260 Remington vs 6.5 Creedmoor vs 6.5x55 Swede: Which 6.5 Is Best For You?

To learn more about popular hunting calibers like the .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x55 Swede, visit: huntingguns101...
In this video I talk about how the .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 6.5x55 Swede compare to each other.
Most hunters and shooters in North America will probably agree that 6.5mm cartridges in general are much more popular now than they were just a decade or so ago. Regardless of what you might think about the cartridge personally, the 6.5 Creedmoor in particular has greatly benefited from this change in attitude towards the 6.5 caliber.
While the 6.5 Creedmoor is great cartridge that’s popular for good reason, it’s far from the only well designed 6.5mm cartridge. It has also been surrounded by a lot of marketing hype from fans of the cartridge and receives a lot of shade from those who don’t like it for various reasons.
There are valid points on both sides of the debate, but there are also a number of genuine misconceptions about the Creedmoor since it first came on the scene. For these reasons, the rapid ascent of the 6.5 Creedmoor has prompted questions about how it really stacks up against some of the more time tested 6.5mm cartridges like the .260 Remington and 6.5×55 Swedish.
In this episode, I’m going to do a detailed comparison of the 260 Remington vs 6.5 Creedmoor vs 6.5×55 Swede in an effort to cut through some of the misunderstandings that swirl around these three cartridges so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you.
To read a more detailed comparison of the 260 Remington vs 6.5 Creedmoor vs 6.5 Swede, visit:
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6.5 Creedmoor vs 260 Remington
6.5 Creedmoor vs 6.5x55 Swede
260 vs 6.5 Creedmoor
6.5x55 Swede vs 6.5 Creedmoor
260 vs 6.5x55 Swede
6.5x55 Swede vs 260

[@perrinayebarra]

The Swede was around before man achieved powered flight and is still competitive today. Amazing.

[@mikerobinson6606]

Older than the 30-30

[@BjørjaBear]

The Norwegian-Swedish Rifle Commission knew what they were doing in 1893. The round was created as a common round for both Norway and Sweden. It was to facilitate a calibre that both countries could use in time of war. The calibre was used extensively during the Norway campaign in 1940. It is probably the round that has shot the most moose in Scandinavia, and it is an excellent round for general hunting in the Nordic countries,

[@johnshank556]

Excellent evaluation of these near equal rounds. Myself I've been shooting 6.5x55 Swede for 40yrs and have harvested mule and whitetail deer, elk, javelinas, wild hogs and now living in Alaska caribou and moose. Its all about knowing your rifle and shooting it. I'm currently hunting with a Howa in 6.5x55 with my reloads or Norma ammo.

[@kencleg7721]

The Swede can go to the 156 Norma and the 160 which most sakos and Tika s have long throats I have one in a kongsburg 393 Finland been at it awhile there’s nothing it hasn’t killed I also built a 6.5x06 and shoot 129/140 Berger’s the Swede like 120 pro hunters .385 about the same both rifles just these small white tail here in Texas never dis a points

[@kencleg7721]

Rl 22 and load and go 120 s ol aa 3100 rl17 is the fall back

[@kencleg7721]

Mine shoots Norma well

[@kencleg7721]

Yup Norma brass any 120 or 129 140 works also black bear w 156 Norma the 100 nosler bt bt work better than a .243 in the same drt. And cut .385 .485 613 groups most days very consistent

[@johnstruewing1164]

I would not hesitate to use my Swede on the same game that you mentioned. Considering the long action of the Swede, I believe that it handles the high sectional density bullets necessary for deep penetration on larger animals like elk. Ballistic Coefficient is important when speaking about target ammunition, but is useless when talking about penetration in big animals. The Swede has proven itself time and time again

[@leeadams5941]

The best comparison on the 6.5 Ive ever seen...I dont believe sammi specs are current as far as todays rifles, cartridge's etc...that is obvious when considering European specs. Loaded to similar specs as the .260 and the 6.5 creed...the the 6.5 swede should out perform the other two hands down..

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@patrickgallagher4344]

That’s not what the video just said! Why push pressures and take a chance when you can go buy a 6.5 PRC!!!

[@johnbrent1977]

Sammi spec is lower on the 6.5×55 because of the 96 mauser is a weaker actshion

[@johanmetreus1268]

@@johnbrent1977 Absolute BS, as the standard European ammunition runs without a problem in them, and the service ammunition used was higher pressure than the current SAAMI pressures.

[@richardsabo7917]

@@patrickgallagher4344i'd imagine 6.5 swede is much cheaper than 6.5 prc lol

[@kellycollier2026]

I've been hunting white tail with my 6.5x55 since high school(1988) and except for upgrading my optics I've never seen the need for anything else. It's a great rifle that's lightweight and minimal recoil. It's a tried and true round. Thanks for a great video.

[@gradyhernandez4699]

Yes! I miss my 6.5x55 mm Swede. Mine ( first one) was extremely accurate. Two guys at a range challenged me with their 270 with a high dollar scope. The range master came to my side ( 6 5x55 iron sights at 100 yards because that was the longest there) those two guys probably thought otherwise until the old Swede made boom boom sounds!

[@easttexan2933]

Kelly Collier, I've been hunting with mine since 2000 and have never seen deer and hogs hit the ground faster. I've used just about all different cartridges in my 70 years of hunting and it is by far the best except I still hunt with a 30-30 also lol.

[@warrengreen3217]

​@@gradyhernandez4699 100yards is nothing that is what most guys zero there rifle to or some zero for 200yards but 100yards is not a long or hard shoot even with open sites

[@raymondmathewson4817]

The 6.5X55 will out perform the other 2. Reloading data and factory loads are very light due to old rifles!

[@tedarcher9120]

It has very significant taper, so it looks bigger than it is

[@mikegreen2214]

@@tedarcher9120 As a quick search will easily confirm, the 6.5x55 still outperforms both the others when loaded to modern-rifle pressures.

[@cameronwalker6625]

Tikkas all have the same action length and just use a different bolt stop for each action. If you handload the 6.5x55 you can load high bc projectiles really long. With the most case capacity of the 3, the modern Swedes with higher pressures are very high performing, especially if you handload.

