The 6.5x55 recoils very mildly. I have a Winchester Modle 70 Featherweight in .243, and the recoil from this feels a bit heavier than from any of my three 6.5 Swedes. I will sayh that all of my Swedes are fairly heavy compared the the Featherweight; one is an as-issued military M38, one is an M38 that I dropped into a sporter stock, and one is a CZ 550.

Thndrchiken said it right - - the Swede is an all day shooter.