Swedish Mauser 6.5x55 Carl Gustafson action, is it good? What caliber build?

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert, I believe that 1917 was the last year the 1896 Mauser Action was produced. However the Actions of the M-38 rifles produced by Husqvarna are identical. From memory they were produced from 1938 through 1942. That last article you posted was terrific. If you read through the whole thing the "two lug" Swede failed a 100,000 psi. That confirms an article that I read many years ago supposedly written by the head of VV's Ballistics Department that stated that VV's Proof Barrel for the 6.5 x 55 was good for 81,000 PSI and that the action used to fire it was that of an 1896 Swedish Mauser. Some more food for thought is that there is no "pressure relief" hole in the Swede whereas there is one in the K 98.

Shootist, yes, I really want to build a classic 6.5 X 55 Swedish Mauser by utilising the Carl Gustafson action, since it was designed for the Swedish Mauser...I also believe that I will never get dangerous pressures since I will reload to a safe level..the Europeans reload this caliber to higher pressures than the USA hunters/shooters...If the 1917 action was manufactured in 1942 I believe that the steel the Swedish manufacturers used would have really been superior and great quality steel due to the different alloys that was prevalent in those days, the high of the industrial era...

 

[Shootist43]

Gert, talk to your buddy the gunsmith and ask him if an aftermarket trigger is available to you. I converted the action of my original Swede to cock on opening and installed a Dayton Traister Trigger with a considerable reduction in "lock time." Except for the first Swede I purchased all of the Swedes that I or my grandkids shoot regularly have Timney triggers in them.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Shootist, as a hunting /fun shooting rifle I was wondering of lock time really will effect my use of this rifle???

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert, talk to your buddy the gunsmith and ask him if an aftermarket trigger is available to you. I converted the action of my original Swede to cock on opening and installed a Dayton Traister Trigger with a considerable reduction in "lock time." Except for the first Swede I purchased all of the Swedes that I or my grandkids shoot regularly have Timney triggers in them.

Shootist, I am going to fit a double set trigger since this will be my classic small game hunting rifle ...

 

[Shootist43]

I thought "lock time" starts after the trigger is pulled/squeezed. There must be an advantage to having a shorter "lock time" but I seriously doubt most shooters would notice it. It might be nothing more than a confidence booster.

 

[flatwater bill]

Gert............sounds like a fun project. My first rifle was a Swede model 94 and I took three elk and 5 deer with it. Most of throat erosion comes from propellant combustion in the throat. Large case capacities that cannot be consumed with the case itself. Small and medium cases, with heavy for caliber bullets, burn most powder within the case. I hope you live long enough to have throat erosion problems in your new rifle. But, realistically, you will get at least 5000 rounds. Reduced pressure on the bolt face, and a little more velocity will be about all the AI will do for you.......and you will lose all that is classic in the rifle.................good hunting...............Bill

 

[bruce moulds]

short locktime.
more important shooting offhand than from a rest.
bruce.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert............sounds like a fun project. My first rifle was a Swede model 94 and I took three elk and 5 deer with it. Most of throat erosion comes from propellant combustion in the throat. Large case capacities that cannot be consumed with the case itself. Small and medium cases, with heavy for caliber bullets, burn most powder within the case. I hope you live long enough to have throat erosion problems in your new rifle. But, realistically, you will get at least 5000 rounds. Reduced pressure on the bolt face, and a little more velocity will be about all the AI will do for you.......and you will lose all that is classic in the rifle.................good hunting...............Bill

Thank you Bill, yes, you are quite correct, this choice I made was the correct choice to use the 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser caliber to build a classic hunting rifle...I have yet to read/hear /see a negative opinion in regards to the 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser....I only received positive remarks and opinions...it really is a good feeling when all the members give some great positive feedback about this great caliber...
As pointed out by members the 1917 action was manufactured from 1940 to 1943??? I really wish I can get conformation in this regards....I believe I will get a lot of rounds through this barrel and it will survive me on the end..my son Ruan can continue hunting with it when I migrate to a permanent hunting destination where I can hunt as many animals as I want and it will cost nothing...

