7x57 and 6.5x55

[shell70634]

Went to look at intending to buy a Ruger #1 in 7x57. I bought it. But a Win 70 FWT in 6.5x55 was crying out to come home with me too. Not to familiar with 6.5 but planning on learning.

[Zingger]

They are an amazing brace of calibers- My 1a in 7x57 initially gave me some issues, but a good deep clean seems to have brought it around. The wife shoots a Tikka t3x in 6.5 swede, and we have a few others, CZ and #1a as well.
If the Winchester is a decent price, bring it home! I bought a M70 in 7x57 and the bore looked..... questionable under a borescope. But it is a heat-seeker for hunting. Point it in the general direction and things go down, shot perfectly! You can form 7x57 out of 270, unless you have one of those. Run through an 8mm form die, cut off and run again through your FL sizer, trim excess and viola! Reach out if I can be of any help in your new adventure, or at least an enabler!
Zingger

[Texas by God]

I have owned a few rifles in each chambering, they are very good cartridges that kill deer perfectly. And they fit Mauser actions perfectly and are class acts.

[Stewbaby]

6.5x55 is THE caliber

[444ttd]

i had a 7 mauser built on a 98 mauser that i gave to my oldest son. my youngest son is getting(i am building) a 93 spanish mauser in 7x57 too. i don't know about the 6.5 swede, i used to own a tc encore in 23" mgm barrel in 6.5 creedmoor, but i bet ballisticaly they are the same. i shot 5 to 7 deer with the 6.5cm and a 120gr bt and 140gr sst. i don't know how many deer i killed with 7 mauser and 139gr hornady fn.

[richhodg66]

I'd take a7x57 over a 6.5 Swede every time. It has been my experience that the 7x57 is a good cast shooter, including hunting deer with cast.

[pietro]

.

I've had a 7x57mm Ruger #1 and both the 6.5x55mm Swede and the 7x57mm in Winchester Model 70 FW's, shot & hunted all - so, I'll make a few observations.

* After extensive testing with various loads, I found the Ruger 7x57mm was nowhere near as accurate as the Winchester FW's in 6.5x55mm Swede & 7x57mm.

(I prefer boolits that are "heavy-for-caliber", and use exclusively a 175gr in the 7x57mm and a 160gr in the 6.5x55mm)

* Both will drop deer, and the 6.5x55mm Swede has been used for 100 years to successfully take moose.

* If the need to buy commercial ammo rises in an emergency, it's a tad easier to obtain 160gr 6.5x55 ammo than 175gr 7x57 ammo.

* The 6.5x55 Swede is much easier on the shoulder.

* The Winchester FW is a repeater - VERY handy in some situations; the Ruger #1 is not.

* IME, the Winchester FW's in either chambering will have higher value than the 7x57mm Ruger #1, if/when the time comes to sell.


The proof's in the pudding - I sold both 7x57mm's (the FW for more than the #1 - both in pristine condition), and kept the 6.5x55 Swede FW

YMMV, of course.....

.

[444ttd]

.

I've had a 7x57mm Ruger #1 and both the 6.5x55mm Swede and the 7x57mm in Winchester Model 70 FW's, shot & hunted all - so, I'll make a few observations.

* After extensive testing with various loads, I found the Ruger 7x57mm was nowhere near as accurate as the Winchester FW's in 6.5x55mm Swede & 7x57mm.

(I prefer boolits that are "heavy-for-caliber", and use exclusively a 175gr in the 7x57mm and a 160gr in the 6.5x55mm)

* Both will drop deer, and the 6.5x55mm Swede has been used for 100 years to successfully take moose.

* If the need to buy commercial ammo rises in an emergency, it's a tad easier to obtain 160gr 6.5x55 ammo than 175gr 7x57 ammo.

* The 6.5x55 Swede is much easier on the shoulder.

* The Winchester FW is a repeater - VERY handy in some situations; the Ruger #1 is not.

