The 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser is a powerful and versatile cartridge that has been used for hunting and target shooting for over a century. Although it has a reputation for accuracy, reliability, and flat trajectory, pairing it with the best scope for 6.5 x55 Swedish Mauser improves the shooting experience and makes it reliable for a wide range of shooting applications.
A good quality scope helps to deliver crisp, clear images and precise aiming. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best scope options available for cartridges, and explore the features and benefits of each to help you make an informed decision for your shooting needs.
What Makes a Good Scope for 6.5 x55 Swedish Mauser?
A good scope for the 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser should be designed to handle the high velocity and long-range capabilities of this cartridge, while also providing clear and precise targeting. Here are some key features to look for in a scope that is ideal for use with the 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser:
Magnification
A good scope for this cartridge should have a magnification range of at least 4-12x to provide optimal long-range accuracy.
Objective Lens Size
The objective lens size should be sufficient to gather enough light to provide a clear image, typically between 40mm and 50mm.
Reticle
A reticle that offers precise aiming points, such as a Mil-Dot or BDC reticle, can be very useful for long-range shooting.
Durability
A scope that is built to withstand the recoil of the 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser and other environmental factors such as water, fog, and dust is important.
Turrets
The turrets should be easy to adjust and have crisp, audible clicks to ensure precise adjustments.
Eye Relief
The scope should offer ample eye relief to prevent injury from recoil, typically around 3-4 inches.
Best Scope for 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser -Our Top Picks
1) Vortex Venom 5-25x56mm Rifle Scope
The Vortex Venom 5-25x56mm 34mm Rifle Scope is the best Scope for 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser, it features a large 56mm objective lens, providing exceptional light transmission and clarity, for optimal target acquisition even in low light conditions.
The scope has a first focal plane reticle which scales with magnification, meaning that the sight picture and reticle subtensions remain accurate across the entire magnification range. This feature is especially useful for shooters who need to make precise holdovers or ranging estimations at various distances.
The scope also features Vortex’s proprietary XR Plus fully multi-coated lens system, which gives high-quality images with excellent color fidelity and resolution. It has a 34mm tube which is machined from aircraft-grade aluminum for increased strength and rigidity.
The elevation and windage adjustments are made using a tactile and audible system, allowing for quick and easy adjustments while shooting. The scope also features a zero-stop elevation turret, allowing for a quick return to zero after making adjustments.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
- Tube Diameter: 34 mm
- Exit Pupil: 2.24 – 11.2 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 4.71 – 21.21 ft. at 100 yds.
- Eye Relief: 3.6 inches
- Weight: 35 oz.
- Parallax: 15 yds. to infinity
Pros
- Great optical and lens system
- Durable construction
- Easily adjustable for use
- Comes with Vortex’s VIP lifetime warranty
Cons
- Non-Illuminated
2) Leupold Mark 5HD 7-35x56mm Rifle Scope
The Leupold Mark 5HD 7-35x56mm Rifle Scope is a high-end long-range shooting scope. It features a 56mm objective lens and a 7-35x zoom range, allowing for a wide field of view and exceptional clarity at extended distances.
The scope is made of rugged, lightweight aluminum housing that is both waterproof and fog proof, making it suitable for use in any weather conditions.
It also has a number of advanced features, including a high-speed throw lever for quick magnification changes, a versatile zero lock elevation dial, and a side focus parallax adjustment for enhanced accuracy at any distance.
The scope’s Twilight Max HD Light Management System ensures bright, clear images even in low-light conditions.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
- Tube Diameter: 35 mm
- Exit Pupil: 1.6 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 14.7 – 3 ft. at 100 yds.
- Eye Relief: 3.6 – 3.8 inches
- Weight: 33 oz.
- Parallax: Side Focus
Pros
- Exceptional optical clarity
- Wide magnification range
- Robust and durable construction
- Weatherproof and shockproof
- Ultra-lightweight construction for an FFP construction
Cons
- Quite expensive
3) Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50mm Rifle Scope
The Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50mm Scope is specifically made for long-range shooting, with a 50mm objective lens, a 30mm tube diameter, and a variable magnification range of 6-24x.
