New Ruger African 6.5x55 from Lipsey's

[sestoppelman]

Figure we may as well start a dedicated thread to these rifles. If already done, well, I guess we'll have two! Anyway I just snagged one off of Gunbroker for the best price I could find, they are popping up on the auctions sites now. Been hankering for a No.1 K1A in this cal, ever since I sold the one I had to a range buddy that refuses to sell it back to me, even at a profit!! Some range buddy right? Oh well, almost bid on one on GB but it went for more than I wanted and this rifle will make a great alternative for a lot less loot. Will post pics and reports when I get it, probably close to two weeks.

 

[PaulT]

What's old..... is new again......

I think it's neat that a company like Lipseys is commissioning these rifles in these "older" traditional calibers.

The 6.5x55 is an extremely useful and effective cartridge for deer, pigs, goat or sheep hunting and a variety of other uses.
Mild, relatively no fuss no bother and not burn your barrel out by the time you have it sighted in and loads regulated.

The people at Lipseys appear quite intuitive to what hunters/shooters want.

Both the 6.5 and the 7mm released earlier should see growth in the asking price. Limited release put paid to that !!!

TRY hang on to this one Ses, pleeease

 

[tedthorn]

I have a Lipsey's 9.3x62 Ruger African

It's a very nice rifle

 

[sestoppelman]

What's old..... is new again......

I think it's neat that a company like Lipseys is commissioning these rifles in these "older" traditional calibers.

The 6.5x55 is an extremely useful and effective cartridge for deer, pigs, goat or sheep hunting and a variety of other uses.
Mild, relatively no fuss no bother and not burn your barrel out by the time you have it sighted in and loads regulated.

The people at Lipseys appear quite intuitive to what hunters/shooters want.

Both the 6.5 and the 7mm released earlier should see growth in the asking price. Limited release put paid to that !!!

TRY hang on to this one Ses, pleeease

The .275 version has disappeared and the last one I saw recently, sold on Gunbroker for over $2000 US. Now whether the 6.5 will do as well that quickly is anyone's guess but as you say its a fine cartridge and the few I have owned have all been good shooters. It was a favorite round of my dads. I did manage to snag one of the No. 1's in .275 Rigby though and its not going anywhere, great shooter.

 

[sestoppelman]

I have a Lipsey's 9.3x62 Ruger African

It's a very nice rifle

I had one once as well, unfortunately it had ignition issues that even a trip back to Ruger didn't entirely fix so I sold it.

 

[ChrisG]

I have an older M77 MarkII in 6.5x55 and once it was free floated and glass bedded, it will drop round after round into almost the same hole. I have to hand it to Ruger. I think, for the most part, they have done the most of all the American gun manufacturers to contribute to keeping these wonderful old cartridges alive! Ruger was visionary. In the heyday of bolt action rifles, Bill Ruger comes out with a Farqhuarson-esque single shot that has been a massive success. When it was nearly dead, they come out with a .416 Rigby production rifle that almost anyone can afford, and they are all made in America!

It is too bad that their quality control has slipped so much in recent years. My Mark II is beautiful, polished inside and out and the bluing on the action matches the barrel (not a given since the action is investment cast and the barrel is hammer forged). In contrast, my Hawkeye African is pretty rough. The underside of the bolt is unpolished, and the mag well was collapsed slightly on one side, making it too narrow for the fat .416 shells. This caused it to pop a round out of the mag and onto the ground if the bolt was cycled hard. I just wish they could straighten things out because they still make some of my favorite models. Their American rifles are nothing to sneeze at either. I own two of them and they just work!

 

[ChrisG]

What's old..... is new again......

I think it's neat that a company like Lipseys is commissioning these rifles in these "older" traditional calibers.

The 6.5x55 is an extremely useful and effective cartridge for deer, pigs, goat or sheep hunting and a variety of other uses.
Mild, relatively no fuss no bother and not burn your barrel out by the time you have it sighted in and loads regulated.

The people at Lipseys appear quite intuitive to what hunters/shooters want.

Both the 6.5 and the 7mm released earlier should see growth in the asking price. Limited release put paid to that !!!

