'96 Mauser in 6.5x55 Swedish

Classic. Excellent caliber. Accurate and flat shooter. Little in the way of "kick". You will fall in love with it.
Not a great deal of choice in factory ammo. 140 grain bullet is pretty much standard. But if you were to reload.....the sky is the limit!

Good choice!:)
 
I have a beater of the same rifle. It's very capable, and quite accurate. Effective on deer, and capable on moose.
I wouldn't push the pressure on the handloads, although there are tons of stories about the strengths of the action. Truth is it doesn't need the strain, and is very capable within normal parameters.
 
My cousin has one and is very happy with it. He handloads for it. Right now he is working on a coyote load using a 95grn Hornady Vmax bullet. The only thing I didn't like about it was the military sytle trigger but I think he is going to change that. Great cartridge that can go from coyote to moose.
 
6.5x55mm

I prefer the Swedes in full original military form.

Have had a couple of 'sporters' on 96/38 actions but never found they measured up to a dedicated factory rifle in 6.5x55mm [like the Win 70 FW; Rem 700 Classic; Tikka 695, etc].

Just my .02
 
I bought a couple for my grandsons,the 1942 M-38 was very accurate,the 1917 M-96 was just under a inch and half . These weren't "pet loads" merely some IMR-4350 and 140Remingtons thrown together for sighting in the scopes.
 
While they are slightly shorter then the M96 I have two M38 Swede full military and another in a sporter and find them to be very capable rifles.

If I had to choose just one Cartridge type to own I'd be happy with just the 6.5x55 Swede.

Don't forget that these rifles are control round feeds so you have to let the bolt pick up the cartridge from the box magazine.

Enjoy your new rifle. :)
 
fixerdude said:
Do you have any photos? I picked up a similar gun for $150. I will post some photos tonight.
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DSCI0144-1.jpg
 
Nice.
A friend has one of these like yours although he hasn't really had a great deal of time to get it shooting.
Superb cartridge though.
One of the 2 great all rounders; 6.5x55 and 7x57.
With the right bullet the only thing you shouldn't really chase is dangerous game although others have done so.
And don't believe the hype......260 Rem is a pretender! :D
 
Any sporter that retains the original M38 bolt will require extra high rings to accomodate the scope - see the example above with see through rings. Those see throughs are not known for their robustness. If you're stuck with the see throughs, suggest you use a light scope, like a Weaver K-4. If the scope bell is small enough, you might be able to get away with normal rings, depending upon how the rear ring is D+T'd.
 
fixerdude said:
Do you have any photos? I picked up a similar gun for $150. I will post some photos tonight.
Click to expand...

Here is the image:

DSC_2524.jpg


I hand loaded 30 6.5x55 SP rounds and this rifle shoots well. I was at the last Edmonton long range clinic and with a 3-9x40 scope...let's just say I need a lot of practice but the rifle handled quite well. It's a good combo for hunting but not for long-range shooting.

Thanks for posting the picture.
 
fixerdude said:
Here is the image:

DSC_2524.jpg


I hand loaded 30 6.5x55 SP rounds and this rifle shoots well. I was at the last Edmonton long range clinic and with a 3-9x40 scope...let's just say I need a lot of practice but the rifle handled quite well. It's a good combo for hunting but not for long-range shooting.

Thanks for posting the picture.
Click to expand...

Methinks you need the high scope rings on your swede because of what looks to be a red dot or illuminated reticule system.

I had the same set up on mine when I first got it. I have since replaced it with an old regular scope I had kicking around the gunsafe and was able to do away with the high rings which I could not get used to.

Then again a previous owner had been creative with the bolt handle, and replaced the safety with a two position wing type that says PH on it (parker hale?).
Raw125b.jpg


I'm toying with the idea of dropping the ring set up all together, mounting a rail in place of the existing scope mounts and using a small red dot sight as I don't tend to shoot at stuff beyond 200 meters. Pardon my borrowing of your thread. :D
 
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and if you run into anything you think the 6.5x55 won't handle-there's always the 9,3x57 on the same action-between the 140 gr 6.5x55 and the 286 gr privipartizans in 9.3-,you're pretty much covered for NorthAmerica.Its not dificult to grind the sharp angle on the bolt handle to accomodate medium high rings and a regular scope
 
if I didn't already have a .308, I'd be looking for a 6.5x55

fantastic round for moose, bear, deer, whatever else you care to shoot with it.
 
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