6.5x55 availability

[RJ556]

Can anyone here tell me if any stainless M77 MKII's were chambered in 6.5x55 Swede? I am looking for a light weight bolt gun so chambered. The only ones I know of are the 75 & 85 Finnlites by Sako and the Tikka stainless T3 Lites. The Sako's supposedly have ejection problems with low mounted scopes, (fixed ejector at 6 O'clock position) and I understand that the Tikka' stainless T3's have not been imported for a while in 6.5x55. I do remember that Winchester chambered their SS Feather weight Classic in the Swede in the 90's breifly, but fat chance of finding one of those.

 

[mattsbox99]

I think just the Lipsey's KRSI is the only one.

 

[Watergoat]

Not a Ruger, but the excellant CZ550 is offered in 6.5x55. Winchester made them until nearly the end of New Haven production. Rem made them as the Classic caliber in 1994. I had one of those, shot well. My 1985 vintage M70 FW shoots about as good, and is a bit lighter for carrying hunting. Finally sold the Rem to a friend when I realized the oil had turned gummy on the bolt. I keep thinking there were some standard M77 Rugers in the caliber, but older, or at least wiser, heads will have to tell us about that for sure.

If you can stand to only shoot one deer at a time, I think Lipsey's did a run of #1 A in stainless a few years ago. I know there were blued #1s, I bought one.

 

[Watergoat]

Not a Ruger, but the excellant CZ550 is offered in 6.5x55. Winchester made them until nearly the end of New Haven production. Rem made them as the Classic caliber in 1994. I had one of those, shot well. My 1985 vintage M70 FW shoots about as good, and is a bit lighter for carrying hunting. Finally sold the Rem to a friend when I realized the oil had turned gummy on the bolt. I keep thinking there were some standard M77 Rugers in the caliber, but older, or at least wiser, heads will have to tell us about that for sure.

If you can stand to only shoot one deer at a time, I think Lipsey's did a run of #1 A in stainless a few years ago. I know there were blued #1s, I bought one.

 

[smoke-eater]

PM sent.
Saw a Win. M70 in 6.5x55 on the 24 hr. campfire.

 

[Steve Myers]

I have a Win M70 in 6.5. Know CZ makes a Mannlicher stock in 6.5 - but check the pull length - it is strange.

I know Ruger has made a 6.5x55. THINK I saw it in an #1 International Mannlicher stock - stainless. Also believe I saw it in the #1 sporter.

 

[RJ556]

Gentlemen, I want a stainless 6.5x55 And preferably synthetic stock and light weight. That really limits my choices. The Howa is a possibility. Too bad it is in that fat ass Hogue stock. It weighs 7.5 pounds without a scope. The Tikka T3 Lite in SS would be perfect for my purposes, but as I said in my original post, Beretta stopped importing the 6.5x55 in that model several yeaes ago. Anybody have a Win M70 Classic Featherweight in that caliber that they want to give up?

 

[Kudu m77]

This might be something to consider if available around there and I guess at a price. Chances are good that it will shoot very well. http://www.sako.fi/sako85models.php?hunterlamss

 

[1851conversion]

I remember waaaay back when Kimber in Oregon built some 6.5 Swedes with aftermarket barrels and synthetic stocks. They were cheap and ugly but a forum from the time had a member who was very pleased with the accuracy of the one he owned. The last one I saw was about 15 years ago.

 

[RJ556]

Kudu m77, as I said in my original post, I am concerned about the ejection problems on the Sako 75's and 85's with a low mouinted scope. I am not willing to gamble $1500 that I won't have that problem after I buy it.

 

[Watergoat]

As far as I know, the M70s were all blued steel/walnut, as were the Rem 700s. You might call Numrich, they did have a bunch of new take off barrels. Find a nice used long action with the common .473 boltface, screw in a new bbl, and you are there.

 

[RJ556]

In the 90's for at least a year or two the Classic stainless Featherweight was cataloged as available. And a member of the 24 hour camp fire forum, posted a pic of his M70 Classic stainless Featherweight in 6.5x55 Swede.

 

[Watergoat]

Well, there ya go. All you have to do now is find one.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Ooh, the Howa is available in 6.5X55? I have one in .30'06 and its a great rifle. I would instantly buy a Remington 700 or Marlin X7 (not a whole lot of difference I guess) in 6.5 for four bills or less. Yes, I would take a Ruger but you'll never find one cheap.

 

[kevin seyer]

I have a model 70 featherweightin 6.5made in the 80's. it's new in the box and the only one i have seen with factory open sights on it as well. it's blue and walnut beutiful rifle. might be willing to part with it
Kevin

 

[RJ556]

Kevin, I am only interested in the Stainless Classic (CRF) model, but if that Featherweight of yours has factory iron sights, you have one rare bird and it is worth some substantial coin to a collector.

 

[pheasant]

Yes, I bought one this last summer on gunbroker. Must been special run for over sea's but a few showed up in the states.

 

[Watergoat]

The M70 FWs with sights were an overrun made for sale in northern europe in 1985. Push feed action, XTR higher polish finish, etc. Wife got me mine for Christmas about 1985. One of the northern wholesale houses had the over runs, can't think right now who it was. Nice rifle, every deer it has seen fell DRT.

 

[RJ556]

Now I better recall that it was the pre-64 M70 Featherweight that was so rare. There is a Video where a collector is swowing his pre-64 M70 with sights. He says there is only one other in existance that he knows about.