[@woofbark4475]

Absolutely love my Swede. Reloading is a dream and load with the projectiles way out or way in. Very flexible rifle the older military rifle. Mine just seems to feed better when the projectiles are seated further out.

[@puccini4530]

Exactly so. One rifle to cover everything short of the big, dangerous African game. Most shooters are just fixated on macho bullshit fire sticks.

[@magnus9165]

I have all three, the .260, the 6.5 Swede, and the 6.5 Creed. I reload all of them. For ease, cost, and accuracy, I would rank them just how I wrote them the first time, 260, Swede, and Creed. I wish I never would have bought the Creed. The .260 outshoots it all over the place. The Swede is right behind. The Creed is expensive to reload with brass availability. I really wish I would have never bought the Creed. I will sell it or rebarrel in 6mm, .25, or ,22. My .260 is such a good shooter, it is hard to beat. It is not finicky at all compared to the Creed. The Creed will shoot, I have to spend more time in developing the load. Sometimes I think the Swede would be enough, and not have any of the others.

[@hb9145]

I own a Steyr Krag from 1897 chambered in 6.5x55, and the cartridge is still utterly dominant in sports shooting and long distance shooting in Norway. It is also common among hunters, but less so. It seems the joint Swedish-Norwegian commission got it right the first time.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Very cool! What are your preferred loads to hunt with in the 6.5x55?

[@hb9145]

@@Thebiggamehuntingblog The most common 6.5x55 ammo for hunting is, in random order Nosler 140grs Partition, Swift 140grs A-Frame, Trophy Bonded 140grs Bear Claw, Lapua 156grs Mega, Norma 156grs Oryx and Hornady 160grs RN. I don't use the caliber for hunting myself, since my hunting rifle is a Mod 1908 "Brazilian" Mauser by Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken that's been sporterized and rebarreled to .308 Win.

[@Jbowling6]

Never heard of 6.5 anything until I borrowed my grandpas deer rifle one year when I was around 13 (a sporterized swede Mauser in 6.5x55) I’ve now taken 3 deer with it and for the hunting I do (whitetail under 300 yards) it’s a soft shooting and surprisingly accurate (under 1 moa consistently) deer dropper and fell in love with the caliber. For those who haven’t tried it I really recommend giving it a try

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Very cool! What ammo do you hunt with in your 6.5 Swede?

[@Jbowling6]

@@Thebiggamehuntingblog I’ve tried a few loads but the factory ppu soft points (I think they’re 139grain) seem to just shoot great out of it luckily it likes the cheap stuff lol

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Good deal! It's really nice when the cheap stuff shoots well AND is really effective on what you're hunting!

[@lars277]

@@Jbowling6 I have six 6.5 Swede Mausers. They all shoot well. One was made in 1899. It shoots great. Many moose has been harvested in Sweden with the 6.5 Mauser round.

[@toddjohnson271]

Swedish have been using it 100 years for Elk, deer, moose...it works, with a very light recoil.

[@lordhumungus8720]

Just got my hands on a Sako 85 Bavarian Carbine in 6.5x55 here in Australia. Can’t wait to take it out shooting.

[@Innocentcarbon]

I have the exact same gun and calibre on order. Have you shot it yet ?

[@lordhumungus8720]

@@Innocentcarbon Just saw your comment, I hope you’re enjoying yours. It’s fantastic, but I haven’t scoped it out, mainly because I got my hands on an old Sako peep sight and it just feels good.

[@missourimike5150]

260 remington is my favorite ....Great video!

[@thewolfhunter]

Love my 6.5 Swede ..I live in the great state of South Carolina and I purchased a Remington 700 in 6.5X55 Swedish back in 1994.Great deer rifle.Flat shooting,low recoil.I load 120gr.Nosler ballistic tips with IMR 4350 pushing the BT at approximately 2570fps. Not one deer has complained..No run off's.They are DRT at ranges from 200 yards in,With most at 100. My scope is a Tasco Euro Class with a 30mm tube and #1German post reticle.I switched out the factory wood stock(which I still have in the Rem 700 box)for a McMillan A3 Sporter. Best rifle and caliber combination I've ever owned. And now is my only deer rifle and will not part with it.

[@Manbunmen65]

I'm loading 45 grains of 4350 Nosler shows the 120 ballistic tip at 2900fps

[@mackenziejones4890]

They are all excellent cartridges a deer will never know the difference

[@jimjohnson6615]

i love the sound of the bolt closing on my 1895 swede.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

I'll bet you do!

[@MrNitrox91]

Here in Sweden Creedmoor cost twise that of a 6.5x55 (which is one of the cheapest). 260 Rem is never even mentioned.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

I'm not surprised to hear that.

[@davidlothman2786]

Have A friend here in Sweden that loads 260R and takes 308 cases and calibrates them. I have an old 6,5x55se Cg M/63 mostly for nostalgia but I just ordered A 6.5cm out of curiosity 🤠

[@maximilianescobar3564]

I am gone be close to 80 years and I love mine 6.5 x 55 cal.for ever thank for all the comments you gays make y can still dream.......

[@puccini4530]

Same here. You and I need nothing else. Neither does anyone else with a modern 6.5x55.

[@jeffreyswoodard]

Lee Adams is correct. I have been hand loading for my 6.5x55 for a long time now. I am sending the 147 Hornady out at 2,740 fps, in creating the load I was getting speeds up much faster with less accuracy. Its shooting a .27" group at 100 yards and have verified that number at 1,000. I have put rounds on target at a mile with it, though that seems to be the outer limits for me. When I was shooting it at 2,900 the groups opened up to about 1" so I backed them down. The Swede will certainly out preform the creed and the 260 but it has to be a new rifle that can handle the higher pressures. Older Mauser rifles can only handle the 51,000 psi which is a reason people don't look into the Swede when selecting a rifle. The ammo has to be hand loaded to achieve this kind of performance. The Creedmoor is a fantastic gun for people that want to buy their ammo.

[@landoncremeens7656]

Most informative cartridge comparison between the .264/6.5 caliber class I’ve ever seen. This earned my subscription. Looking forward to more comparisons in the future, KZbin needs more unbiased, factual, and professionally intended content like this

[@jamesbracken4618]

I love the 6.5x55 Swede, there use to be surplus barrels, not any more. They are small ring and fit right the model 38 Turkish Mauser 98 type action, I've built several, very accurate. Good deer round.

