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To get the best out of 6.5x55 you should reload. Prvi Partizan/PPU ammunition is OK but you would need to reload for improved performance.

Cor-bon and Black Hills, etc, manufacture .260 Rem Match ammunition but you won't find that here in the UK.

If you're not reloading your own ammunition then stick with .308W as others have suggested.

How about this as a left-field choice...

http://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/g ... e-oct-side

A friend purchased one from the Sportsman Gun Centre (£1,439.99) and fitted a Bushnell DMR 3.5-21x50 scope. It's very accurate out-of-the-box. Plus, you can upgrade the stock at some point in the future if you desire (e.g., GRS Bolthorn chassis).

http://vertebrae.biz/wp/grs-bolthorn-ch ... available/

http://www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk/pro ... n+24+inch/

I'd say .308 or 6.5x55 (my pref) out of a 26" barreled something... I wouldn't advise .260 rem unless you hand-load, because you can't buy match ammo for it. .260 is still part of 6.5 family anyway, both have a high ballistic coefficient (BC), which is what you're after for long range shooting. I would say you're mad to buy new, there's some amazing bargains out there, have a look before you insist on new.

Beyond this my only advice is to buy a really good scope. I scrimped on my first scope (£960) and it ended up costing me more in the end. I know it's painful, but your rifle's only as good as the glass on top at 900+ yards.

What about Hornady, Sellier & Bellot, Lapua or norma 6.5x55 match ammo? I was in the local gun shop today and there was quite a selection of 6.5x55.

lapua338 wrote:To get the best out of 6.5x55 you should reload. Prvi Partizan/PPU ammunition is OK but you would need to reload for improved performance.

I'd hold off on buying a Sig 3000 for the moment, there's a new version due out from Sig in July with the Bolthorn stock as standard,

http://grsriflestocks.com/news/2015/04/ ... per-target

Ooof that Bolthorn stock is an ugly bugly!

Much prefer sig`s own stocks personally.

Some great replies chaps thanks for the input :)

What about Hornady, Sellier & Bellot, Lapua or Norma 6.5x55 match ammo? I was in the local gun shop today and there was quite a selection of 6.5x55.

Commercial ammunition is far too expensive. That's just one of the many reasons why I reload for my 6.5x55.

The .308W SSG 3000 Patrol is modestly priced (within budget) and performs well.

He doesn't have a choice if he doesn't hand-load. I imagine the price of good commercial match ammo is the roughly the same for .308 or 6.5x55. As far as I'm concerned having the choice is the important point and 6.5x55 is a better round than .308 at 900+ yards.

lapua338 wrote:Commercial ammunition is far too expensive. That's just one of the many reasons why I reload for my 6.5x55.

The .308W SSG 3000 Patrol is modestly priced (within budget) and performs well.

StangGT wrote:Cheers for the input... figure is just for the rifle. I was hoping to get it 'right first time' and hence buy new. This is what I've done for clays/psg and gallery rifle, and I've been very happy with my buys having done plenty of research and asking around. Maybe you're right tho, second hand could be the right place to start for a 'proper' rifle...

I've been buying rifles for 40 years and I still get it wrong. With your budget and desire to shoot on a range, a second-hand rifle would seem to be a good option.

Regards

JCS

I am relatively new to shooting but have been very impressed with my Remington 700 with a 26" varmint barrel in .308. Very accurate out to 600 yards and the previous owner got respectable scores out to 1000. Get a decent stock, have a gunsmith do a spot of fettling and maybe swap out the trigger (mine was just polished and lightened) and you're good to go.
I was advised that the 700 Police version is probably the best value starter rifle for accuracy and cost.

Do not overlook an iron-sighted older military bolt-action rifle – such as a .303 Lee Enfield No4, or a SMLE. Lots of people own them and there are lots of competitions for them. Plus the fact that they will never go out of fashion.