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Post by urbino on Jun 10, 2021 19:46:15 GMT -5
Not to change the subject, but gun/cartridge conversation pops up kind of randomly around the place, and this is where it is at the moment. And it is still about an old, now niche cartridge, so not entirely off-topic.
I've long had a fascination with the 6.5x55 Swede. After many years, I'm giving some thought to actually doing something about it. The doubt I have is this: in the US, is there any point buying into any 6.5 other than Creedmoor, at this point? It seems like it's been steadily squeezing the Swede out of what little market share it ever had in the States. Are we headed for a place where the Swede is nonexistent here?
I'm not a reloader. I'm not in circumstances to become a reloader. I'm unlikely to ever become a reloader, at this stage. So factory ammo is a necessity. I wouldn't need a huge variety of it, but it has to continue to be available. I'm willing to pay extra for ammo I know is niche, but I wouldn't want to be paying, I dunno, exotic Weatherby magnum prices for it.
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Post by trailboss on Jun 10, 2021 20:02:55 GMT -5
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Post by Gypo on Jun 10, 2021 20:12:40 GMT -5
Lapua brass is about the best brass you can get I believe that is part of the reason the price is so high and yes 6.5x55 is still a great round. |
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Post by urbino on Jun 10, 2021 21:27:52 GMT -5
Yeah, that's basically what I've seen. That and a Nosler round that's even pricier. |
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Post by trailboss on Jun 10, 2021 21:38:36 GMT -5
Keep your nose to the grindstone.
I would look to Midway click on the “notify me” tab option, subscribe to be alerted if and when the less expensive rounds come into stock.
If there is a local gun club, you might want to reach out and see if there is a reloader that can fill your brass.
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Post by Plainsman on Jun 10, 2021 22:24:35 GMT -5
I haven’t actually toted it up but I think you could set yourself up to load the magnificent Swede for less than $200, using, for example, Lee equipment that would take up practically no room at all. Just a thought.
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Post by urbino on Jun 10, 2021 22:50:27 GMT -5
Lapua brass is about the best brass you can get I believe that is part of the reason the price is so high and yes 6.5x55 is still a great round. It's still a great round, ballistically. But is it a great round for somebody in the US to be buying into right now, given the Creedmoor's growing popularity? |
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Post by Gypo on Jun 10, 2021 22:56:12 GMT -5
I do not follow the crowd and look at things different than most so for popularity or trends I would not be a good person to ask that to. I had a 6.5x55 and a 264 before the creedmore was around
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Post by urbino on Jun 10, 2021 23:05:51 GMT -5
I do not follow the crowd and look at things different than most so for popularity or trends I would not be a good person to ask that to. I had a 6.5x55 and a 264 before the creedmore was around It's not really a matter of following the crowd. It's a matter of whether factory ammo will continue to be obtainable in the US, and at a reasonable price. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 10, 2021 23:07:30 GMT -5
Lapua brass is about the best brass you can get I believe that is part of the reason the price is so high and yes 6.5x55 is still a great round. It's still a great round, ballistically. But is it a great round for somebody in the US to be buying into right now, given the Creedmoor's growing popularity? That's what I was thinking. The Creedmoor gives up about 150 fps, but who cares. I think the 6.5x55 is a great round, but probably not worth the trouble. The 260 Remington is good too. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 10, 2021 23:10:08 GMT -5
If you don't want to follow the crowd but want cheap components, you can try the 6.5-06. 😜🤠
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Post by urbino on Jun 10, 2021 23:29:47 GMT -5
I haven’t actually toted it up but I think you could set yourself up to load the magnificent Swede for less than $200, using, for example, Lee equipment that would take up practically no room at all. Just a thought. Having canisters of powder around would violate my lease. |
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Post by trailboss on Jun 10, 2021 23:49:05 GMT -5
Mark Twain ~ 'Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it.' ...
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Post by toshtego on Jun 11, 2021 8:22:35 GMT -5
I have had a Krag 6.5 X 55 for many years.
Never took game with it. It is a short barreled carbine which lives in my truck. Since it uses slower burning powder, the short barrel has a real dramatic muzzle flash. That is not why I have it, though. I like the ballistics on paper and wish it had a 24 inch barrel.
I buy eastern European ammo for it.
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Post by toshtego on Jun 11, 2021 13:52:58 GMT -5
Often I have wondered if the Ruger Mini-30 would make an acceptable substitute?
