6.5x55 swede ammo

dudu

dudu

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Hello all,

I recently purchased my first M38 and cannot wait to take it out. Before the first cartridge gets in I would like to know (and this might sound a silly question) what is the safest factory ammo? I am sure that the modern loads are hotter than the ones 60 years ago.
I also noticed that 6.5 Swede has become as scarce as hen's teeth. I really don't want to get into reloading, at least not this year.

many thanks for your help.
 
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Most of the North American factory ammo (Federal, Winchester etc.) is loaded fairly light and will be fine in the older Swedes. Norma and other Eurpoean manufactures tend to load their ammo a bit hotter so be careful with it. Your best results will come from handloading so seriously think about trying your hand at it - you won't be disappointed!
 
dudu said:
how about the Lee Hand Press?
have you ever used one?
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I have a hand press. I like it very much - it's great for depriming and resizing cases on the patio with a beer in the summer - but as you're not set up for reloading you're going to have to buy dies, a priming tool, a scale (or dippers) etc. If you decide to go this route. :)
 
Wow another M38!
Congrats!

Yes get a Lee loader...unless of course you really like paying up to $28.00 for a 20 rnd box of ammo. :eek: :D

I know the next thing I'm picking up is 6.5 x55 dies. :D
 
naugler said:
Two words - Lee Loader - seriously :) - the best $20 you'll ever spend
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I am very interested in this topic. If I am not yet into reloading, what components do I need to buy to reload 6.5X55mm Swedish for my Swedish Mauser? Do you know where they can be found?
 
Unregistered said:
I am very interested in this topic. If I am not yet into reloading, what components do I need to buy to reload 6.5X55mm Swedish for my Swedish Mauser? Do you know where they can be found?
Click to expand...

If you go the route of the Lee Loader you'll need the 6.5 Swede Lee Loader (which is basically a complete reloading kit for one specific calibre), new brass (as the Lee Loader only neck sizes), bullets, powder, primers and a plastic tipped hammer (or equivalent). All these supplies (minus the hammer) can be found here:

http://higginsonpowders.com/pages/934271/index.htm
 
Listen guys, I know I will end up reloading, there is no question about that. For now, I have a gorgeous blonde that screems to be taken out. I would pop in the only bloody 6.5 cartridge I could find but I have two problems:
1. It is made by Norma and I understand the load it's pretty hot
2. It is $40 (before 15% tax)a box and don't feel like burning that much on a sighting session at the range.

I must admit that I haven't tried yet the bigger stores around but just in case they have factory ammo ( Winchester and Remington) would that be safe to use?
 
dudu said:
Listen guys, I know I will end up reloading, there is no question about that. For now, I have a gorgeous blonde that screems to be taken out. I would pop in the only bloody 6.5 cartridge I could find but I have two problems:
1. It is made by Norma and I understand the load it's pretty hot
2. It is $40 (before 15% tax)a box and don't feel like burning that much on a sighting session at the range.

I must admit that I haven't tried yet the bigger stores around but just in case they have factory ammo ( Winchester and Remington) would that be safe to use?
Click to expand...

Well first off from what Swedish people have told me the past few weeks Norma is safe in the M38, and is a very common hunting and target cartridge in their part of the world. Any problems have been from people overloading or not paying attention when they reload etc.

Second there isn't much to sight in...Aim, load, shoot, adjust aim point, load shoot. Yah might have to adjust the front sight abit, but maybe not. :D

Third tell me when you will ever spend less then $40 a night out on a Hot Swedish Blonde? :D
Oh and that rear sight does get mighty hot trust me, Hehehe. :D

So I'd buy at least one Box of Norma, or order in 2 boxes of Winchester, or Federal for the same price just to get it out of your system, and SAVE THAT BRASS!. :D
 
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when i had my swedes(38 & ag42b) they both had a steady diet of rem 6.5x55 140 gr sp's from crappy tire and perrys gun shop ordered in a couple cases of pmc 144 gr fmj.the ct stuff was about $18/box and the pmc stuff was around $10.also reloaded speer 140 gr bullets so every once in a while buying factory kept me in a fresh supply of brass-the 42b eats cases and throws them pretty far:eek: usually not reloadable when you DO find them
 
Calum,

"just to get it out of your system", that's what I need:D

"don't feel like burning $40", that was a cheap statement.
I will consider reloading, it is not like I have a choice.


Thanks guys.
 
dudu said:
............I also noticed that 6.5 Swede has become as scarce as hen's teeth. I really don't want to get into reloading, at least not this year.
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You're right, it's getting harder to find every day and I've started hoarding it over the last year. Like you I'm not a reloader and really don't ever want to get into it.

I attend a lot of gun shows here in Ontario and it's always on my shopping list. Generally it's just a box or two here and there, but sometimes full "battle packs" show up. At a recent show in Orangeville, there was a guy who had 4 or 5 battle packs, but they were water damaged from storage. Many of the cardboard boxes were stained and the ammunition itself showed signs of tarnishing, however, the price wasn't too bad, so I picked up a pack for general plinking. I haven't found any commercial ammunition that all my Swedes like as much as this standard Swedish 6.5 x 55mm m/41 139 grain (9 grams) ball (boat tail bullet) with a a velocity of 2592 fps (790 m/s).

Swedish 6.5 x 55mm Service Ammunition (Ball, Training & Tracer)


(Click PIC to Enlarge)


Swedish 6.5 x 55mm Service Ammunition (lots more detailed pics ... click here)http://imageevent.com/badgerdog/swedishservicerifles/swedishserviceammunition

Regards,
Badger
 
naugler said:
If you go the route of the Lee Loader you'll need the 6.5 Swede Lee Loader (which is basically a complete reloading kit for one specific calibre), new brass (as the Lee Loader only neck sizes), bullets, powder, primers and a plastic tipped hammer (or equivalent). All these supplies (minus the hammer) can be found here:

http://higginsonpowders.com/pages/934271/index.htm
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Thanks, I found that very helpful. I'm guessing from what I've read on that site that a Lee Loader does not resize entire spent casings, only the neck? Is that the case? If I saved my brass would I have to buy a new tool to resize them or upgrade the kit?
 
Unregistered said:
Thanks, I found that very helpful. I'm guessing from what I've read on that site that a Lee Loader does not resize entire spent casings, only the neck? Is that the case? If I saved my brass would I have to buy a new tool to resize them or upgrade the kit?
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You're right - the Lee Loader only neck sizes brass, making them a perfect fit for one rifle (when you fire a round the brass case expands to fit your chamber and with the Lee Loader you just resize the case neck each time to hold your bullet as the case is now custom fit to your rifle).

If you're just reloading for that one rifle you're all set with the Lee Loader, however if you decide in the future to change rifles (and keep your brass) or use the same brass for a semi you're going to have to buy a set of dies to do some full length re-sizing.

hope this helps :)
 
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