[@gregkerr725]

I'mover 69 yrs old and spent many years in the firearms business. It seems that very generation has or develops what they think is the best new cartridge and guns shooting that cartridge are the guns to own. I also sold black powder weapons. In my early days the black powder weapons I sold were either flintlocks or Hawkin style percussion rifles. They all fired solid lead bullets in either round ball or minie type bullets. As the years went by there were advancements such as in-line percussion rifles, then break barrel in-line percussion. People started shooting sabots containing modern pistol bullets in calibers like .44 and .45... Percussion went from no. 11 caps, to musket caps, to number 209 shotgun shell primers. Speedloaders containing powder or new pelletized powders as well as sabotted bullets were encased in shell like containers. I used to joke that one day someone would have the bright idea of combining the powder and bullet into a brass case which had the primer already installed...and re-invent the modern firearm and declare it to be the most effective firearm!

[@gregkerr725]

6mm Remington was a great road that didn't get a lot of traction. I once hunted Caribou with a guy who was shooting a Sako rifle in 6mm Rem......A Caribou was taking off away from us at a slight quartering angle. Tom knelt and fired and the Caribou was down and never twitched by the time the recoil of the rifle had dissipated. Impressive.

[@kylemartin832]

Best part about the 6.5x55 is you can get it in guns made over 100 years ago. My Swedish mauser was made in 1900.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Good point!

[@lonniemerscham5013]

I have a 1900 mauser my grandfather brought it home from war, put a sporter barrel on it and made a gorgeous cherry stock for it in the 50s. Tons of euro ammo available or them too. Absolute killer

[@thehashslaingingslasher]

I have a cz 557 carbine in the 6.5x55 and its and awesome round. Can't go wrong with any of them.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Sounds like you've got a good set-up!

[@murffyslaw001]

6.5 Swede, hands down. I've owned Two '96 Swedes, currently own a '94 Carbine that was bubba-fied.

[@nunya7319]

Love my Swede. And I guarantee it will take an Alaska moose. But I did learn a lot more about all 3 of these cartridge's that I didn't know. Very informative. Thank you. Subscribed.

[@timothyoreilly6571]

Yo, just so you know, Scandinavian moose are quite a bit smaller than Alaskan.

[@georgewhitworth9742]

@@timothyoreilly6571 Not by a whole lot, so you can comfortably shoot either with any good normal moose cartridge

[@Artemis_x98]

@@timothyoreilly6571 On average sure but it's not a massive difference, definitely not enough to justify a different caliber cartridge

[@StumpkillerCP]

My whitetail/medium game and varmint hunting rifle is a long-throat (and magazine length) 1:8" twist .260 Rem chambered Savage M11 I can seat to 2.880" OAL. Four round and 10 round magazines as desired. Bought before the 6.5 Creedmoor was popular. I read a Reloader Magazine article by Ken Waters on his .263 Express in the 1950's - which was a then new .308 Win necked down to .263" for 130 to 160 gr bullets. He missed by 0.001" but was wize enough to use the 1:8" twist; showing he was more savvy than Remington and Jim Charmichael in regards to their 1997 snoozer release of the .260 Rem in 1:9" and 120 gr and, better, 140 gr bullets.. I'd have gone with a 6.5 x 55mm or, even better, a 6.5 x 57mm if I could find one. Have not seen a reason to slow down to a 6.5 Creedmoor for my whitetail needs.

[@markusljunggren6275]

I use 6.5×55 Swede. Born and live in sweden. Have shot moose vith 156 grain Norma oryx. No problem. With handload you can put out much more of it, in modern rifles,not far behind 6.5×284 Norma.

[@smokedbrisket3033]

are you shooting factory or handload, and if the latter, which powder are you using for the Oryx? I never seem to be able to get my hands on Norma in 6.5, though I did pick up a couple boxes of Woodleigh 160 gr and Lapua Mega 155 gr. I'm using H4350 for the Woodleighs, getting only about 725 m/s, but I can put 5 bullets in one ragged hole from 100m

[@toddjohnson271]

Amen to that....work on all kinds of big game.

[@peterlovett5841]

You overlooked another 6.5 with a historic and vaunted past; the 6.5 x 54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer. A cartridge that when loaded with the 160 gn round nose bullet accounted for hundreds of elephants in the early years of last century. I realise that the MS bullet was never popular in the USA although Hemingway wrote approvingly.

[@mackenziejones4890]

The 6.5 PRC is a lighting bolt I love it but I love the 260 Remington also

[@gsitzkowitz]

Seems like a great recommendation for the 6.5 PRC!

[@markhansen8078]

In todays world I think the 260 is the way to go. The reloading brass for 260 has more sources. Any case in the 308 family can be resized to load 260 rem. 243, 260 rem, 7mm=08, 308... I like to have options.

[@joegreen4089]

6.5 Creedmoor can be made from 308 brass as well.... The 6.5x57 not so much.

[@NorthRiverGuide]

​@@joegreen4089basically can make it out of any .473" case head brass longer than 6.5cm. I have some loads with brass that i dont care if i lose in the bush while hunting that have headstamps that say 270win, 30-06, 7.62x51, 243win, 280rem. Lots of available 6.5cm brass around if you think about it.

[@denjikoby]

Don't forget the 358 win and the 338 fed.

[@randyschaff8939]

For an old guy like me who knows what works best 6.5 Swede all the way! No brainer👍

[@thomassellers3813]

I believe this has been the best comparison between these three I’ve seen. I love the creed but honestly looking at these there’s not enough difference to fight over. Enjoyed the video very much.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Glad you like it!

[@av8rbri473]

outstanding comparison and I’ll keep my 260 rem

[@cottonkiller8081]

Absolutely love these videos was literally just considering the 6.5 Creedmoor versus the 260 I plan on hunting mule deer and perform pronghorn I think I will go with the 260 Remington

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Glad you enjoyed it! I think the 260 would make a great mule deer cartridge, but then again, so would the 6.5 Creedmoor...

