New CG 63 What Ammo?

[Spagooch]

Hi... New to this forum and new to firearms in general.

I have just purchased my first rifle... a CG 63.

Can anyone that owns one please advise on what ammunition I should buy to start me off?

And if you could recommend a good retailer that would help as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Potashminer]

Probably want to identify the chambering of your rifle - "most" CG63 were chambered in 6.5x55 for Sweden competitions, but there was also version CG63E made for England that was chambered in 7.62 NATO (308 Win). The Swedish civilian sport competitors used Norma ammunition - 130 grain, I believe - there are two versions - less than and more than 600 meters. Really helps to be able to read Swedish when perusing the Norma branding names. I reload, have not bought factory ammunition in more than 20 years, so no help to you there...

If I was buying ammo, I would lean towards Norma, specifically their match ammo - so 130 grain. Nothing wrong with 140 grain either. You will find that European producers tend to follow C.I.P. standards, which, for 6.5x55, will have higher pressure limits than does North American SAAMI. That may or may not make a difference in your rifle.

You might want to refine "what" you want ammo for - 200 yard off hand? 600 yard prone? Deer hunting? Ringing gongs at 1,000 yards? Might influence what is "best" choice. Well worth your while to research what shooting sports the CG63 was made for, at the time.

 

[Spagooch]

Thank you for the reply and information Potashminer.

The rifle is 6.5x55.

At this point I would say 200 yards off hand at a range and deer hunting.

 

[cornelunc]

Thank you for the reply and information Potashminer.

The rifle is 6.5x55.

At this point I would say 200 yards off hand at a range and deer hunting.

I ordered via local Canadian Tire 1000 rounds of 6.5 swedish made by Prvi Partizan for 23$ per box. Great for training on CG63.

 

[Potashminer]

Especially for the deer hunting part, normally would not use Full Metal Jacket or Match bullets for that - you want Soft Points - bullets that are made to have some amount of expansion. Targets and gongs may not know the difference in bullet structure, but performance on game needs appropriate bullet. So 140 grain soft point totally appropriate for hunting - likely not made any more, but 160 grain Soft Point Round Nose is awesome on game, within the 6.5x55 effective range.

For my own use - not formal target shooting, just plinking mostly - always thought would be "cool" to take a 6.5x55 on a moose hunt (like the Swedes do) - so I have a supply of Hornady 160 grain RN Interlock and also 130 grain Nosler Accubond for mostly anything else. I have a long barrel m1896, a CG63 and an m38, along with various "sporters" with varying length barrels - if bedding is correct, bore is clean, muzzle in good shape, they seem to be very good shooters.

If you are interested in learning more about them - the book "Crown Jewels - The Mauser in Sweden" by Dana Jones is a very good reference - good photos and drawings, does a good job of covering the progression from first rifles made in Germany for Sweden, right on up through at least mid-70's.

 

[Potashminer]

It may interest you to know that the CG63 was built to a standard set by the Swede civilian shooting clubs, and only the Carl Gustaf armoury "built" CG63 rifles - always from former m1894 or m1896 receivers, very occasionally from m38 receivers. A specific limited list of Swede gunsmiths, and the company "Norma Precision" were "allowed" to convert or modify a customer's Swede rifle to meet the CG63 standard - all the special parts came from the Carl Gustaf armoury. So, my CG63 does not have the Carl Gustaf "rune" proof mark - it was a conversion by Norma Precision (marked NP) to a specific customer's specification - as a result, there can be many "types" of CG63 depending on who made it - all should meet the CG63 standard, but small variations as per customer "wants" - will be reflected on the scroll marks and stampings on the receiver and barrel.

The intention was to create a "standard" competition rifle - all competitors used very nearly identical rifles with specific limited choices for sights, etc., and then all competitors at a competition used the same ammunition supplied by the organizer - did not use "special" hand loads, etc. Idea was the competition reflected shooter's skill, not his ability to buy his way to a score...