Tikka T 3 6.5x55 :)

[gerry]

Well it looks like we have a deal for my LH 375 Ruger, a LH Tikka T 3, some cash plus brass and dies for my wife to use We looked and my sister in law's RH T 3 25-06 and Maria liked how light it was. We chose a T 3 for 3 reasons, it is very light, has a detachable magazine which a lot of women like and they are typically very accurate. Factor in the 6.5x55 doesn't kick much but kills animals well and it is a great choice for her. We can upgrade the stock or even give the factory stock a paint job in the future. She has shot my old 260 Rem and had no trouble with the recoil even with heavy 160 gr loads.

I have owned a couple of 6.5x55's in the past and know it is an excellent cartridge. Looking at a couple of loads for it a 140 gr Partition or AccuBond as a main hunting load that can handle pretty much anything up to bear and moose and a cheaper lighter bullet for practice and maybe deer, maybe a 123 gr A Max or SST or 129 gr Spire Point. What do you think? I have some H 4831 SC, H 4350 and IMR 7828 SSC which have worked well in the past for powders.

 

[DrMike]

For sure, the 6.5X55 is a great cartridge and kills far better than ere ballistics might indicate. Good move for your lady, Gerry. Congratulations.

 

[6mm Remington]

I think it sounds perfect Gerry! She should love that cartridge and rifle combination. It's way underrated.

 

[LD375]

Good stuff Gerry :grin: ..I'm sure Maria must be happy

Lou

 

[wildgene]

...watch SPS for the 140gr. Custom Comps, Gerry, seem to shoot very near the AccuBonds & the prices are nice...

 

[gerry]

...watch SPS for the 140gr. Custom Comps, Gerry, seem to shoot very near the AccuBonds & the prices are nice...

I would except the whole Canada thing and law makers on both sides :roll:

This is as good a spot as any to post up this company that sells replacement stocks for the T 3. They have some very nice stocks.

https://tikkaperformance.com/index.php? ... =156_59_62

 

[rjm158]

I have a T-3 in 6.5x55 and it, like all but one of the other dozen or so T-3's I own/have owned, wasn't hard to find workable load for.

I own a bunch of .264/6.5 rifles but it is, by far, the top of the list of favorites.

I think you and your wife will be very happy with the choice you made.

Ron

 

[SJB358]

Very nice Gerry. That 6.5 should be excellent! Can't wait to hear your results with it. Betting it won't take much to make it shoot.

 

[Polaris]

I've used IMR 4350 with both 123 and 140 gr match bullets in my M96 military Swede with phenomenal results. Sub-MOA 5 shot groups with a military rifle made in 1915 and iron sights. IMR 4064 was also really good with 123 gr bullets. All were using Hodgedon data. H4350 should do equally well. I might lean towards 4064 in the shorter barrel, especially with the 123 gr bullets.

If you want to maximize velocity, look to Lapua 6,5Skan data for modern actions. Viht and Norma both have a powder designed specifically for the 6.5X55 with maximum velocity in modern actions. Awesome caliber, you done good!

For a range/target bullet, try the Hornady 140 BTHP if you can get them. They are affordable and very accurate. This bullet was quite accurate for me at 41 gr IMR 4350 and also hopped up to 44 gr. I've noticed the shape of Hornady bullets seems to tolerate reduced loads well. Don't know the twist rate on your T3 but I got rotational disintegration at the 75-125 yard mark with the Hornady 123 Amax. 123 Nosler CC and Lapua were fine.

 

[gerry]

The first Swede I had was one of the M 38's that Kimber reworked a number years ago it was an accurate gun. I believe the 38 and 96 Swede's had a twist that was a bit faster than a 1 in 8 twist which is what the Tikka and Sako rifles have. IMR 4350 is still one of the very best powders, I know it was tried in both of the Swede's I have owned (the other was a RH Ruger 77 Mk II). In theory the 6.5x55 can get a tiny bit more speed than my favorite 260 Rem when loaded to the same pressures due to it's slightly larger case capacity, but the difference isn't much at all. Thanks for the info on bullets will keep that in mind, I have had the 123 gr Nosler CC bullets on order for almost a year and am really wanting to try them in this gun and the 260 Rem. Looking forward to it's arrival and doing some loading for it

 

[Polaris]

http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.6-5 ... auser.html Looks like 1 in 7.5" (aprox) for the Swedish military rifles so you might stay clear of the 123 Amax lest you get some unpleasant surprises downrange.

http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reload ... odata/5/98 Here's the Lapua 6.5 Skan data. They're getting in excess of 2800 fps with a 140 gr bullet with N560. Not too shabby!

Don't know how it works with Canada orders, but this would be a great target bullet at a reasonable price. http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/3

 

[Blkram]

Gerry,

The T3 6.5 is going to be a great rifle.
I have to say that the cartridge (after the 280 Rem) and the one with which I have more time with than any other. The light recoil makes it a great cartridge to practice with.
A few years ago, a shooter won the Burns Lake 1000 yard shoot with a factory T3 in 6.5 x 55.
The 6.5 x 55's that I've owned and loaded for were accurate and easy to find loads for. Two of my favourite loads were 140 gr Partitions and X Bullets over max loads of IMR 4350, according to their respective manuals. Both loads would shoot moa or better in my two different Remington 700 Classics, with the edge going to the X bullet in my first rifle, and the Partition load in the second rifle. It would print 5 rounds into less than an inch at 200 yards.

 

[Polaris]

BTW, I'm jealous. A T3 or Sako in 6.5 Swedish is definitely on my wish list to replace my heavy old .280 mauser.

 

[gerry]

Thanks for the advice. The rifle should have been shipped today, will keep this thread up to date.

Polaris, a Tikka or Sako in 6.5x55 is an excellent choice and one of the classic cartridges.

 

[Polaris]

Yeah, I'd settle for one of the Kimber surplus reworks with blued/walnut but I only seem to find the fake stainless ones.

 

[gerry]

The gun arrived today and is in excellent shape. Best of all Maria likes it she said it is comfortable to hold and is happy how light it is. I'll go down to our LGS on Saturday and see what they have in stock for scopes, I'll update this thread then with some pictures as well.

 

[SJB358]

Congrats Gerry. Sounds real nice.

 

[DrMike]

That is great, Gerry. Congratulations. I know Maria will enjoy the cartridge, and I anticipate that she is going to fall in love with the rifle.

 

[FOTIS]

That is a keeper. I have made the most spectacular kill on an antelope with a Win 70 featherweight 140 Hornady and IMR4831

 

[gerry]

The gun came and looks very nice, in handling it it just seems better than I remember a Tikka being. The action is nice and smooth, the trigger is very good and it is much more comfortable than I remember them being. I may snag one for myself as well in 270 Win, they are nice and light and have a reputation of being very good, could make the perfect mountain gun.......

I'm going to put a 2-7x35 Burris FF II with Ballistic Plex on it for her, they are a good value, fairly light and the Ballistic Plex works well.