[@falba1492]

Even though the 260 Remington has corrected its original twist rate to 1:8”, Just like the Creedmoor, it’s kind of losing the battle. You get a bit more velocity out of the 260, but the availability of components and rifles favors the Creedmoor. I would suggest you look at the ballistics of the 6.5 PRC, if you don’t already own 270 Win. If you look at the stats, it is literally one of the flattest shooting cartridges available.

[@tylarhaugan7908]

Using 127 barnes lrx will make that thing a laser beam

[@fabulousoffroaddesigns5080]

If I was building something today it would be a 260 A.I.

[@phild9813]

260 AI sounds great!!!

[@28thys]

Nice warthog tusks in the back ground Here in South Africa we make cheese sausage or cabernosie with it

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Thanks! I shot that warthog a looooonnnnng time ago!

[@mot0rhe4d40]

When I first discovered the 260 Rem. It was 20+/- years ago. It was the ammo I was seeing on shelves that got my attention and introduced me to it's existence. And that the ammo was going for $40-60+ a box. That's why I never considered a 260 for my collection.

[@corporalpunish6089]

My first deer rifle was in this caliber, and it is still my favorite. When I talked to people about this caliber, they think it is obscure and you will never find ammo. It has been quite the opposite during the ammo shortage. Since this is a European military caliber, you can find lots of S&B, Privi Partisan, and Norma ammo out there for

[@samuelpope7798]

Norma did a test around 2000 of moly vs non moly coated bullets. It was republished in the American Rifleman. Naturally they used 6.5x55 for test guns. They ran them out to 12000 rounds including scheduled cleaning. The moly made no difference in barrel life or velocity but it did reduce metal fouling and made cleaning easier. Both rifles had acceptable accuracy out to 10000 rounds probably due to excellent Swedish steel. Never trust a cartridge that wasn't used in a machine gun.

[@hardball107]

Good review. You just missed any mention of use on varmints. I have a 260 and my son has a 6.5CM and both loaded with 90gr Speer Tn'Ts really get the job done. My longest shot has been 450 yards on a woodchuck sunning himself on top of a mound. That's the greatest part of the 6.5's, 'chucks to Whitetails your right in their wheelhouse and the 260 or the CM do it with 40gr of powder more or less. If you're only going to own one rifle one of the 6.5 is a great choice.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

That's a very good point about predators/varmints. What load(s) do you like out of your 260 and 6.5 for deer sized game?

[@hardball107]

@@Thebiggamehuntingblog A long shot in our area is 200 yards so a premium 130gr bullet in either pushed by 42gr of Win 760 in the 6.5CM for a little over 2750fps and 44gr. of IMR 4350 in the 260 runs just under 2800. They perform very close to each other with the 260 running a touch faster and the Creedmoor shooting a touch tighter, almost ballistic twins. 39gr of RE15 also shoots bug holes at 2800fps in the 6.5CM.

[@donbenson5292]

I have a 6.5 cdmr and a 260 rem. The leade to the lands is longer in the 6.5 cdmr than the 260. Try shooting a light varmint bullet in a cdmr. My cdmr is going to be replaced with a 260 ai with a longer throat for heavy bullets and my 260 for bullets of 95 gr up to 123 gr eld's. Just my 2 pennies worth.

[@sbfteague]

Inherited a .260 Reminton. This video confirms I've been blessed. Sir, I appreciate your emphasis on shot placement as a primary factor. Rifle caliber secondary. All within reason of course. Thank you for making this fine video.

[@wesleyhobbs9]

Good video! I appreciate it:) just for my two cents, these are all nice calibers! I have the 260 and it’s fantastic !!! Deadly accurate and will do absolutely everything that the creedmore will do!!!! Just too pass knowledge along to anyone watching this video or reading my comment, my father has used a Sako 243 most of his life, he killed many Colorado elk, mule deer and a bear!!! Also many deer and elk in Oregon! May not be everyone’s first choice, but any rifle is capable of killing any of these animals. You do not have to have a super powerful rifle, that is simply a fallacy!!!

[@joegreen4089]

It will not stabilize the high BC bullets with the twist that Remington gave it when it came out. In a repeat of what they did with the 244 screw up the initial launch and reintroduce it as a 6.5 Remington and give it a 7.5 twist.

[@blackie1of4]

Great comparison! I'd love to listen to your non biased knowledge ☺️ Honestly... due to the traction the Creedmoor has gained... I can definitely see it overthrowing the 308 Winchester! Does this make the Creedmoor the be all do all? Absolutely not 😊 There's so many cartridges that could be lumped into one group. Now.. for a new shooter or hunter.. the Creed definitely has the most to offer. Me personally.. I still choose my 7mm-08 Remington. It just plain works! I hear some folks saying... I just have a 270 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield.. it ain't no Creedmoor :( These folks do not dive into information.. they mostly use/purchase what their father's/grandfather's/uncle's/cousins used. Honestly.. the 270, 30-06, and the 7mm-08 are more versatile in real world hunting applications. So.. I don't understand all the hype. Nor.. do I understand why those that buy into it think they've got a leg up on many other wonderful cartridges. Just has me scratching my head :)

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Thanks Mark!

[@ronbyers9912]

My go to deer rifle is the 6.5 x 55 (Swede). It has not caught on because there were a lot of old 6.5 Swede chambered military surplus rifles that couldn't handle the kind of loads found in modern rounds. Ammunition manufacturers loaded down for those weaker old military surplus rifles. Loaded for a modern rifle it is easily equal or superior to the .260 Remington and the 6.5 Creed. The only disadvantage is it requires a long action.

[@danietkissenle]

Is that extra 3/4 inch of pull really a disadvantage

[@lukemagro6060]

Great vid, thankyou. I have the swede in a 1896 mauser (modern stock and 6-24x40 scope) this rifle was made well over 100 years ago, still the original barrel. I love this gun. Bore isn't showing any aging issues at all. Im using 123g Hornadys and 2206h at 1/2 grain below maximum load getting beautiful repeatable results in aim and terminal outcome. I imagine the Australian government changing the rules again and finding a way to forcefully steal it from me before it is finished performing superbly as it always has. Good for anything in Australia except maybe scrub bulls, camel and buffalo. ( I'd use it anyway but not quickly recommended it for these.)

