Thread: Sabatti 6.5x55SE

I am considering buying a new Sabatti in 6.5x55 Swedish. The price is okay and the rifling with curves instead of angles on the grooves and lands sounds and looks good. The makers claim more velocity, less copper fouling and longer barrel life. Can anyone comment on those claims and accuracy, quality of manufacture, etc?

I like the look of them...keep trying to buy one but a good 2nd hand deal on something else comes up instead

I had one in that caliber earlier this year, maybe it was the earlier model. Beautiful workmanship. Shot well but the whip thin barrel meant you had to get your first bullet on target because it would begin to wander immediately. Zeroing was a nightmare. If you go looking for a rail you'll need to find a Euro or UK website. I used Allan Rhone to get a Recknagle rail from memory. I sold it in the end because 1) it was so bloody lovely in finish I never wanted to get it beaten up so avoided using it and 2) I wanted to reload and the barrel wander was going to be a real problem in confidently accruing a series of accurate shots.

You can see all about the rifle here....

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....-43790/http://

Hi Enjay... I have an STR in 6.5 Creedmoor... The str is a heavier gun with a 26" barrel with the MRR rifling. I am getting some pretty good results with the ELD 147 gn. I do not know if I would claim the 10% speed gain but I was getting .2 to .3mils better than the Hornady predictions suggested at long range, if that is of any value to you. I am new to longer range shooting but on my first outing I was getting on steel out to 1020m. I usually shoot out to 200m at a local range and when I am on form I can get 30mm groups at 200m.... I do not want to discuss the days I am not on form.

The one bit of advice is give the Barrel a real good clean before shooting the first time... Sabatti have a real detailed break in procedure, but I think it is more aimed and making you give it a good clean out first, I was surprise how much gunk was in there. One thing I have found , in Creedmoor anyway...with the MRR, the jump is much longer than I expected, and I have just arranged for a steel mag so I can load a longer COAL.

Criticisms?... the bolt was a little sticky at first.. a light smear of grease helped...and I have heard that some have had problems loading the AI style polymer mag to full capacity as it swells and becomes hard to insert, I have not experienced this... And removing the bolt often flicks the safety on... not a biggie.

They are not a common gun, do not expect a ton of support from the dealer, I was after a couple of parts, and contacted both the NZ importer and Sabatti direct, both went un-replied... that said, I am happy with mine.

Thanks for that detail, LBD. It is helpful. I take it that you have not had the same experience as YostemiteSam. His issue sounds like a bedding problem.