6.5x55 Swede owners??????

[akrifle]

I've loved, and used the 6.5x55 Swede for years...........before they became cool again and got rediscovered. Finally, I'm not the cheap, weird guy that uses an old mil surp with funny looking rounds that the bullet looks as long as the case.
A few weeks ago someone asked "what is your most accurate rifle" and there were several folks that listed the Swede 6.5x55. I'm just wondering how many of us Swede shooters are out there. Which do you have /like?, Pics of game taken?

For me: 1915 M96 Carl Gustaf, 1917 M96 Gustaf, 1941 Husky M38. All still shoot better than my modern rifles.

 

[Maxim]

I have a Carls Gustav M1894 carbine made in 1904. Unfornately, it's an Interarms, and it has been "sported," but I like it none the less.
Maxim

 

[brav01]

6.5x55

6.5x55

Let's not forget there are many modern manufactured 6.5x55 swedes now available also. I've sold hundreds of the swedes in nearly every configuration from the 1894 carbine to the CG-63 and CG-80 target rifles. Many I hated to part with, but they belonged to the shop.
My current 6.5x55 is in the Tikka-T3 stainless configuration. It's lighter than my 1894 carbine was and much more accurate; I actually got it for a mountain rifle. As a modern rifle caliber the velocity can be increased to exceed 260 remington and close in on 6.5-06 specs. The wife & grand kids can shoot factory 6.5 US ammo and enjoy the light rifle as well.

 

[jakec5253]

6.5 swede

6.5 swede

I have a Winchester M70 featherweight in 6.5X55 topped with a VX-II. It was a high school graduation present from my dad. I haven't hunted with it up here because when I got orders to Alaska, he built me a .338-06. He just might be the best dad in the world.

Jake

 

[Wildalaska]

I have an M41B dated 1910 (but refurbed in the 50s), sub moa rifle with my handloads, an M38 (that I will be selling soon as I dont shoot it) and a 6.5x55 barrel for my Blaser LRS 2, best shooting rifle I have ever shot as long as I keep the BIBTS errors down.

 

[rifleshooter]

6.5

6.5

Sure,

Count the modern one's too...............I want a 6.5x55 Blaser!

 

[Terry D]

Swedes forever!

Swedes forever!

AKrifle, my 6.5 is also a 1941 Husqvarna M38. When I got it, it still had the full-length stock and the bolt handle stuck straight up when open. It also has the threaded barrel to accept a bayonet. I cut the stock down, and cut and re-welded the bolt so it would work with a scope. That was 20 years ago. Since then I've refinished the stock twice, and mounted a cheap Bushnell 6x scope. I think I might have tweaked the scope once. It's been super accurate, and even with top loads, gentle to shoot. I've taken game from deer to Yukon moose, and never felt the rifle was too light. With bullet weights up to 160 gr, it's not just a lightweight. I recommend the 6.5 Swede to anyone looking for a rifle in this bracket. Can you tell I'm a believer?

 

[mainer_in_ak]

The 160 grain 26 caliber bullets have been proven to penetrate like you wouldn't believe. What the 6.5 lacks in bullet diameter.....it makes up for it with extreme penetration.

 

[pinehavensredrocket]

here is my 6.5 swede made from a military rifle, the old m96. the action was reworked, new bolt handle, trigger, quality bases and rings and the metal parkerized.

the wood is hickory made from a slab, all the stock work done by hand. the wood is dense enough to hold a good pattern, and is skip checkered to show it off. the swivels are inletted, and a shadow line cheekpiece completes the job.

i would like to say it shoot 1/4 minute but for me groups run 1.033-1.047 which is just fine for a hunting rifle. the locktime is slow (by today's standards) which may be my problem.

great rifle and caliber, still killing big game and it isn't even a magnum???