[@jeremypreston5009]

Dream rifle for me would have to be a left handed Sako in 6.5x55. Though given my budget the same thing in Tikka is probably more attainable lol

[@puccini4530]

I have the right handed Sako Classic 6.5x55. Utterly beautiful, and ruthlessly efficient. The ultimate all-round rifle in the world, still. Owned it for twenty years.

[@snapshotscorner5542]

Even as this video is a couple of years old, it is a good comparison between 6.5`s...! For me, loving the history of firearms it is the 6.5x55 Swede or rather the 6.5x55 Krag in my restored "Long Krag 1894". That said, I would love to have one of each!

[@cbsbass4142]

Yea, I remember all the hype over WSM cartridges, when they came out too. Never fell for it.

[@williamerlewein3983]

A truly is amazing what marketing can do. I bought a 96 Mauser back in about 1981 when some guys from work saw an ad in the paper for these clothes to pristine rifles for $40 a piece I bought one on the premise of sporterizing it figuring it was an inexpensive cheap toy to play around with and not be crushed if things went wrong. I wish I would have bought two of them and left one the way it came. Little did I realize the piece of firearms art that I had purchased. Although no one at camp had a clue what is 65555 was it's soon became the gun everybody wanted to borrow an absolute Whitetail Destroyer. I was using a Norma protected power cavity 139 grain. I think what that was was one of the first polymer tipped bullets. I have tried to research that bullet for years with no luck with no results but I will say it was the killing this bullet I've ever seen on whitetails . I must admit though I had the bolt bent drilled and tapped an Ephesian stock installed. I originally had the barrel cut 2 4 in . Years later me my hacksaw and my t-square recut the barrel to 20 in it was like carrying a model 94 Winchester in the woods yes could still Reach Out And Touch Somebody across the power line. I started hand loading because of the expense of the norm ammo I don't remember the formula because it's been awhile to illness . Never had a chronograph but never exceeded pressures and always no matter what I stuffed down the pipe it would shoot under an inch and still does . I have a box of superformance I have yet to try out and my health probably dictates I never will but if anybody has tried the ssts in a 96 Mauser I would appreciate reading about it thanks to all and God bless

[@joeltowle2737]

I miss Sierra's 160gr Semi pointed bullets! Luckily for me I still have 80 bullets in my shed and 80 loaded! Great video

[@toddjohnson271]

6.5x55 swede is pure awesome....flat, low recoil.....and powerful.

[@Gath8mm]

Outfreakingstanding!!! Semper Fi on your details, follow up, and follow through. The 6.5 is all hype. The .260 Remington should have been more. I have a Mauser 98k 1945 Large Ring receiver Turkish sporterized with a fixed 6x Zeiss. Loads are Lapua Brass, IMR 4350 powder, Speer 149 gr Gold Dot at 2,650fps. Screw with that?

[@barktwid7057]

I've owned 3 Sweeds. If you're careful and know what to look for you can load them much past max load data provided in reloading manuals. This is with modern actions, and there is a risk of course.

[@NorthRiverGuide]

Have taken coyotes, european boar, whitetail deer, black bear, and bison with 6.5 creedmoor 147 gr eld match. 4yds to 758yds. Pretty much splitting hairs with factory options with this comparison. Custom setups are where one starts to shine over the others, marginally. All 3 are handicapped by the loose nut behind the trigger.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Can you please tell me more about that bison you took with a 147gr ELD Match?

[@NorthRiverGuide]

@@Thebiggamehuntingblog i used to work for a slaughter plant where i would sometimes perform on farm slaughter when bison bulls turned aggressive. Shot a few with my 6.5cm setup. A bit much for headshots, just fine for chest shots although a bit messy on offside ribs when saving trophy skull was requested. Switched to mostly using 223/5.56 for them. They don't require much penetration to get to vitals, even the 5.56 load of 75gr bthp match caused quick death with a 1.5" hole through the heart. They basically hunch up, sort of squatting sidestep and go down.

[@garycrandall8649]

Another great video John. Thanks.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@laurentiusduplessis3761]

Thanks for great video … I got 6.5x55 here in South Africa have used it for most game like hogs up to kudu and even blue wildebeest, would love to here more about 25-06 some time

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm not surprised to hear that your 6.5x55 has done so well for you in South Africa. What load(s) have you had the most success with it on plains game? With regards to the 25-06, have you watched this video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/imSsfGV9fdFjgZI

[@laurentiusduplessis3761]

@@Thebiggamehuntingblog thanks no will have look at it , I have used 140gr S&B ammo out of my tikka the bullets all have complete pass through except one warthog that was head shot , maybe next time you would do 7x57 vs 280 vs 7 mm rem mag ..?!? Thanks

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

That's not fancy ammo, but it sounds like it sure works! Pretty fitting for the ol' 6.5x55! I do have a 7mm cartridge comparison coming up in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned!

[@mackenziejones4890]

It is awesome next to the 257 weatherby

[@denjikoby]

Just bought myself a. 260 Rem in a Tikka T3x light. After doing months of research and splitting hairs, I decided because I already have a 308 and a 358 win. So now I have 3 from the same parent cartridge which makes reloading easier if not cheaper in a number of ways. The. 243 and the 7mm-08 were also looked at very carefully but the ballistics of the 260 were better than both as per Ron Spomer. I would like to purchase both in the future as well as the amazing 338 fed if I could ever find a rifle chambered in that caliber. By the time I'm retired I would love to have a collection of all the rifles that come from the 308 family. For now I will use the 358 for anything out to 300 yards or anything bigger than mule deer and medium sized black bear. (we get black bear up to 7'2" in our area, I guided my ex-wife on to a record book black bear.) Anything past 300 or smaller than large black bear I can use the 260. My son will also love the 260 when he outgrows his 7.62x39 in a ruger ranch rifle. He will have to be old enough and skilled enough to shoot past 250 yards to use that advantage in caliber anyway. I figure at least 11 or 12 years old. In the mean time we both have wonderful calibers in wonderful rifles. My favorite deer rifle is still my 308 in a Thompson center icon but I just purchased the other two so I'm sure my mind will change. Whether it's about eating right up to the hole in the 358 or seeing my shot hit in the light recoiling 260 at distances of 300 to 500 yards. PS I also own a 300 win mag so anything very large and at a longer distance than the 358 can reliably hit will get the 300. But really, I haven't shot anything past 225 yards in my 29 years of hunting anyway. I guess I I have to hit the range and practice up my long shots now that the 260 can change my game. Good luck to all you making the same decision I had to make on what caliber is best for me. I truly thought the 6.5 cm was going to take this hands down and it was refreshing to see that out to 500 yards my new 260 is still king. Thank you for taking the time to read my carrying on writing.