* IME, the Winchester FW's in either chambering will have higher value than the 7x57mm Ruger #1, if/when the time comes to sell.


The proof's in the pudding - I sold both 7x57mm's (the FW for more than the #1 - both in pristine condition), and kept the 6.5x55 Swede FW

YMMV, of course.....

.

yeah, i hate the ruger #1 and i hate the year, 1973 ..........

just look at it.........and its in the 270 win


and the 140gr hornady sst.......


even worse, the 130gr nosler bt..........



those were at 100 yards.............yuck!!!!!!!!!!


i was asking people(i think 12-14 years ago) what caliber do you prefer, the 7x57 or the 6.5x55(6.5 swede)? the majority didn't no that either cartridge existed, the minority said 7x57(7 mauser) and only one said 6.5 swede(he is an owner in a gun shop). last time i have looked at cartridges(it has to be 25+/- years ago) in a store, i think it was a remington 7x57 in 140gr sp. i don't(and i mean i don't) know of any other cartridges, the 6.5 swede is included.

i have a 95 Chilean navy mauser action that "needs" a 6.5mm barrel. i am thinking of a 6.5x57 but i could go to the swede. this will be 3 or 4 years later tho. i have enuff actions on my plate now.

when my gunsmith(RIP) and i built the 7 mauser, it was going 3/8 - 1/2" at 100 yards(5 shot/bench) with a 139gr hornady fn and imr3031. the 98 mauser is a timney trigger and 2 position safety, i think that the striker spring is around 26lbs? and the barrel is a 20" douglas premium. heres an old pix.


my son still has it and luckily i bought 500 139gr hornady fn bullets(now its around 200-300 pcs) right before they were discontinued. next spring, i'll be done with 93 spanish mauser(my youngest son's rifle) in 7x57 with a 22-24" douglas barrel.

and then the action adventure continues........

[Tatume]

My Ruger No. 1A in 7x57 Mauser shoots MOA five-shot groups all the time with Sierra bullets. The rifle has not been modified in any way. The secret to shooting good groups with the No. 1 is to wait a minimum of one minute between shots, and at least five minutes between five-shot groups.

Two quick shots will land together, but I've never had to do it on game.

[Tatume]

My CZ 550 FS in 6.5x55 Swedish shoots MOA all the time as well. I love both rifles. Neither has every failed to bring home the bacon.

Both guns have low power Leupold scopes.

[444ttd]

my son has old swift 3-9x. it was the one who had an over the counter warranty. nowadays, you have to send to who ever owns the company now, there's alot of them. if and when it goes, it will be leopold 2-7x or 3x9x. vortex i don't know about. my brother luvs his. i have two leopold 2-7x and one 3-9x. i luv the 2-7x, it goes really well with my 9.3x57(husky m46)

[shell70634]

Ordered brass, j bullets and dies this morning for the swede. Will probably take it deer hunting in November if I can find suitable glass. I think I have a 2-7 Leupold somewhere.
The No 1 is number 16 in the safe. All but one shoot 1.5, 6 or so shoot 1 inch, and 2 shoot 1 inch at 200. The 7.62x39 is the only one that won't act right but I've only shot it with cheap ammo. This is my first 7mm. Any recommendations on molds in the 140 to 170 grain range?

Attachment 269675

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Went to look at intending to buy a Ruger #1 in 7x57. I bought it. But a Win 70 FWT in 6.5x55 was crying out to come home with me too. Not to familiar with 6.5 but planning on learning.

Two really great choices. I'd have trouble choosing, but the Win. 70 6.5mm is especially alluring.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

6.5x55 is THE caliber

Wow, Stewbaby-- your accumulation exceeds even mine! Looks like these are all full length '96s? I've only got two of them, and three short rifles. Wonderful rifles.

[shell70634]

6.5x55 is THE caliber

Do they have name tags so you can tell em apart?

[Stewbaby]

Do they have name tags so you can tell em apart?

I just track by year (each is a unique year) and s/n if needed in a spreadsheet. I only use a couple for cast.