The scope is built to withstand heavy recoil and harsh weather conditions, with rugged, aircraft-grade aluminum housing that is both shockproof and waterproof. It has fully multi-coated lenses with anti-reflective coatings for optimal light transmission and clarity, even in low-light conditions.
The scope’s first focal plane reticle ensures accurate holdovers at any magnification level, and the precision-glide erector system ensures smooth magnification changes even in the harshest conditions.
The scope also features exposed tactical turrets with easy-to-read markings for quick and precise adjustments, and a side focus knob allows for parallax adjustment. The reticle is an EBR-2C MOA reticle, which features hashmark in MOA for windage and elevation holdovers.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50 mm
- Tube Diameter: 30 mm
- Exit Pupil: 2.08 – 8.33 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 4.5 – 18 ft. at 100 yds.
- Eye Relief: 3.9 inches
- Weight: 24.6 oz.
- Parallax: 10 yds. to infinity
Pros
- Rugged, aircraft-grade aluminum housing
- Shockproof and waterproof
- Fully multi-coated lens offers bright images even in low-light conditions
- The side focus knob allows for easy parallax adjustment
Cons
- Non-Illuminated
4) Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Rifle Scope
The Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm rifle scope is a top-tier optic ideal for serious long-range shooting. It boasts exceptional clarity, resolution, and brightness, thanks to its high-quality glass and advanced lens coatings.
The scope’s 5-25x magnification range allows for precision shots at extreme distances, while its large 56mm objective lens gathers ample light for clear images even in low-light conditions.
The scope is both rugged and lightweight, featuring durable aircraft-grade aluminum housing and scratch-resistant lenses. It is also waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof, making it a reliable choice for any hunting or shooting scenario.
Its proprietary Twilight Max HD Light Management System ensures optimal light transmission and reduces glare, enabling shooters to maintain a clear sight picture in any lighting conditions.
The scope also includes a fast-focus eyepiece and a versatile reticle that can be illuminated in red for enhanced visibility in low light.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
- Tube Diameter: 35 mm
- Exit Pupil: 2.2 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 4.2 – 20.4 ft. at 100 yds.
- Eye Relief: 3.6 – 3.8 inches
- Weight: 907.18 g
- Parallax: Side Focus
Pros
- Rugged and durable construction
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Versatile illuminated reticle offers enhanced visibility in low light
- Waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof design
Cons
- Expensive price point
5) Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56mm Rifle Scope
This Vortex Strike Eagle Scope makes an ideal choice for long-range shooting thanks to its 56mm objective lens that provides a wide field of view and good light transmission for clear images in low light conditions.
The scope features a 34mm tube that allows for a larger internal adjustment range and maximum adjustment range, ensuring accurate and precise shots at long distances.
It is equipped with a first focal plane reticle, which changes size as the magnification is adjusted. This ensures that the reticle subtensions remain accurate regardless of the magnification level, making it easier to range targets, holdover, and make windage and elevation adjustments.
The Strike Eagle’s EBR-7C reticle is a Christmas tree-style reticle with precise aiming points and windage and elevation holdovers. The reticle is illuminated with a red center dot for quick and easy target acquisition in low-light conditions.
The scope is rugged and durable, designed to withstand harsh environments and heavy recoil. It also features a fast-focus eyepiece for quick and easy reticle focusing.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
- Tube Diameter: 34 mm
- Exit Pupil: 2.24 – 11.2 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 5.2 – 24 ft. at 100 yds.
- Eye Relief: 3.7 inches
- Weight: 30.4 oz.
- Parallax: 15 yds to infinity
Pros
- Wide magnification range
- Accurate illuminated reticle
- Durable construction
- Easily resettable turrets for quick and easy adjustments
Cons
- None
6) Vortex Diamondback 4-16x44mm Rifle Scope
The Vortex Diamondback 4-16x44mm offers exceptional clarity and precision, which are key factors in long-range shooting. This scope is popular for several factors, including its 30mm tube diameter, which provides a larger internal adjustment range for more precise windage and elevation adjustments.
The Diamondback 4-16x44mm scope offers a versatile magnification range of 4x to 16x and is equipped with a first focal plane reticle, which increases and decreases in size as the magnification is adjusted.
The scope also has a fast-focus eyepiece, which allows the shooter to quickly and easily adjust the reticle to their eye’s diopter. This feature is particularly useful for shooters who wear corrective lenses, as it allows them to adjust the reticle to their eyesight for optimal clarity.