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Post by Plainsman on Jun 11, 2021 14:30:54 GMT -5
Often I have wondered if the Ruger Mini-30 would make an acceptable substitute? Apples & Oranges. If you are trucking the Krag for self-defense then the Mini wold be a better choice. For hunting, the Krag. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 11, 2021 14:31:15 GMT -5
Often I have wondered if the Ruger Mini-30 would make an acceptable substitute? I've heard good things, but I don't know how much cheaper it would be. They cost about $1200 if you can find one. I'm probably going to be selling my SKS with the 20 round factory magazine as I just don't have a use for it. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 11, 2021 14:34:15 GMT -5
Often I have wondered if the Ruger Mini-30 would make an acceptable substitute? Apples & Oranges. If you are trucking the Krag for self-defense then the Mini wold be a better choice. For hunting, the Krag. I think he was back to the M1. |
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Post by Plainsman on Jun 11, 2021 15:10:58 GMT -5
I read it just as he wrote it: the Swede against a 7.62x39. What did I miss?
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Post by urbino on Jun 11, 2021 16:13:38 GMT -5
If you don't want to follow the crowd but want cheap components, you can try the 6.5-06. 😜🤠 I already have a .25-06. I'm full up on uncommon-06 cartridges.  |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 11, 2021 18:19:18 GMT -5
I read it just as he wrote it: the Swede against a 7.62x39. What did I miss? The thread is about the M1, as far as I know, unless otherwise specified. I think 🤔. |
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Post by toshtego on Jun 12, 2021 9:16:56 GMT -5
Often I have wondered if the Ruger Mini-30 would make an acceptable substitute? Apples & Oranges. If you are trucking the Krag for self-defense then the Mini wold be a better choice. For hunting, the Krag. I carry a carbine in the truck not for self defense but dispatching animals hit by vehicles on the highway. Watching an elk cow thrash herself to death for thirty minutes some 21 years ago, that is the last time for me. Elk, deer, cattle, wild horses all are hit and die slow and miserable. |
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Post by toshtego on Jun 12, 2021 9:18:38 GMT -5
Often I have wondered if the Ruger Mini-30 would make an acceptable substitute? I've heard good things, but I don't know how much cheaper it would be. They cost about $1200 if you can find one. I'm probably going to be selling my SKS with the 20 round factory magazine as I just don't have a use for it. I had an SKS with a large capacity magazine. Stolen out of my Landcruiser in 2005. It was a Tula Arsenal made gun and I liked it. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 12, 2021 9:57:52 GMT -5
I've heard good things, but I don't know how much cheaper it would be. They cost about $1200 if you can find one. I'm probably going to be selling my SKS with the 20 round factory magazine as I just don't have a use for it. I had an SKS with a large capacity magazine. Stolen out of my Landcruiser in 2005. It was a Tula Arsenal made gun and I liked it. They're really practical and handy. |
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Post by Plainsman on Jun 12, 2021 10:33:05 GMT -5
I never could see the practicality of the SKS. Between the folding bayonet, the stripper-clip fixed magazine, and the weight of the gun for the cartridge it fired (almost as much as a Garand)... I never had any doubt why the AK and AKM shoved it aside so quickly.
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Post by Plainsman on Jun 12, 2021 10:35:27 GMT -5
Apples & Oranges. If you are trucking the Krag for self-defense then the Mini wold be a better choice. For hunting, the Krag. I carry a carbine in the truck not for self defense but dispatching animals hit by vehicles on the highway. Watching an elk cow thrash herself to death for thirty minutes some 21 years ago, that is the last time for me. Elk, deer, cattle, wild horses all are hit and die slow and miserable. I hear you. I've done the same. Strictly speaking, for that purpose a .22 rifle will work just fine. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 12, 2021 10:52:16 GMT -5
I carry a carbine in the truck not for self defense but dispatching animals hit by vehicles on the highway. Watching an elk cow thrash herself to death for thirty minutes some 21 years ago, that is the last time for me. Elk, deer, cattle, wild horses all are hit and die slow and miserable. I hear you. I've done the same. Strictly speaking, for that purpose a .22 rifle will work just fine. I had to put down a deer that ran in front of our car. All I had was a Makarov, but it worked. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 12, 2021 11:06:40 GMT -5
I never could see the practicality of the SKS. Between the folding bayonet, the stripper-clip fixed magazine, and the weight of the gun for the cartridge it fired (almost as much as a Garand)... I never had any doubt why the AK and AKM shoved it aside so quickly. 80 pound North Vietnam soldiers carried them. Can't be that bad. They have forged steel receivers and they were built to last. |
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Post by urbino on Jun 12, 2021 17:52:41 GMT -5
Hang it. 6.5x55 it is.
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driftingfate
Full Member
Posts: 500
First Name: David
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Post by driftingfate on Jun 12, 2021 18:24:05 GMT -5
A lot of thread drift here, so I'll plop down my $0.02... The M1 carbine was good for what it was intended for in the day, basically an early PDW. Considering the prices they now command and the always suspect magazine quality, they should be relegated to Living History status.
The modern AR outclasses it in every category except two: the M4 sucks at butt-stroking someone and leaves those of us who actually like wood and blue steel lacking. Still, the AR is a great weapon, hunting, and recreation choice and is satisfying enough to justify owning that every American should have at least one. Like potato chips, I can't stop at just one, but that's a whole other story!
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