Reloading for the 6.5 X 55 Swedish mauser

In my 96/38 I've been working up to the velocity of the old 140 grain Swedish 'torped' ammo which was 2591fps so it will match my sights.

45 or 45.5 grains IMR 4831 should about do it. I'm using cci200 primer and hornady 140 interlocks.

Working up from 43 to 44.5 grains the group sizes (with open sights) are virtually the same... tight.

44.5 gives me 2554 fps with a spread of 11.32, 5 shot average.

Exactly my findings. in a modern rifle(CZ 550 Lux) i was up to 46 and 47 gr of IMR 4831 in a Lapua Case, CCI 200 primers and 130gr HPBT Gamekings. Excellent accuracy, and velocity(2800-2900fps) in a 24" tube.
140gr Interlocks and Gamekings gave me 2650-2700 with 1/2" groupings at 100 yards.. Cant say i ever used them on game.. but for Bambie its more then enough bullet to get the job done IMO.

Josh
 
I load 47gr of RE#22 /Win case/Fed mag primer/140gr Partition in my son's T3 with sub 1/2" groups at 100 yards and with the same charge and a 130gr Scirocco2 it makes one hole.Too hot for a 96 action IMO but fine in the T3.Moose,elk,bear ,antelope and deer have all fell to these loads.Harold
 
I bought my first M38 at least 30 yrs ago. I have bought and sold a few other 96's and a couple M42B's. I now have 2 38's and a 42B. I did a little bit of load development with my first rifle. Settled on 35 grs of 4064 and 140 gr Hornady SP's. This is a light load but always shot well for me. I used these rifles for informal range plinking and turkey shoots. Some of my original Norma brass have been reloaded 30 times and I have not lost a single case except a couple flung into the tall weeds by one of the 42's.
 
48 R22/140gr whatever, has zoned in on the sweet spot through many Swede's over many thousands of rounds. A few barrels worth so far.
The best so far, (@ 1/2 MOA typical), has been with with Amax or Scenar. Seated out to kiss the lands in new M38 shorter throat barrels from Tradeex.
Some of the Lap brass has seen 30 plus reloads with regular annealing.
Primer pockets still tight as new.
 
RE22 is great and lately I am seeing good things from H4350 and 130gr TSX's

I have had good results with RE19 and N560 as well.

*I see that I answered this thread already!*
 
Seated out to kiss the lands...

I found a piece on how to do this a while back but I can't remember where I found it. Anyone who fine-tunes their bullet seating for their gun want to describe how they do it? Point me to an online resource maybe?

Great discussion btw - I'm glad this thread rebooted.
 
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Few M96 swedes will allow bullet to touch lands and still mag feed. Deep throats are the norm.
In fact, even bullets perched outside/on top of the neck, may not touch the rifling.
The exception that works very well for me is:
Tradeex M38 barrel with its much shorter leade, and 140 gr. Horn Amax with its long long shank.
The bullet can be jammed into leade with 3/4 of the case neck seated. Around 3.200"+ OAL., which mag feeds perfect.
This 48RL22/140 Amax/BR2 combo in the 10x Supersniper scoped LR rig will sometimes (quite often) give 1'st round hit at 950yd on 14x12"steel. Runout is minus 2 thou.
Thats if the spotter, wind call, and hold are all good. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3.

As to determining seating depth salon_1928?.
I do it the old fashioned way. Smoke the dummy bullet, seated far out, and close bolt. Inspect and measure with calipers the depth of engraving on bullet. Seat deeper by calculated amount and repeat. At 15 thou. jam, it works for me. Be carefull with powder charges near max. if you do choose to jam, as it does increase pressure.
 
I have attained the best accuracy and velocity in 3 different 6.5X55s using IMR 7828 and 140 gn bullets. I have thousands of 139-140 gn bullets so I have never worked with a different weight, however 7828 has shone in these rifles with this weight. I use Lapua brass and CCI 200 primers.
 
If anyone is interested I have some 6.5x55 brass for pickup in the Chilliwack area. PM and I'll meet up with you or drop it off somewhere. Cheers.
 
I've been running 48.0 grains of RL-17 with both the Barnes 127 grain LRX and nosler 129 accubond long range at around 3.170" in my t3 lite. Sub moa groups, over 3000 fps. Had a complete pass through of a large buck's shoulders at 300m. Dropped him on the spot. Love my 6.5.

I also have a bunch of the 142 nosler long range accubonds but I haven't really even developed a load for them as I have complete faith in the two mentioned above. I was around 47-48 grains of Norma MRP. I've also got the 130 grain swift scirocco IIs but haven't bothered loading anything with those either.
 
I've been running 48.0 grains of RL-17 with both the Barnes 127 grain LRX and nosler 129 accubond long range at around 3.170" in my t3 lite. Sub moa groups, over 3000 fps. Had a complete pass through of a large buck's shoulders at 300m. Dropped him on the spot. Love my 6.5.

I also have a bunch of the 142 nosler long range accubonds but I haven't really even developed a load for them as I have complete faith in the two mentioned above. I was around 47-48 grains of Norma MRP. I've also got the 130 grain swift scirocco IIs but haven't bothered loading anything with those either.

That seems waaayy over RL17 published data?
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...derlist.aspx&type=1&powderid=25&cartridge=106
 
Hmm maybe it is?

I looked at nosler's load data for the 129 grain accubond long range using rl17 in the 260 Remington and they're getting around 3045 fps with 45 grains of RL17. The 6.5x55 case holds around 6 more grains of water using the same bullet weight as the 260 according to nosler's website. I started low (43 grains) and worked up in 0.5 grain increments. I feel it's safe in my rifle. Overall length is 3.170" and there is still plenty of jump. I've got no pressure signs, but haven't fired them in hot weather. May have to re-evaluate.

http://www.nosler.com/nosler-load-data/260-remington/
 
H4350 in my Tikka T3 Varmint worked great with 140gr Berger and Sierra Mk bullets. Wanted long range performance so heavier is better.
Tried RL-22 and was good too, but didn't out perform the H4350.
And I agree with the previous post that slower powders work better in the Swede case.
Haven't tried any hunting bullets yet, but given how it shoots the target bullets, I don't think I'll have any trouble finding one that works. Was going to use it Elk this past fall, but unfortunately time didn't allow me to develop the load. (Used "Old Reliable" 375 H&H).
 
I have attained the best accuracy and velocity in 3 different 6.5X55s using IMR 7828 and 140 gn bullets. I have thousands of 139-140 gn bullets so I have never worked with a different weight, however 7828 has shone in these rifles with this weight. I use Lapua brass and CCI 200 primers.

This is exactly what I plan on trying in my zastava when my scope shows up.
 
Anyone here reload using light bullets in their Swedes? I've a box of Hornady 100gr's that I'd like to use for varmint hunting.

Here is my first 5 round group with 100gr Amax after zeroing. 100m with iron sights, using a S&L M69....49gr H4831, mag primers, Win brass.
 
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