6.5x55 sweed

[serdog]

Good round for everything up to moose. Think with my uncle of taking my little cousin hunting and thinking of a excuse to buy a lovey Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 over a new 6.5 cred rifle and good shoting with a scope (we have a .30-30 .30-06 .270 and 2 .303(both No.5 so ouch ) between us)

 

[leslie hetrick]

for my 6.5x55 in 550 cz only, work up in your rifle. my rifle likes 50.5 grs N-560 for 2840 fps(cronied at 30 feet) with 140 gr hornady sst,s, and if i do my part 3 shot groups 1.5-1.75" at 200 yards from a bench . it also likes 48.3 grs N-560 with the same bullet at 2770 fps. NOT FOR THE SWEDISH ARMY RIFLES.

 

[Nevada Mike]

When I was a boy my father bought me an M96 Swedish Mauser. It was my only centerfire rifle for many years. I killed quite a few deer with the rifle including my best mule deer - a 31-1/2” monster. It was amazingly accurate.
I recently have the rifle to my hunting partner’s SIL who is starting in hunting. The cartridge is well suited to a beginner OR expert rifleman.

 

[rdog]

for my 6.5x55 in 550 cz only, work up in your rifle. my rifle likes 50.5 grs N-560 for 2840 fps(cronied at 30 feet) with 140 gr hornady sst,s, and if i do my part 3 shot groups 1.5-1.75" at 200 yards from a bench . it also likes 48.3 grs N-560 with the same bullet at 2770 fps. NOT FOR THE SWEDISH ARMY RIFLES.

MY Tikka T3 x Ultra light will handle 2 to 3 grains more of same powder & bullet than my M38 Sweed . The Sweed has sticky bolt lift & flat primers & i know its not as strong an action but must have a tighter bbl than the Tikka ,or chamber dimensions,

 

[sestoppelman]

Define "a few."

I'm at 8 different rifle calibers, no dupes.

Other than a 7x57, I have everything I want. Wouldn't mind a couple rifle upgrades in the same calibers as what I have.

8???? Rookie!

 

[Nevada Mike]

MY Tikka T3 x Ultra light will handle 2 to 3 grains more of same powder & bullet than my M38 Sweed . The Sweed has sticky bolt lift & flat primers & i know its not as strong an action but must have a tighter bbl than the Tikka ,or chamber dimensions,

My M96 rifle, when used with factory Norma 140 grain ammo, would have a very sticky bolt lift also. I went to handloads with 120 bullets using a powder I cannot now remember. Problem solved and I was getting about 2900 fps IIRC.

 

[sgt_zim]

8???? Rookie!

I prefer "minimalist."

 

[Bonk]

Define "a few."

I'm at 8 different rifle calibers, no dupes.

Other than a 7x57, I have everything I want. Wouldn't mind a couple rifle upgrades in the same calibers as what I have.

These are the ones that made the cut:

22WMR
.223/5.56
25-06
7x57
7x64
308
30-06
300H&H
9.3x62
9.3x74R
375H&H
404J

 

[Frederik]

I will put up photos later of my or my sons M96 Sporterized Swede 23" barrel it's a sweet rifle and shoots very well as well with 140gr S&B bullets for paper and headshots at 2700fps for bushveldvhunting I load 160gr Hornady interlock at 2450fps.

 

[rdog]

I will put up photos later of my or my sons M96 Sporterized Swede 23" barrel it's a sweet rifle and shoots very well as well with 140gr S&B bullets for paper and headshots at 2700fps for bushveldvhunting I load 160gr Hornady interlock at 2450fps.

I would like to see the photos.

 

[sgt_zim]

These are the ones that made the cut:

22WMR
.223/5.56
25-06
7x57
7x64
308
30-06
300H&H
9.3x62
9.3x74R
375H&H
404J

Heck, forgot about my 22 WMR. So 9.

Only just mounted a scope on it, haven't even bought ammo for it or sighted it in yet.

 

[Matthias5662]

I have a Ruger African in 6.5x55 Swede. It is my go-to pronghorn rifle.

 

[Frederik]

I would like to see the photos.

Sorry have been extremely busy with work here are some hunting photos with the 6.5 for the mean time will add photos of the rifle only later.

My son with his trophy bushbuck ram hunted last year.

Friend of mine with an impala ewe for the freezer.

Wartie for the freezer

Another Impala for the freezer.

Me and my steenbuck trophy

Wartie for staff rations

Another friend of mine with a fine wartie.

Basically as you can see the 6.5 x 55 as old as it is delivers everytime.

Animals species it has taken:
Vervet monkey, baboon, warties, impala (Plenty), steenbok, springbuck, blesbuck, bushbuck, nyala, common reedbuck and eland cow.

 

[rdog]

Sorry have been extremely busy with work here are some hunting photos with the 6.5 for the mean time will add photos of the rifle only later.

View attachment 573391
My son with his trophy bushbuck ram hunted last year.

View attachment 573389
Friend of mine with an impala ewe for the freezer.

View attachment 573390
Wartie for the freezer

View attachment 573387
Another Impala for the freezer.