TRY hang on to this one Ses, pleeease

don't forget black bears! It is one of my favorite black bear calibers!

 

[CAustin]

Figure we may as well start a dedicated thread to these rifles. If already done, well, I guess we'll have two! Anyway I just snagged one off of Gunbroker for the best price I could find, they are popping up on the auctions sites now. Been hankering for a No.1 K1A in this cal, ever since I sold the one I had to a range buddy that refuses to sell it back to me, even at a profit!! Some range buddy right? Oh well, almost bid on one on GB but it went for more than I wanted and this rifle will make a great alternative for a lot less loot. Will post pics and reports when I get it, probably close to two weeks.

I love #1s. Have three of them 300 win mag, 375 H&H, 458 Lott. I am eyeing the 3-30 in satin stainless and walnut for my grandson who is 14 months old. Planning going on putting it in the safe until he is old enough!

 

[Sand Rat]

Picked mine up this morning, the trigger sure feels good! Should have the scope on by the weekend and to the range by Sunday morning.

 

[sestoppelman]

Now that's what I'm talking about right there! Nice looking rifle! Look forward to a report. Should have mine late next week.

 

[cpr0312]

That's a nice looking rifle!

 

[LivingTheDream]

Damn that looks good! Nice pick up. I heard a rumour one might come out in 300 H&H, if that is the case I will have to buy that one.

 

[CAustin]

Great looking rifle.

 

[CTDolan]

The .275 version has disappeared and the last one I saw recently, sold on Gunbroker for over $2000 US. Now whether the 6.5 will do as well that quickly is anyone's guess but as you say its a fine cartridge and the few I have owned have all been good shooters. It was a favorite round of my dads. I did manage to snag one of the No. 1's in .275 Rigby though and its not going anywhere, great shooter.

I’m guessing that the 6.5 will do better. It’s a hot bore diameter at the moment and the 6.5x55 has long had an ardent following (and for good reason).

 

[Sand Rat]

Mounted a Leupold VX 2 3-9 x 40 with # 4 German recticle and went to the range. Weather was windy as heck and this was my first time using a #4 which pretty much covers the target diamond. Ammo was Lapua factory 139 gr Scenar. Overall I thought she shot pretty good considering I have'nt touched the trigger and with the wind blowing as hard as it was. Picks of two five shot groups at 100 yards. I'd say she's a keeper. Plan to adjust the trigger and load some 140 gr Accubonds for the next trip out.

 

[sestoppelman]

That shows great potential, a little break in and load development and its probably an MOA rifle. Sweet

 

[nztimb]

Definately have something to work from with that one.

 

[sestoppelman]

Unless UPS screws up I should have mine tomorrow.

 

[ChrisG]

Mounted a Leupold VX 2 3-9 x 40 with # 4 German recticle and went to the range. Weather was windy as heck and this was my first time using a #4 which pretty much covers the target diamond. Ammo was Lapua factory 139 gr Scenar. Overall I thought she shot pretty good considering I have'nt touched the trigger and with the wind blowing as hard as it was. Picks of two five shot groups at 100 yards. I'd say she's a keeper. Plan to adjust the trigger and load some 140 gr Accubonds for the next trip out.
View attachment 221284 View attachment 221285

Glass bed that thing and I bet it would all be one ragged hole. Due to Ruger's angled recoil lug design, every ruger I have ever owned has had its accuracy dramatically improved by:

Free floating the barrel
Glass bedding the recoil lug (I use JB weld as it is tough as nails.)
Glass bedding just under the tang.

That's all I have ever done and It took a 6.5x55 M77 MarkII from a 2" rifle to a 1/2" rifle.

 

[cpr0312]

Mounted a Leupold VX 2 3-9 x 40 with # 4 German recticle and went to the range. Weather was windy as heck and this was my first time using a #4 which pretty much covers the target diamond. Ammo was Lapua factory 139 gr Scenar. Overall I thought she shot pretty good considering I have'nt touched the trigger and with the wind blowing as hard as it was. Picks of two five shot groups at 100 yards. I'd say she's a keeper. Plan to adjust the trigger and load some 140 gr Accubonds for the next trip out.
View attachment 221284 View attachment 221285

Certainly a promising start!!