K95

[Big ears]

Ok so I need some help. I have been bitten by the K95 bug. I already shoot a R8 in 6.5x55 and homeload.
This will be my main stalking rifle and ideally would like it to be unmoderated. I shout mainly woodland roe deer with the odd fallow and rarely red deer. I have no plans for Africa but maybe Montana for elk at some point.
As this is a light rifle I don’t want it to be a beast to shoot from the point if recoil. I know there is a kick stop but again weight is the name of the game and if I can get away without then we’ll and good.
My original plan was to get a 6.5x55 but my mind has been muddled with the thought of a 7x57R or the 7x65R.
So here are my questions. How much more recoil in such a light rifle is the 7x57R over the 6.5x55 with a 140gr bullet? How wild is the 7x65R? Is this 270win level. From a practical point of view what do I gain over the 6.5 by going 7mm

Thanks for your help.

BE

[Blasernovice]

I've got a K95 in 7x65R. I shot 162gr projectiles at 2750fps. There is certainly recoil, but it is not objectionable. Hard to put a comparison on what it is like. I was tossing up between the calibres you mentioned and went with the 7x65R because most of my hunting is alpine tops. My last few deer have been shot at 360 and 390yds.

[mchughcb]

Well everyone is different when it comes to recoil. Any reason you want a 7mm? I personally would also look at a 308 win.

[Big ears]

Been there with 308, great calibre but doesn’t float my boat. I am comfortable with the 6.5x55 but like the idea of a 275 Rigby.
The 7x65R was a potential as it opened the chance of heavy bullets and large game. It could also be loaded down to 7x57 levels. Do you have a kick stop in your K95?

[mchughcb]

No kickstop and I have a stutzen in 30-06. I have a 7x57R in the BBF97 and the 7x65R in the Sauer 3000 drilling which don't kick nearly as much. I use 175gr interlocks and they seem to kill okay. I use the same powder and projectiles in both an there is only a few grains difference. While it is optimal for the 7x57R it is well down on the velocity for the 7x65R but I can't be bothered buying different powder for it. They are great rounds and extract easily.

[Blasernovice]

The 7x65R and I assume 7x57R cases will just slide out if you lift the barrel. Makes for very easy extraction, but a real pain when shooting up hill and havin to reload.

[secondtry]

The 7x65R and I assume 7x57R cases will just slide out if you lift the barrel. Makes for very easy extraction, but a real pain when shooting up hill and havin to reload.

Your hills are steeper than his

In moderate cartridges, at similar velocities and with similar projectiles, 7mm will hit harder than 6.5, with shorter flight distances. Whether or not you need that is another question.

The rim/rimless discussion will never end, but as someone who has both in a K95, the rimmed is unarguably much easier to remove, particularly with gloves on.

The 7x57R is a nice classic round. The 7x65R is much easier to extract horsepower from than the x57. The 7x65 matches or exceeds 270 power levels at the same pressure, but I wouldn't call it "wild".
I have two loads for the 7x65 - 160gn Partition at a bit over 2800, and 156 Oryx at 2650. The 160 load is snappy to some, a pussy cat to others. The 156 load is a pussy cat to everyone. Both are MOA capable with the edge going to the hotter load

The 156 load is about what I would expect from a 7x57R in a K95.

I forgot to add that I would expect the7x57R to be easier on the ears than the other two, particularly than a 7x65R loaded to full potential. Unmuffled, ear protection would be good with any of the three.

I also assumed that you would be choosing the 60cm barrel, not the 52cm.
There is a greater number and range of factory loads for x65 than for x57. x65 is overtaking x57 in popularity, although I can't see x57 ever dying.

Lapua brass is available for 7x65R

If you were going to only ever download the 7x65R, I would lean toward the 7x57R.

[MM]

I have 22Hornet,222,30-06,300Wby mag( it has a muzzle break) 9.3x74r, and 350 legend. They kick when shooting off the bench but I have yet to be bothered by the recoil when shooting game. The heavy kickers are hard to shoot off the bench, you really have to hold on to them.

[stokesrj]

I have never been able to tell any difference in flight distance between my 6.5X55 and similar 264 cartridges and 270, 280 and 30-06. Noticed much more difference due to bullet construction and shot placement than which caliber was used. I think the 6.5X55 or 6.5 Creedmoor is optimal for the standard barrel length K95. I sold mine and moved to the 308 in my Stutzen because the 308 performs better when using a short barrel. But again I’ve shot a pile of game with the 308 and see it as no better than the 6.5X55 on game. Most of my hunting friends shoot 7mm Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag out here in the west where shots tend to be long. But again shot placement and bullet construction trump caliber. Most of my buddies using the Magnums use hard bullets and therefore get slow kills at longer ranges. They are all surprised at how quick of kills I get at long range using highly frangible bullets.
The 7X57R was another caliber I strongly considered for my stutzen build it is very mild, similar to the 6.5X55 but also looses more velocity than the 308 when used from a short barrel and Brass is hard to find in the US.

[Morgs]

Hi Big Ears. I shoot K95s in 6.5x55 and 6.5x65R RWS. The latter sounds like it might tick your boxes. Plenty of oompf but kind on the shoulder. I’m up in Yorkshire and you’re more than welcome to come up from Cornwall and try both out if you fancy.

[Big ears]

Thanks Morgs,

I have friends up there so may plan a visit. Do you feel underpinned with the 6.5x55?

[Morgs]

Is ‘underpinned’ an autocorrect for ‘undergunned’? If so, I’ve never really felt undergunned with my 6.5x55. Velocity is a bit lower due to the 20” barrel, but I’ve never really chased speed. My staple for woodland roe is a 160gr RN which comes out at around 2450fps. The 6.5x65R is my rifle for Scotland. Let me know if you’re passing (though I’m away with work for 9 months from Nov).

[secondtry]

If Big ears is keen on 6.5, he could do worse than consider the 6.5 x 57R.

6.5x55 ballistics with the benefits of a rim . Brass and ammo should available in the UK. Less blast and noise than with the 6.5x65.

I'd still recommend a 60cm barrel with either of the 6.5s

[SPEEDY]

I love the swede but for a break action in my mind it's rimmed or nothing.
If factory ammunition is a problem then the swede is a great round that punches well above its weight while only giving you a mild tap in return.

[Big ears]

Thanks again guys

Don’t know about either of the 6.5x57R or the 6.5x65R cartridges so will have to do some more homework. I presume new brass and dies are needed?

Does anyone know the twist in the standard 60cm barrel for the 6.5 in the K95 struggling to find out from the net.


BE