The Diamondback 4-16x44mm scope has fully multi-coated lenses, which provide clear and bright images, and are also anti-reflective, reducing glare and ensuring camouflage to avoid spooking targets during hunting.
Another useful feature of this scope is its side focus parallax adjustment, which helps to eliminate parallax errors for more accurate shots. This feature is particularly important when shooting at long ranges, where even slight inaccuracies in the scope’s optics can result in a missed shot.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 44 mm
- Tube Diameter: 30 mm
- Exit Pupil: 2.75 – 11 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 6.7 – 26.9 ft. at 100 yds.
- Eye Relief: 3.8 inches
- Weight: 23.1 oz.
- Parallax: 20 yds. to infinity
Pros
- Easy to adjust
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Durable shockproof construction
- Waterproof and fog proof
Cons
- Non-Illuminated
7) Primary Arms 4-14x44mm Rifle Scope
The Primary Arms 4-14x44mm rifle scope is intended for long-range shooting and hunting applications. With a 4-14x magnification range and a 44mm objective lens, the shooter gets to enjoy a wide field of view and clear images, even in low-light conditions.
Constructed from a durable one-piece aluminum tube, the scope is nitrogen-purged and fog-resistant, guaranteeing a clear view in unfavorable weather conditions. Additionally, it has a side-mounted parallax adjustment knob that enables accurate focusing and eliminates parallax error at any distance.
The reticle is a second focal plane Mil-Dot reticle that provides precise ranging and holdovers for windage and elevation adjustments. It is illuminated and has 6 brightness settings, making it ideal for quick target acquisition in all lighting conditions.
The turrets are finger-adjustable, with a tactile click for easy adjustments. The scope also features a zero-reset function, allowing for a fast and simple return to zero after making adjustments.
Specifications
- Objective Lens Diameter: 44 mm
- Reticle: ARC-2 MOA
- Tube Diameter: 30 mm
- Exit Pupil: 3.3 – 11.2 mm
- Field of View, Linear: 7.85 – 27.2 ft. at 100 yds.
- Eye Relief: 3.14 – 3.22 inches
- Weight: 1.5 lb.
- Adjustment Click Value: 0.25 MOA
Pros
- No parallax error at any distance
- Illuminated reticle with 6 brightness settings
- Finger-adjustable turrets make it easy to adjust the scope
Cons
- Non-Illuminated
Best Scope for 6.5 X55 Swedish Mauser FAQs
What is the best magnification for a 6.5 X55 Swedish Mauser scope?
The best magnification for your scope depends on what you plan to use it for. For hunting, a high end of 9-12x is ideal for shots out to 200-300 yards. For long-range target shooting or precision hunting, a higher magnification of 16-20x or more may be necessary.
What reticle should I choose for my 6.5 X55 Swedish Mauser scope?
The reticle choice depends on your personal preference and intended use. A simple duplex reticle is great for general hunting use, while a mil-dot reticle is better suited for long-range shooting and range estimation.
What is the best size for a 6.5 X55 Swedish Mauser scope objective lens?
The objective lens size to use depends on your intended use and the conditions you will be shooting in. A larger objective lens allows more light to enter the scope, providing a brighter image in low-light conditions. However, a larger objective lens also increases the weight and size of the scope. For general hunting use, a 40-44mm objective lens is a good choice.
Is 6.5 x55 a good hunting rifle?
Yes, the 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser is a great choice for hunting. Its mix of effective ballistics, controllable recoil, and precision has made it a popular choice among hunters, particularly in Europe but also increasingly in North America.
What is the effective range of 6.5 x55 Swedish?
The 6.5×55 Swedish can be used effectively out to 800 meters, however, this is mainly dependent on the weather, the shooter’s ability, and the type of rifle scope employed. The round’s small weight and flat trajectory make it suitable for long-range shooting.
Conclusion
The 6.5 X55 Swedish Mauser is a powerful cartridge that requires an equally powerful scope. The best scope for use with your 6.5 X55 Swedish Mauser should be able to offer you an easy time with accurate shots and reliability in all weather and lighting conditions.
Although a tough decision to make, this article is meant to make your work easier when choosing the best scope for your rifle.
Related Articles: