figure.
Paul B.

 

[taylorce1]

Looks like the Swede will win out, the main reason is time. Talked with my smith today and he said to get a 6.5 barrel, unless I didn't mind waiting several months. He said 6.5 barrels usually take about 6-8 weeks and non popular calibers take 6-12 months with some barrel makers. He said mine might take a little longer as I'm not going with a popular contour, but he didn't think it would be anywhere near the wait for a .25 caliber barrel.

 

[Blkram]

My vote is also for the Swede. I now have my fourth. It is a great cartridge that outperforms its numbers on paper.

Although I now have a 257 Bob on the way!

 

[Bbear]

I have 2 25-06's Both shoot lights out (even though I'm chasing the lands on one). I've taken whitetail over 500 yards with them twice and one over 600.
Saying that, I picked up a 'rescue' Win Mod 70 and rebarreled it to a 6.5x55. Really liking that rifle. As others have said, available bullets are more svelt and better at the longer ranges. But, if you're not shooting 600 + yards at targets or game, it won't make a big difference.
My thought would be to do the Swede. In the modern action, with a quality barrel and good hand loads, you might be surprised at the accuracy you'll get.
With the quality of the brass and bullets available for the Swede, I don't think you'll go wrong. Add in the light recoil and it's a cartridge, in a light enough rifle, to loan out to a beginner/kid/wife/girlfriend etc.