[@rolandofuret2658]

Very nice video. It's good to have competition. They will produce more and better bullets. I use the 6,5x55 SE. If you load the Swedish with the hight presure levels as the Creedmoor, than can we have a really conversation about who's the best. But if you want a short action rifle the CM is on the money. It is also an improved version of the 6,5x55 SE, with factory brass and reloading dies.

[@arneandreasen6680]

I have a Remington 700 SPS in .260 Remington. I have used it on mule deer and pronghorn antelope. I handload with 130 grain Sierra Gamechanger. Works for me.😊

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Nothing wrong with that! Open country mule deer and pronghorn are an almost perfect use case for the 260 Rem!

[@samuelpope7798]

People that don't get the 6.5 don't appreciate how much fun it is to plink 80 rounds at a time into sub moa groups or phiscal 1 - 2 moa targets and be just as effective on the last shot as you were on the first due to pleasant recoil with a cartridge that is big game capable. And a legit 1000yd target capability. My first rifle was 6.5x55 in late 70s. Tried 7mm rem mag then switched back to 6.5. I now own three 6.5 Creedmoors . Two AR10s and a bolt action.

[@theoriginalOSOK]

My pick was and is the 6.5x55 Swede. I have an old 94 Swede Mauser that I bought badly sporterized that I rescued and transformed into a nice little hunting carbine. I also have a M38 (96 conversion with straight bolt - Carl Gustav). The 6.5x55 is all that is needed up to even elk or moose. The hunter only needs to place the shot well. The only advantage of the other two discussed here is the ability to fit into short action bolt guns. If you chamber the Swede in a modern bolt gun and load to the same pressures, it outclasses both by a small margin. But really that just isn't necessary to get optimal performance. IMHO

[@ronaldroehrick4872]

Using the same bullets handloading the Swede has the advantage in modern actions and has a longer action so you can seat your bullets out further.

[@kevinthorrington2131]

Steve Hornady is a marketing genius, a ballistic genius he’s not. The CM doesn’t do anything more than the 260 and 6.5 x 55. Remington did awful marketing on the 260 and chambered it in rifles in 18 inch barrels, reducing velocity.

[@michaeld9731]

I really liked this video comparison between the three cartridges--it was unbiased and objective (is that redundant?). I got involved in the 6.5 Swede in the mid-1980's and am heavily invested in reloading equipment and components for it. As a retiree on a limited budget it is unlikely I'll stray into .260 Rem or 6.5 Creed territory, but who knows!

[@stgraves260]

I have a 260 Rem and a 6.5 CM. No matter what I do to the CM I seem to get 250 ish FPS more from my 260 Remington than the 6.5 CM. The 260 has a 27” barrel and the 6.5 CM has a 26” barrel. So if you reload than I’d go 260 Remington all day. If you don’t reload then I’d go 6.5 CM. My 260 max COAL is 2.850 and still fits in the Mag. The max COAL in the 6.5 CM is 2.80. According to Berger, Hornady, Barnes, and Nosler reloading books. I can squeeze 2.820 out of my 6.5 CM but anything past that the bullet falls out of the brass.

[@thomassellers3813]

Well yeah you get more velocity out of it for good reason, powder capacity. The creed can utilize longer heavier bullets. Really in my opinion not enough different to matter either way.

[@jonathanmitchell3733]

My brother shot a kudu and a springbuck, with the 6.5 swede. Waiting for my 6.5 creedmoor.

[@NorthwoodsNomad]

I don’t own any 6.5’s ( yet ) but that’s why I’m here watching videos and researching my options. I would probably choose the .260 Remington as a deer hunting cartridge for its slight edge as discussed here . However, ammunition availability is pushing me towards the 6.5 CM . I have a Remington model 7 Predator chambered in .243 Winchester, it has a 1 in 9.125” twist that is an absolute tack driver using the Hornady 100 grain BTSP interlock bullets . It does the job on antelope and whitetail deer with ideal shot conditions/ bullet placement, but I would have a little more confidence in a 6.5 variant for not so ideal conditions to anchor a big bodied buck , say quartering towards me or something.

[@richardsqueeze]

The 6.5 swede has been around for 100 plus yrs. You don't have to worry about not finding it. It's also normally cheaper then 6.5 cm. Just an FYI. I'm sure you'll be happy with any of the 3 I have the swede and love it.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Not sure where you live or shop, but I'm seeing way more 6.5 Creedmoor ammo than 260 Remington or 6.5 Swede ammo basically everywhere I look that sells ammo.

[@NorthwoodsNomad]

@@Thebiggamehuntingblog I’m here in Northern Michigan… well I didn’t choose any of these three 6.5’s , however, I just picked up a Tikka T3x Hunter chambered in 7mm-08 😅 I do believe I made the right choice for all practical purposes as a well rounded hunting cartridge.

[@denjikoby]

Good thoughts!

[@timothygreen9884]

260 is a great hunting cartridge I shot 11 white tail and went ground hog hunting with 95 grain v max , very affective , I reload 125 grain partition for deer. 2875-125 gr 3150- 95gr.

[@cheesenoodles8316]

I only target shoot old milsurp...and my go to is 6.5 Swede, my introduction was WI deer hunters, but bigger game was common. The two ammo choices from my WI mentors, .243 Remington & .270 , I got a rifle in each. They are all old school and so far no 6.5 takers but nod approvingly of my Swedes.

[@TheRoly6555]

In Europe, the 6.5x55SE has evolved in modern rifles and the modern 6.5x55SE uses 6.5x55SKAN data that makes it have better balistic performance than the other two cartriges. However to get the best front this cartrige you have to hand load.