 

[swedeshooter]

swedes

swedes

I love this when the Swede makes a return to the forum.
hope to post the M38 m96 and a sporterized m96. The sporterized Swede has same action, trigger, and barrel, all I did was drop it in a European wood stock and voila, sub minute of angle with the remington factory load.
Here is a neat one , using the lee scoop I loaded according to the enclosed list, scooped the loads behind 140 remington psp, used brass of various reload history and various brands; just wanted a simple load for the 100 yard and under shots here in North Carolina Uhwarrie Forest, and lo and behold.
Three round groups , averaging .78 inch, AND 2891 at the MV, AND 10 rounds only showed 18 fps variants, go figure,
Hot load, don't think so, I meticulously checked the brass , no problemo!
For those who watch Western Extreme with the Berger bullets and the 6.5x284 loads with fancy guns, same same!
Kinda wild, I double checked, tripled checked the extended ballistics, similar to the performance , cannot wait to reload the Bergers!
Wait till you see the Wild rear sight , target sight, on the M38!
Flat round plate, with notches for 25 yard ( I think) increments.
I still have the letter from Ludwig Olson who explained the uniqueness of the sight,
The swede has slowly creeped into the gun safes of my hunting buddies,
this past season I had ershaw insert a 24 inch 6.5x55 into a savage left hand for my buddy who fell in love with the swede, ( he owns a left hand blaser deluxe, bu loves the swede more!!)
Went to the range, even with breaking in the son of a gun was shooting minute of angle , I mean come on now, how is that possible, three round Priv Partisan sp at the average 2560 fps.
Fell in love with the Swede accidentally, back in 1986 my Father in law, a WW2 vet, was aware of how much I wanted a Mauser, so he spent 65.00 , yes 65.00, on ALL matching numbers vg condition M96. That son of a gun shoots moa at 200 yards with iron sights and factory ammo, when I get tired eyes it opens to 2.5 inches of three round groups.
DO I LOVE THE SWEDE, THE RIFLES, THE CARTRIDGE, AW HECK YES,
The only reason I have a sako l61 30-06 is because the same friend felt bad for me showing up at hunting camp in the catskills with the sporter. Initially all I did was rasp and sand the daylights out of a military stock , he did not realize at the time what it was, he figured it was a 'oh thats nice' gun, now of course he has a swede.
I have shot 85 grain to 160 grain , factory and reloads, Ballistic tips Hornadys Sierras etc. they all perform tirelessly well.
I have convinced my buddy that we should go Elk and or Mule deer hunting with the Swedes just to prove a point,
WE DO PRACTICE, PROMISE, we don't believe in using a bench except for sighting in.
Okay, will quit now, everyone should own a Swede or a carbine with the Swede cartridge,

 

[akrifle]

6.5x55 comeback!

6.5x55 comeback!

Nice hickory stock pinehaven! I've wondered why hickory isn't used more....must be a reason other than it's value BBQing chicken.

Swedeshooter: I'd love to see the letter about that rear sight.

My favorite 6.5 load is the Hornady 160 RN with 39 grns of IMR 4350 or 40grns of IMR 4831 with fed primers and COL 3.021. However, a guy from down on the pennisula swapped me some 160RN with RL 22 and the holes went from quarter size to nickel size groups. What is your favorite load?

I've been studying the reason that the 6.5 round works so well. Not to be a master of the obivious, but the sectional density is hard to beat on any bullet maker's chart and it's penetrating power proves it. My Favorite M96 likes RN bullets, but the Ballistic Coefficient is better on the pointed boattails. I was wondering if anyone could share any studying at longer range shots with pointed boattails. I'm considering an antelope hunt offer and have come to somewhat enjoy the heckling from friends for using old grandma, and it is always fun to have my critter while they swear at this year's $800 rifle, $700 scope, $40 box of premium sure kill bullets, range finders, special laundry detergent, cow in heat mouthwash and all the other gimmicks. Thank goodness that the sweaty palms and rapid heart beat did not allow me to actually use that hacksaw on it over 20 years ago.

 

[mauserboy]

Latest one

Latest one

I've had a number of military and commercial mauser actioned 6.5x55s and they all were just dandy. I now have a Model 70 pushfeed from about 1981-82, I picked up recently NIB. Going out this week to see what will probably be typical results, though I think I'll need to bed and free float the stock. Just a phenomenon on the level of the 30-06 and other cartridges that just plain worked better than their counterparts.