View attachment 573388
Me and my steenbuck trophy

View attachment 573393
Wartie for staff rations

View attachment 573392
Another friend of mine with a fine wartie.

Basically as you can see the 6.5 x 55 as old as it is delivers everytime.

Animals species it has taken:
Vervet monkey, baboon, warties, impala (Plenty), steenbok, springbuck, blesbuck, bushbuck, nyala, common reedbuck and eland cow.

Good looking rifle & excellent hunting, lucky man.

 

[TOBY458]

MY Tikka T3 x Ultra light will handle 2 to 3 grains more of same powder & bullet than my M38 Sweed . The Sweed has sticky bolt lift & flat primers & i know its not as strong an action but must have a tighter bbl than the Tikka ,or chamber dimensions,

The Tikkas are known for having long throats. I've experienced this with a Tikka T3x 6.5CM target rifle I own.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

My M96 rifle, when used with factory Norma 140 grain ammo, would have a very sticky bolt lift also. I went to handloads with 120 bullets using a powder I cannot now remember. Problem solved and I was getting about 2900 fps IIRC.

Mike, how is the meat damage using the 120gn bullets?? I am on Hornady ELD-X 143 gn I am contemplating going less weight bullets like you have done..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Shootist, will it be possible to assist me in loads using the South African SONCHEM propellant like the S365 and S335 propellants?

Bullet weight ELD-X 143 , OAL 79mm , I will chronograph this load shortly. it will give you more data to work with.

 

[sgt_zim]

Shootist, will it be possible to assist me in loads using the South African SONCHEM propellant like the S365 and S335 propellants?

Bullet weight ELD-X 143 , OAL 79mm , I will chronograph this load shortly. it will give you more data to work with.

What rifle? Note that Hornady's load data was developed with an M96

My T3X has a very long throat, and in my load development, I used a max pressure of 60k psi.

At 3.175" (80.64mm) COAL and 44.5 gr IMR4831 (very close to S365), I'm getting about 2500 fps with ELD-X 143 gr. I could probably go to 47 gr of IMR4831 and still be under 60k psi - that would likely get me pretty close to 2700 fps.

If you're kissing the lands, which I very much doubt with a COAL of 79 mm, 45 gr of somchem 365 shows just under 58k psi and MV of 2698 fps using Gordon's Reloading Tool. I'd expect that load to probably come in at about the same MV as my load using IMR 4831 given you likely have a very long jump.

I show a max load for S335 of 39 gr, MV 2620 fps and a little over 58K psi. Again, given the long jump, I'd expect a chrony to show that one at 2450 to maybe 2500 fps as well.

I wouldn't worry a lot about chasing velocity. Assuming a 200 yard zero, even if you could get your loads to 2650 or 2700 fps, it doesn't improve the ballistic arc or energy enough to be worth the effort, at least not for me.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

What rifle? Note that Hornady's load data was developed with an M96

My T3X has a very long throat, and in my load development, I used a max pressure of 60k psi.

At 3.175" COAL and 44.5 gr IMR4831 (very close to S365), I'm getting about 2500 fps with ELD-X 143 gr

If you're kissing the lands, which I very much doubt with a COAL of 79 mm, 45 gr of somchem 365 shows just under 58k psi and MV of 2698 fps using Gordon's Reloading Tool. I'd expect that load to probably come in at about the same MV as my load using IMR 4831 given you likely have a very long jump.

I show a max load for S335 of 39 gr, MV 2620 fps and a little over 58K psi. Again, given the long jump, I'd expect a chrony to show that one at 2450 to maybe 2500 fps as well.

I wouldn't worry a lot about chasing velocity. Assuming a 200 yard zero, even if you could get your loads to 2650 or 2700 fps, it doesn't improve the ballistic arc or energy enough to be worth the effort, at least not for me.

View attachment 622035

View attachment 622036

SGT ZIM, thank you kindly...I measured the chamber it is 81.2mm long. I am working towards an OAL 80mm and a load between 40.1 tot 40.5 S365. I suspect somewhere between this bracket I will get a load to zero out to 250 meters ...What is your opinion? I am shooting a Carl Gustaf 1942 Action with a heavy profile SHILEN barrel 1:8 twist., 26 " inch barrel, Bullet weight ELD-X 143

 

[sgt_zim]

In 1944, the Swedish army switched from 156 gr RN to 139 gr Spitzers. They were getting a skosh over 2500 fps out of their 26" barrels with the Spitzers.

At 762 mps with a 250M zero, you're going to be somewhere around 12 cm high at 100M. If you're hunting the Karoo or the eastern cape mountains, that's probably fine.

Predicted MV for 40.5 gr S365 is 2554 fps, pressure at 42k psi. I expect measured MV will be below 2500.

I said before I wouldn't chase velocity, I still stand by that, but there's also nothing wrong with working up a ladder, start at 40 gr and move up in half grain increments until you get a sticky bolt lift.

My hunting load is 160 gr Woodleigh PPSN, MV 2380 fps (this is what I'm bringing to Limpopo next month, along with my 9.3x62). Both that and my ELD-X 143 loads are exceptionally accurate, so I just didn't bother trying to get any faster than that.