TightGroup
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saint-Louis-de-Kent, NB
Looking for some pet loads, its for my swedish mauser. Just looking for a nice target load.
tks
TG
tks
TG
6.5x55 swede
- Thread starter TightGroup
- Start date
3 shoots of 140 grain Hornady "Interlock" in front of 48 grain, IMR 4350, often produces "one ragget hole" from my "Micro Beddet" and "Timney" triggered Swedish mauser.
160 grain Hornady round nose, in front of 47 grain of IMR 4350, can also produce amazingly tight groups, and the point of impact is very close to the above 140 grain bullets at 100 yards.
160 grain Hornady round nose, in front of 47 grain of IMR 4350, can also produce amazingly tight groups, and the point of impact is very close to the above 140 grain bullets at 100 yards.
46.5 gr of RL 22 with 142 SMK kissing the lands, fed GMM primers and Lapua cases and neck sized with a redding bushing die. If it does not shoot at least Moa and should shoot better there is something wrong.
I use the Hornady 140 sp as a hunting load I just replace the SMK with a Hdy and it shoots generaly the same POI at 100 and still shoots MOA out to 300 yards with a slight drop comp over the SMK. I have never tried the HDY past 300.
I use the Hornady 140 sp as a hunting load I just replace the SMK with a Hdy and it shoots generaly the same POI at 100 and still shoots MOA out to 300 yards with a slight drop comp over the SMK. I have never tried the HDY past 300.
Last edited:
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
I shoot the same in my swede but with WLR primers, moa for sure but with Sierra Gamekings for hunting.
The above laods are similar to loads I use in modern rifles. They look hot for a M96.
Not saying don't do it, but please work up to them. The bullet has a long bearing surface and pressure can climb faster than velocity.
A slow powder fills the case better. I like 4831SC and RL22 and H1000.
Not saying don't do it, but please work up to them. The bullet has a long bearing surface and pressure can climb faster than velocity.
A slow powder fills the case better. I like 4831SC and RL22 and H1000.
CIP dictates lower pressure for manufacturers of 6.5X55SE ammo in defermnce to the M96 action which is so common. Brass, especially Lapua, can handle higher pressure, but the '96 action is not as strong as the '98 or modern actions and caution is required.
Don't anyone be using these loads in their Swedish Mausers without working up safely from at least 4 grains below! These loads are plenty warm in the 6.5x55, and I cannot condone anyone posting them without at least a warning to others who might be tempted to use them as posted. It is irresponsible to fail to warn other reloaders properly. Regards, Eagleye.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Good point, Anyone who loads somebody's pet load without working up is basically working on proving Darwin correct.......Most pet loads are at max modern rifle pressures, use them at your own risk in a 100 year old Swedish Mauser. A Chrony is a wise investment, I stopped around 2575 fps with my swede (140gr.) and its plenty accurate for me, If I want to go faster Ill take out my 264......
I have found in my 6.5 X55 model 38 and 96 Swedes really like the 160 gr. Hornady. Unfortunately, it's not a bullet I like to hunt with. I find I really have to work to get some of my preferred bullets such as Nosler Partitions to group. I also will not share loads as I feel it's crucial for safety and accuracy to work up loads for a particular gun. I have found IMR 4350 and 4831 good powders to work with for the 6.5.
please correct me if i'm wrong.
in europe most people who have 6.5x55 own the 96swedes and many will tell you they shoot norma ammo which is pretty hot stuff and their actions take it just fine. I'm not saying start at max and go up i'm just saying don't underestimate the old swedes. they are plenty strong. I have been told by many that the m96 and the k98 actions are very identical. the only major difference are the gas ports on the k98. in other words they are safer not stronger. please educate me as I hear so many different stories.
ps. my old swede liked imr 3031 with 100gr hornady sp and r-19 with 140gr hornady sp. good hunting rounds. group about 1" at 100yards
in europe most people who have 6.5x55 own the 96swedes and many will tell you they shoot norma ammo which is pretty hot stuff and their actions take it just fine. I'm not saying start at max and go up i'm just saying don't underestimate the old swedes. they are plenty strong. I have been told by many that the m96 and the k98 actions are very identical. the only major difference are the gas ports on the k98. in other words they are safer not stronger. please educate me as I hear so many different stories.
ps. my old swede liked imr 3031 with 100gr hornady sp and r-19 with 140gr hornady sp. good hunting rounds. group about 1" at 100yards
Norma ammo is loaded to Eurospec standards, which means they load the 6.5x55 to its potential in the Swedish Mausers. However, Norma loads this chambering with it's 139 grain offerings with Norma MRP, a slow burning propellant close to Reloder 22. RL 22 will chase the 140 grain bullet out of a Swede at 2750 without unusually high pressures for that action, which, while not "weak" is universally understood to be safe with a bit lower pressures than the 98 action and its commercial counterparts. Regards, Eagleye
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I shoot RL22 with 140 gr SST's, and IMR 4064 with 95 gr VMAX. I find the RL22 is fine in a full length swede, but if I was shooting a shorter barrelled rifle, I would definitely experiment with something a bit faster burning, like 4350, or 4064. The swede is pretty tolerant of most anything medium to slow burning. If I hadn't just bought 500 SST's/VMAX bullets, I'd actually be shooting 140gr Berger VLD's, but that'll have to wait...
BTW, don't assume your swede won't shoot lighter bullets accurately, just because you hear this lots. My scoped M96 absolutely loves bullets around 100gr.
BTW, don't assume your swede won't shoot lighter bullets accurately, just because you hear this lots. My scoped M96 absolutely loves bullets around 100gr.
Last edited:
6.5
My m38 with a 19 inch barrel likes 47grains of H4831sc behind any 140grain spitzer. This load will group 3/4". This is a maximum load and is to hot for my longer barrel m96 so work up to it, the hodgdon site also lists it as max.
My m38 with a 19 inch barrel likes 47grains of H4831sc behind any 140grain spitzer. This load will group 3/4". This is a maximum load and is to hot for my longer barrel m96 so work up to it, the hodgdon site also lists it as max.
Good heads up Eagleye, I never really paid attention to his load until your post, he's 3 grains above max load from IMR's website ( on his 140g load, never checked the other).
Seems kinda dangerous to suggest...
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
It did seem pretty like a generous amount of imr-4350
My load is just under max in my Sierra loading book as they list 46.7 as top end (They had an m-38 as a test rifle). Nosler list 46.5 as max with the with the 142 gr. partition bullet.
This is from a former test engineeer at Lapua who is a consultant and writer on small arms. The Mauser 98 is stronger action than Swedish Mauser. Although Swedish Mausers are very well and beautifully made, action itself is not very strong. I have seen the Swedish Mauser actions used here and in Sweden for the .308 and .30-06 rifles, but that is not recommended. The Mauser 98 actions can be used for rifles up to .458 Win Mag, but then one must be sure about action origin and condition.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
We had a good thread in gunsmithing about m-96 action strenght. Very hard but very brittle, if it would fail it would do so in a spectacular fashion. If they can handle .308 win at 60 kpsi then I suppose they will handle sane loads in 6.5x55.......?