[@outinthesticks1035]

Might be that hunters have not picked up on 6.5 projectiles, bit hard to understand the two forty threes and twenty fives are popular on one side and two seventy on the other

[@viktormogilin307]

G'day from Aus., getting to the chase, marketing has a lot to do with it, the wheel isn't broken, you can't reinvent something that already exists, 40 yrs ago I got scoffed for having a 6.5, now it's all the rage, great allround bore size, especially if one handloads & I like to keep the pressures down, now comparing the cartridge ballistics with same barrel length, rifle twist, same powder, same pressures & same projectiles, a scientific fact that a larger powder column will have advantage over less, then you start tweeking everything & there are many variables, ethical hunting ranges knowing your trajectory makes little difference to the animal/target in question, longer ranges is where you start crunching numbers & this is where people get nerded out, if you have one or the other they'll all do the job, enjoy the content, Aussie Vet 🍻👍 I commented before watching the whole vid, If one is sensitive to recoil, takeup archery 😂, knowing the 308 Win (7.62mm x 51) the 300 Win mag is good if you don't have to lug it far/open country, we're all getting older, just the fresh air, smell of powder in the air, a day at the range, catching up with friends makes it all worthwhile 🍻

[@MickDud]

Myself and 2 friends have one each. I have the 6.5x55 Swede. We all reload and have tikkas. We've found the 260 has the best performance but only just in front of my Swede, the Creedmore is (frustratingly for my friend) behind the other two.

[@garyh1449]

I'm guessing that in a modern firearm the Swede can out do them all. The 55000 psi has more to do with the firearms that it may be fired in rather than the cartridge itself. Like the 45-70 loaded down because it may be fired in a trap door firearm. With a 1895 Marlin, it's a whole different story.

[@ricardo3760]

You're right, it's because the Krag and the swedish mauser couldn't handle too hot loads

[@smokedbrisket3033]

@@ricardo3760 the small ring Mausers can handle the pressure fine, it was only the Krag Jorgensons where there are potential pressure issues.

[@greybone777]

Well the 260 is the only one you can make brass for by just running common 308 brass through the die.

[@dougwood6186]

Ive use the swede only with great success and taken Red deer and Sika deer . Had instant kills every time . I enjoyed video and because i hand load and use modern rifle i believe chamber pressures can match those of the Remington 260 and Creedmore Which would put the swede ahead marginally . The original mauser actions weren’t as strong so factory ammo has been developed to be safe in all good condition rifles. Having said all that maximum velocity isn’t necessary maximum accuracy . Ive never used a Remington or a creedmore but i love the Swede 6.5 x 55 and my 685 Tikka could group sub moa at 200 yards . A real tac driver and with norma 139grain semi pointed soft points hand loaded with 2209 powder i have many times recover the spent bullet beautifully mushroomed just under skin on far side of entry . On weighing the remaining projectile found it to be 87% of its original weight . This is on a broad side shot just behind the shoulder in line with the base of the brisket taking out the lungs .

[@andersbjuremo8441]

Just a little uppdate .1 Of august 23 the Swedish laws changed so that we can now use the 6.5-55 Swedish with leadfree bullets down to 7.7 grams on big game (deere and up). Before that the 10.1 grams with lead were the most common on big game.

[@audunaa1494]

I use for hunting the Hornady Superformance with 140 grain SST bullet in my 6,5x55, very happy with numbers and precition. Sadly not so easy to get by all the time in Norway

[@Bj-vi3tq]

I've been shooting a 260 since 1997. My hunting partners shoot creedmores. Using 140gr gamekings or 130gr gamechangers, we see no difference on game. Both kill way better than you would expect. From 0-360 yards, they're devastating on whitetails.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

😎

[@falba1492]

Been using 140 grain Partition hand loads at 2,680 ft/sec with my Bergara Approach 6.5 CM. Most shots are under 200 yards, shoulder shots so they don’t run off. Minimum 1800 foot pounds of energy, so it’s very effective. Eventually I’m going to try a Barnes 127 gr. LRX, to reduce the lead in my pig roasts 🐖 lol.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

That's a darn good load you have for your 6.5 Creedmoor with the Partition! Is that Nosler factory ammo? Or a handload? That Barnes 127gr LRX is also a darn good choice that will probably serve you well!

[@falba1492]

@@Thebiggamehuntingblog - It’s a handload using H4350. I don’t buy much factory ammo. Just for plinking

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Fair enough. That's a darn effective load for hunting all sorts of stuff!

[@gregkerr725]

A couple of stories. Once a guy came into the shop with a cased rifle and asked if I did trades. I said I did. He then unzipped the case and it contained a like new Rem 700 in 30.06 I examined the rifle and asked him what if anything was wrong with it. He proceeded to tell me it wouldn't kill a deer as he had shot one five times in the heart and it didn't kill the deer. We traded and he upgraded to a 338 win mag model 70 Winchester. Another time at deer camp a disappointed fellow hunter returned to camp and told how he had missed a deer at only 40yds and couldn't understand it. I asked what happened. He said he was in his climbing stand on flat ground looking up towards a long low ridge in a clearcut. A buck came walking along halfway up the ridge. He fired his Browning BBR in 7mm Rem mag when the buck was broadside to him. He said he fired and the buck showing no signs of a hit, turned and ran up over the ridge out of sight. I asked if he'd gone to look for it. He said he hadn't because if he'd of hit it, that it would have gone down. He then said his scope must be off and we went to check sight it and he shot center target. I then asked if he was sure he had a good sight picture, no obstructions in the path of the bullet, and was steady and didn't pull the shot. He said yes to all of that. I said..."come on, let's go get your buck:. It was about thirty yards downslope on the other side of the ridge. A young six pointer. He'd bought that 7mm after being told it would "put the deer down".

[@Theloss52]

This is exactly the question I've been trying to figure out. Great video .. Comparably you can get over 3000fps out of a 308 with a 125gr bullet and a shorter barrel.

[@randybyers4885]

I remember way back in thr 1950’s when Cumberland County opened the first deer season’ k was about 10 years old when l saw the fiirst German Mauser 6.5, it was rough in the deers, l saw my first dead deer that was took with the 6.5, a fast bullet

[@hafsalinda]

If you want a long bc. Light bullet try barnes solid copper x. Totally destructive and accurate.

