reloading for a 1913 6.5x55

Rick65Cat

Rick65Cat

CGN frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
26   0   0
Location
Edmonton
Its been forever since I posted here.....

I've reloaded for a new .223 and a new .204....but, I'm leary about reloading for a 1913 Carl Gustav 6.5x55. I got the rifle back in the mid 80s with a barrel cut to 18.5 inches in sporterized military wood.
I'm getting 5 inch groups at 100 yrds (yeah, I know it should shoot better) with Privi Partizan 139gr SP bullets. The barrel seems dark with some pitting. To be honest its been so long since I cleaned it, (I don't get to the range much and shoot the 6.5 even less) that I can't remember the condition of the barrel. The bolt closes nice and tight though.

Having said all that, is there a load for *military* 6.5x55 actions? Yes, theres loads for modern guns but should I worry about using modern loads in an old rifle?

Comments appreciated

 
An m96 swede is not the old rifles you're thinking of. Norwegian Krag–Jørgensen rifles in 6.5x55 are the ones that you're thinking of. An m96 mauser will take just about whatever you will throw at it, modern 6.5x55 loads included. Mine used to like 42gr of BL-C(2) under a 129gr SST.
 
Tradex had/has new barrels in the white.I had one replaced on a shot out 41 Husky.It's been mentioned 1000 times but hot modern loads should be avoided.Use data for Swedish mausers as the 96 action lacks the extra safety margin of the 98.If by some remote chance it lets go there will be no warning........Harold
 
my old 6.5x55 swedes all shot well. ALWAYS!!! i never went crazy with with modern vs M96 actions. I started low.. Worked high.. found my accuracy node.. and used that.. I was averaging 2700 fps outta a 24" barrel. IMR4831 was the power i alwasy went to. Others worked great as well but always had the best results with IMR 4831.

Play safe and shoot straight
Josh
 
I fired several hundred rounds through my 1900 stamped M96 before I even found out about "military" versus "modern" pressures and data. I compared and the load I had found that was working great was near the max load for modern actions. When I talked to several old timers who had been shooting them for decades they all loaded hotter than I did.

I remember reading something from the gun tech department at Lapua and their ballistic engineers said the M96 action is perfectly safe at maximum CIP pressures for 6.5x55 so long as it's in good condition. That would mean the reduced "military" loads in some manuals are unnecessary. They recommend against using the action for higher pressure cartridges though.
 
Remember "Kimber" making 22-250,.243 + .308 sporters on 96 action for a while 15 years ago or so? There's a reason they quit doing that...........law suits...they may never let go, but with a 100 year old action there is no guaranty ....Harold
 
mbogo3 said:
Tradex had/has new barrels in the white.I had one replaced on a shot out 41 Husky.It's been mentioned 1000 times but hot modern loads should be avoided.Use data for Swedish mausers as the 96 action lacks the extra safety margin of the 98.If by some remote chance it lets go there will be no warning........Harold
Click to expand...

Yeah, they said in an email that they sell new barrels screwed into receivers already. So, I'd have to get a gunsmith to headspace my bolt to the new receiver. For that money, I'd just buy another 6.5 from Tradex with a good barrel.
 
mbogo3 said:
Remember "Kimber" making 22-250,.243 + .308 sporters on 96 action for a while 15 years ago or so? There's a reason they quit doing that...........law suits...they may never let go, but with a 100 year old action there is no guaranty ....Harold
Click to expand...
SAAMI lists those cartridges as much higher pressure though.
.22-250 is 65,000psi
.243 is 60,000psi
.308 is 62,000psi

SAAMI lists a max pressure for 6.5x55 at 51,000psi. So if you shoot those other cartridges we're talking 20% or more above the pressures the rifle was designed to. That's like proofing your rifle with every shot.
CIP lists a max pressure of 55,000psi but they use a totally different pressure measuring setup. Their numbers often vary from SAAMI's by quite a bit even when measuring identical cartridges/loads.

All I'm saying is the rifle was designed (yes, 100 years ago) to fire a 51k psi cartridge. Almost all load data is neutered from the get-go and the most accurate load is rarely a max load as well. Chances are the load someone uses wont be much above 48-49k psi anyway. Just use any reload data and if you aren't comfortable shooting full power cartridges in such an old rifle, don't shoot it.

My own belief has always been if you want a more powerful rifle, buy a more powerful rifle; don't try to hotrod a lower power cartridge. Doesn't matter if it's a 100 year old rifle or a 1 year old rifle.

There are specific situations where someone can safely go above max pressure for certain cartridges. A 6.5x55 chambered Tikka T3 in the same action used for .22-250 could probably be pushed to 60k psi without much problem. The same way a .303 British chambered Ruger No.1 or excellent condition P14 can use .308 Win load data to hit 60k psi as well. Technically .45 Colt loads in a Ruger Super Blackhawk can safely reach over 200% max pressure. It's all situation dependant. In an M96 Swede though I'd stick to the normal max pressure for the cartridge.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom