Chilly807: Don't let a little thing like that discourage you from buying a rifle chambered in this neat little cartridge. The only rifle I've heard of chambered for the SKAN cartridge, was the Sauer 200. I have yet to run across one. All others I've owned/shot to date, were chambered in 6,5 Swedish Mauser. I don't believe the SKAN cartridge is widely used, even in Scandinavia.
Some Swedish Mauser rifles will chamber the slightly longer SKAN case. Just barely. Most I've tested though, have been tighter than I'd like, from a headspace and safety perspective. They will work, though. As long as you load the cartridges at or below, Swedish Mauser operating pressure levels.
Another factor to consider is that modern rifles chambered for the SKAN cartridge are capable of handling higher operating pressures than their Swedish Mauser counterparts. Thus, delivering higher velocity and enhanced performance, across all bullet weights. This I believe, was the driving force behind the development of the SKAN cartridge. So, when thinking about updating an already great cartridge, this isn't such a bad idea.
If you can find a Sauer or other rifle chambered for the SKAN cartridge, regular 6,5 SE brass can be easily fireformed/resized to fit the chamber. I believe Vihtavuori also offers load data for the SKAN cartridge. One caveat: I would not shoot cartridges loaded to SKAN pressure levels, in older military Swedish Mauser M94, M96 or M38 rifles. They were designed to operate at much lower pressure levels. Exceeding those could be very dangerous. In strong, modern rifles, this shouldn't be an issue.
Personally, I see no real advantage edge to going to the SKAN cartridge. In my view, the 6,5 Swede in original guise, is plenty capable and versatile, all on its own.
Al