[@jefferytillis8309]

In some parts the Creedmor is getting a bad reputation for loosing deer. I suspect it is because too many people are using bullets intended for target shooting and not hunting. The other two have fewer target loads , or for that matter any loads, and tend to be loaded with proper hunting projectiles more often. People need to pay attention to what the load is designed for. Thin jacket target bullets are not ideal hunting bullets. And the 260 Remington also had to battle its sister the 7mm-08. Also a fine hunting cartridge with about the same characteristics.

[@craigsaunders7037]

I have a Sako 6.5x55. I use Ar2209 made in Oz by ADI (Australian Defence Industries), the American equivalent of H4350, also made in Oz and renamed by Hodgen for the American market. After a lot of research and testing I am 3-4 grains over ADI load data, the published load data is very low because of weak ex-military rifles. My go to load is a 143 gr Eld-x at 2860 fps. There is no shortage of chamber room because of the long action. Pigs are not impressed. If you compare case capacities with the 6.5x55 having 4.5 gr more than the 260, in a modern rifle built to the same strength as other modern rifles, a 3-4 gr extra powder charge is not a big deal.

[@Geir-ChristianGullholm]

The 6.5 *55 is the smalest legal cartrage for moose here in norway.They just updated the law for copper bullets.(120gr 2200J @ 100m) Tikka Sako and Blaser chaber for it.I just got a Tikka T3X. Its like our 308. you will find ammo all over here.Go to VV homepage and see 65.55 SCAN and you will get loaddata for modern actions. Svar

[@MrKen-longrangegrdhogeliminato]

I perfer the 6.5x55 se swedish! How BOUT DOING A REVEIW on the 6.5-06 cartridge , is it good for Elk and moose? White Tail Deer I took with the 6.5x55 Swedish, dropped the deer on the spot. Excellent video, thankyou.

[@falsekings-p9z]

Very professional video .Thanks ...

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Glad you liked it!

[@hafsalinda]

P.o. Ackley says the 7×57 case is the max capacity to efficiently use with 6.5 bullet diameter. I believe him.

[@Nathan-zw7nq]

The thing with 6.5 Swede is that the max chamber pressure from SAAMI really only applies to the old rifles that were chambered in it from 100+ years ago. The steels they used in the barrels and actions was a lot weaker than modern rifles. If you have a modern Tikka or Sako rifle chambered in 6.5 Swede, (or better yet, a Weatherby Mark V rebarreled to 6.5 Swede as it is an insanely strong action) then you can push that cartridge much harder when hand loading and get better performance than 6.5 creedmoor or 260 Remington. The brass can take it, especially Norma and Lapua brass. It really is an excellent cartridge if you’re a handloader.

[@johanmetreus1268]

The Swedish Mausers have absolutely NO problems with the CIP-pressures, and the steel quality was lot better than the K98Kar's. If you really want to push limits, the 6.5 SKAN is what you are looking for.

[@randywelsh2692]

It was a "very" long time before modern rifles had steel available that was the equal of Swedish steel.

[@Nathan-zw7nq]

@@johanmetreus1268isn’t the 6.5 SKAN the same cartridge just meant for higher chamber pressures?

[@oddmunddale806]

The 6,5 Creedmoor has made the 6,5x55 a lot better. European-made hunting rifles in 6,5x55 was made with to slack rifling twist. For many years. Now we can get 6,5x55 rifles with 1:8 twist. Minus Blaser rifles. I guess Blaser has a deal with Hornady to promote Hornady-made calibers?

[@NW_Ranger]

The bottom line is if a person uses a modern rifle (not a vintage rifle) and the ammunition is hand loaded or a person is using European factory ammunition the 6.5x55 Swede cartridge is the superior of the three. The factory ammunition and the reloading data available in the USA is on the weak side of performance. This is due to the fear that people will try to use high pressure and performance ammunition in the vintage military surplus/sporterized rifles and potentially causing catastrophic damage to the rifles and the people. Remember in a modern rifle the 6.5x55 Swede is safe with same pressures as the other two cartridges. As for cartridge case length and action length I personally do not care and consider that issue to be obsessive semantics. The very same crowd will see no problems with the relatively long actions of the currently popular auto-loading center fire rifles.

[@brentigo]

Great video. Not much in it like you say between the three. love my Tikka supperlite 6.5 creedmoor. Shot lots of red deer at 70m to 320 metres 140g gamehead and 130g pro sako ammo. Nothing has walked more than 20 meters after being shot. Looking at some Tahr hunting soon here in New Zealand. I think the creedmoor will do great.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Glad you enjoyed the video! I'm not personally familiar with Pro Sako ammo. What bullet does it use?

[@brentigo]

@@Thebiggamehuntingblog the Sako 130g gamehead pro uses sierra tipped gamechanger and in the 140g gamehead a splitzer soft point nose bullet but im not sure if its by sierra. Great ammo and the best priced here in New Zealand.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Very interesting. Do those bullets typically exit red deer?

[@brentigo]

@@Thebiggamehuntingblog Haven't had one go right through yet.

[@adamhymas4620]

Be careful handling the 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, it kills everything it touches.

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

Good point! I'm lucky to still be alive! :)

[@TheDespairbear]

The 6.5CM will also field dress any game in N. America on hitting. And will drive you home after the hunt.

[@titomish5914]

Noooo… it doesn’t kill deer remember?? 243, 22-250, 222 are way better options, it’s all hype remember? It’s ONLY for long range shooting, nothing should be hunted with it, please don’t shoot at rabbits with it because they will run off with no blood trail whatsoever and you’ll never find it

[@jjjjns]

Superb marketing job by Hornady to revive the 6.5 in the USA. At the same time making it one of the most popular cartridges

[@Thebiggamehuntingblog]

100%!

[@timnavarrette3274]

6.5 Swedish,for me!!!

[@aaroncalgary]

I can get a good bored 7 1/2 twist 6.5-Swede Mauser with A Timney trigger for 500$. The others I cant.

[@wesleyhobbs9]

Sako makes rifles in all 3 calibers