 

[Bos Javanicus]

Congratulations on staying with the 6.5x55, you won't regret it. The 6.5x55 is one of those inherently accurate cartridges and packs a more than respectable punch, especially with the big 160gn Woodleigh's.
Another cartridge which goes well in the Model 96 is the 275 Rigby, this combination makes a very good light stalking rifle.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Congratulations on staying with the 6.5x55, you won't regret it. The 6.5x55 is one of those inherently accurate cartridges and packs a more than respectable punch, especially with the big 160gn Woodleigh's.
Another cartridge which goes well in the Model 96 is the 275 Rigby, this combination makes a very good light stalking rifle.

Bos, what I like most about this action, it is slim lines, neat design..this really is going to be a great little stalking rifle from the bush to the wide open Kalahari...springbuck, impala and warthog will be on the menu....

 

[leslie hetrick]

other than convert my 1944 CG 38 in 6.5x55, I bought a CZ-550 in 6.5x55.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

other than convert my 1944 CG 38 in 6.5x55, I bought a CZ-550 in 6.5x55.

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Leslie, beautiful rifles, I hope I will have a stock similar than the CZ you have..

 

[cmk]

Hi Gert - great choice of cartridge. And you've wisely chosen to keep it as a plain old 6.5×55 - there is just no need to pimp it further (AI etc) or load it silly hot.

I would guess that in its original configuration, with a 155 grain bullet, at reasonable velocity, it responsible for about 25% of all moose (think Kudu size and up) killed in Sweden each year. That's some 20.000 pieces of evidence - each year - that it is 'enough gun'.

Of course it is used with equal success for other species of deer, and also boar and fox and treeing birds. A lighter FMJ would be used in the latter case.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

cmk, I would say that is the best route to go, keep in mind , the brilliant people who designed this caliber can never ever be surpassed..it stood for more than one hundred years...why would I think I can improved it??Not possible at all..my personal collection of great calibers are growing...I would be adding the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser with the following old great calibers....458 Mannlicher Schoenauer, 404 Jeffery, .375 H&H Magnum, 8x68S , 8x57JS Mauser...as wel as a .308 Israeli Mauser I am converting into a standard 7x57 Mauser , all calibers older than 100 years of age..that is what I call a classic collection...I was fortunate today to get hold of a extractor and a trigger for the Charl Gustafson action..

CMK, question? Would it be reasonable to think of buying Lapua brass for the 6.5 x 55 Swede direct from the Lapua company in Sweden for a good price? My daughter is living in Stockholm..I was thinking of asking her to bring me Lapua brass ???

 

[Shootist43]

Lapua brass is probably the best brass you can get for the Swede. I heard a rumor that Lapua makes brass for Norma.

 

[HWL]

CMK, question? Would it be reasonable to think of buying Lapua brass for the 6.5 x 55 Swede direct from the Lapua company in Sweden for a good price? My daughter is living in Stockholm..I was thinking of asking her to bring me Lapua brass ???

Meanwhile, there are 190 pieces here, waiting for a trip to RSA!

You will not run out of cases.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Meanwhile, there are 190 pieces here, waiting for a trip to RSA!

You will not run out of cases.

HWL, you are a great friend , I really am grateful for your kindness ..those pieces of brass will be appreciated and used well...

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Good, I managed to get an extractor as well as a trigger for the action..will source a magazine complete box as well..now I can store it for a rifle build when completed with the 8x68S..
The action is in a great condition, when taking it apart I noticed there is oil /grease around the firing pin spring..no dents , scratches on the action..really in a great condition...serial/parts number all the same..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Good, members I managed today to spend time on completing the 6.5 x 55 SM action..I now have a complete action..ready to build into a stock ....I was fortunate to get a wall nut semi completed stock from my good friend and mentor Johan Greyling. I will be spending some time to blue print the action , some say it makes fro a more accurate set up...
Here are some photos of the 6.5 x 55 SM round with the 8x68S round ..it really is like David and Goliath ...big brother and small brother in comparison.

The action completed with all the parts..ready to start a rifle build//

The semi duplicated stock fro the 6.5 x 55 SM...

 

[Shootist43]

Gert, that stock looks like a lot of work. Do you have access to Boyd Stocks? I used one for my grandkid's gun that has a thumb-hole in it.