Hi all,
I'm looking for a modern 6.5x55 bolt action rifle. I've read a lot of wonderful things about this cartridge, and the long-distance performance is appealing (for competition) as well as the performance in hunting medium sized (NA) game. I was originally considering the .308, but other than ammunition availability, it looks like the 6.5x55 is a better overall choice for my purposes. Feel free to tell me I'm out in left field, if you think so, though!
I'd like a nice all-around rifle, that I could use for competitive long-distance shooting, as well as hunting (deer-sized by in large.)
I've read a lot about the Sako Finnlight, it seems very appealing to me.
I'm looking for the following, prioritized in this order:
#1 - Reliability (this is why I am not looking at the 6.5x284 - apparently barrel life isn't very good.) I want a *tool*, not a showpiece. Synthetic stock, etc - looks are secondary to me.
#2 - Accuracy. If at all possible, I'd like something I could shoot competitively, and have the rifle outperform *me*. That said, I don't want to sacrifice reliability to achieve accuracy. I don't want a rifle that I have to swap barrels every 500 rounds, and I most certainly don't want a fragile rifle that can't be carried out in the woods for fear of breaking. (Seems like most match rifles are a bit fragile when compared to their hunting counter-parts.)
#3 - Price. I don't want to be cheap, at the same time, I don't want to build a $20,000 custom rifle. Ideally, I'd like something nice, stock - that if desired I could later have worked on by a gunsmith (to improve accuracy, for instance) As to my price range, I'm willing to pay whatever it takes to get the best combination of #1 and #2, until reaching the point of diminishing returns. If $900 will buy me a great rifle (not including glass) that shoots 1.5MOA, and $1300 will buy me a great rifle that shoots .75 MOA, assuming the same reliability, I'd be willing to spend the extra money. If $3500 gets me down to .60 MOA, I'd stick with the $1300 .75 MOA rifle. I hope this example makes clear what I'm trying to say!
Thank you in advance for your helpful advice, I've read a lot of posts here, and this seems like a really great group of people!
Cheers,
David
I'm looking for a modern 6.5x55 bolt action rifle. I've read a lot of wonderful things about this cartridge, and the long-distance performance is appealing (for competition) as well as the performance in hunting medium sized (NA) game. I was originally considering the .308, but other than ammunition availability, it looks like the 6.5x55 is a better overall choice for my purposes. Feel free to tell me I'm out in left field, if you think so, though!
I'd like a nice all-around rifle, that I could use for competitive long-distance shooting, as well as hunting (deer-sized by in large.)
I've read a lot about the Sako Finnlight, it seems very appealing to me.
I'm looking for the following, prioritized in this order:
#1 - Reliability (this is why I am not looking at the 6.5x284 - apparently barrel life isn't very good.) I want a *tool*, not a showpiece. Synthetic stock, etc - looks are secondary to me.
#2 - Accuracy. If at all possible, I'd like something I could shoot competitively, and have the rifle outperform *me*. That said, I don't want to sacrifice reliability to achieve accuracy. I don't want a rifle that I have to swap barrels every 500 rounds, and I most certainly don't want a fragile rifle that can't be carried out in the woods for fear of breaking. (Seems like most match rifles are a bit fragile when compared to their hunting counter-parts.)
#3 - Price. I don't want to be cheap, at the same time, I don't want to build a $20,000 custom rifle. Ideally, I'd like something nice, stock - that if desired I could later have worked on by a gunsmith (to improve accuracy, for instance) As to my price range, I'm willing to pay whatever it takes to get the best combination of #1 and #2, until reaching the point of diminishing returns. If $900 will buy me a great rifle (not including glass) that shoots 1.5MOA, and $1300 will buy me a great rifle that shoots .75 MOA, assuming the same reliability, I'd be willing to spend the extra money. If $3500 gets me down to .60 MOA, I'd stick with the $1300 .75 MOA rifle. I hope this example makes clear what I'm trying to say!
Thank you in advance for your helpful advice, I've read a lot of posts here, and this seems like a really great group of people!
Cheers,
David