I've been looking for a youth sized deer rifle for one of my boys and found one chambered in 6.5 X 55 Swedish.

It fits my price range and the owner will let me take it to the range for a test shoot before buying.

I'm not very familiar with the cartidge, but the ballistics look OK to me. From what I can garner, it will put a 120 grain bullet out there at around 2,600 - 2,700 fps, and will have over 1,000 ft-lbs of energy beyond 400 yards (way farther than we'll be shooting).

I don't know what kind of selection is available in factory ammo, and I don't reload anymore so I'm factory ammo only.

So, assuming the rifle shoots OK, what do you think? Does this sound like a good youth deer rifle?

Thanks for your opinion,

Dan

Other than the limited selection of factory loads,this will be a perfect youth rifle. If you look at the ballistic charts you'll see a fairly new round called the .260 Rem.,it has numbers very similar to the 6.5x55,in fact it's the same caliber (6.5 x 4 = 26). In Europe the 6.5 has a big following ,but for some reason it never caught on in the U.S. If you take it to the range and it's a shooter I'd buy it cause it'll be a great rifle. I think Federal has a load in the 6.5,and I think Norma and PMC do also.
Good luck!