6.5 x 55 decision time

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samcan

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hello folks ........I need some advice ......I have an old sporter in 6.5x55, carl gustav on receiver. I dont know if it's a m96 or m38. I've been shooting modern ammo from Norma, S&B, and Hornady Superformance with no apparent issue's. I keep hearing about weak recevers in these old guns and am worrying that I am flirting with disaster by continuing to fire this ammo. I love this caliber !.......should I keep it and continue to fire these factory loads.....should I stop and handload " watered down " loads in it......or should I play it safe and trade it in [ can't keep both ] and get a modern 6.5x55 and utilize the higher pressure factory loads without worry......I would like to get the most I can from this grand old cartridge ......whaddya think ?
 
The Swede action is strong enough for factory loads. It's the old Norwegian Krags that would be dicey. That being said - the modern actions would allow you to load your ammo a bit hotter to get the best performance from that caliber. (I'm assuming you do, or plan to, reload)
 
The Carl Gustav M 96 actions were proofed to handle 66,000 psi. I have one which was manufactured in March 1896 and I use the same reloading data that you would with a modern action, no problem.
 
or.......I could trade it in for a pair of Toronto Maple Leafs tickets...........no wait, what was I thinking ! .....lol
 
samcan said:
I would like to get the most I can from this grand old cartridge ......whaddya think ?
Click to expand...

Excellent choice!

Lots of scientific research end development went into design of that grand old cartridge. It is The ONE, holly grail of all of them that every country tried to copy and put their own spin to it and call their own. Versatility and practicality of 6.5 is unsurpassed till today.
 
6.5x55mm

My first sporter 6.5x55mm was a sporterized M96.

Worked but was not ultimately what I really wanted. [First sporter rifle in 6.5x5mm I ever shot was a buddy's Win M70 FW in 6.5x55mm!]

Eventually, bought a NIB Ruger 77 MkII 6.5x55mm from Lever Arms in Vancouver, B.C. circa 1992.

Since then have also owned a [1994 mfg] Rem 700 Classic in 6.5x55mm.

Currently own a stainless synthetic Tikka 695 in it and finally also located a Win 70 FW in 6.5x55mm.

Great ctg!

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NAA.
 
If I had to pick just one cartridge to own, it would be the 6.5x55 Swede. I wish it was more commercially common in North America.
 
I had heard that the newer ones had a better quality of metalurgy. Not really sure about that, they should all be pretty good, as they were never shoddily produced for wartime expediency. Wow some pretty big words there. The case capacity of the x55 round is roughly that of 308 Win, and a newer action....work up your loads and watch for signs of pressure....good to go.

Course we are gunnuts...so buy a modern gun also.
 
I have been on a few Swedish hunting sites over the years while tinkering with the M38s I used to have and the only version that made them generally say hmmm maybe not were the sportered milsurps rechambered into 30-06.

Other then that in original 6.5x55 form you are good to go (but use common sense when reloading).

History wise the Swedes considered their steel better quality then the steel the Germans were using in their rifles.
 
Was there a thread detailing what happened to all the 6.5's at TradeEx? Just went over there after reading this thread and there is nary a one.
 
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