 

[allen-ak]

I shot a Mtn goat with a stock M38 over iron sights at about 225 yds in the Kenai Mountains. Used the Norma 160 grain factory bullet. Bullet exited the off side of the goat. I used that round because it grouped the best. The goat did not seem to mind the lesser BC. I have a sport that I use 140 gr NP in on caribou, but have shot 6-7 all at very close ranges, as close as 20 yds. I would use what gives you the best acceptable accuracy in your rifle. Enjoy!

 

[Wildalaska]

Loads?

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=306394&highlight=ultimate

 

[pinehavensredrocket]

Nice hickory stock pinehaven! I've wondered why hickory isn't used more....must be a reason other than it's value BBQing chicken.

Swedeshooter: I'd love to see the letter about that rear sight.

My favorite 6.5 load is the Hornady 160 RN with 39 grns of IMR 4350 or 40grns of IMR 4831 with fed primers and COL 3.021. However, a guy from down on the pennisula swapped me some 160RN with RL 22 and the holes went from quarter size to nickel size groups. What is your favorite load?

I've been studying the reason that the 6.5 round works so well. Not to be a master of the obivious, but the sectional density is hard to beat on any bullet maker's chart and it's penetrating power proves it. My Favorite M96 likes RN bullets, but the Ballistic Coefficient is better on the pointed boattails. I was wondering if anyone could share any studying at longer range shots with pointed boattails. I'm considering an antelope hunt offer and have come to somewhat enjoy the heckling from friends for using old grandma, and it is always fun to have my critter while they swear at this year's $800 rifle, $700 scope, $40 box of premium sure kill bullets, range finders, special laundry detergent, cow in heat mouthwash and all the other gimmicks. Thank goodness that the sweaty palms and rapid heart beat did not allow me to actually use that hacksaw on it over 20 years ago.

akrifle; thanks for the kind words and your thoughts on the ol' swede! one reason for not using hickory is the weight. is is nearly half again as heavy as walnut. dense wood, it will take a nice checkering pattern but doesn't have the figure common with high grade wood. one nice thing is that it doesn't seem to change point of impact, even in variable weather.

 

[Water-Man]

I'm one of those guys who thinks my Swede is my most accurate rifle. It's a TIKKA T3 Hunter.

 

[brav01]

True

True

akrifle; thanks for the kind words and your thoughts on the ol' swede! one reason for not using hickory is the weight. is is nearly half again as heavy as walnut. dense wood, it will take a nice checkering pattern but doesn't have the figure common with high grade wood. one nice thing is that it doesn't seem to change point of impact, even in variable weather.

IT'S TOUGH;and if it gives you any trouble you can threaten to turn it into an axe handle.

 

[swedeshooter]

swedes forever

swedes forever

akrifle, as soon as my daughter helps me attach, download, whatever, The Photo will be on line asap.
The letter was quite a surprise, a very personal letter to boot, I wish I had a chance to actually meet him.

 

[Float Pilot]

AKRIFLE:

Those loads I gave you were 45 grains of RL-22, a CCI-200 primer, a 160 grain Hornady JSP round nose and some crappy Serbian brass. The COL was 3.00 I think....They are crimped in the cannelure using a Lee Factory Crimp Die.
If I had used Norma brass the groups would be even smaller. Since I have lots of Winchester brass I am using that brass with 46 grains of RL-22. It is a little hot, but my m/96 and m/38 seem to really like it warm.

I won the Kachemak Gun Club Mauser Match last year using that handload. I think they are going to deliberately hold the match this year while I am visiting the inlaws in Germany.... One of them has already asked to borrow one of my Swede Mausers....

 

[CHAPS]

Carl Gustaf; Ruger M77 MKII

Carl Gustaf; Ruger M77 MKII

A 1916 Carl Gustaf and Ruger M77 MKII adorn my safe. They are both accurate, but surprisingly the Ruger is more accurate than the mauser. My Ruger likes 41 grains of Hunter powder, with a Sierra GKBT 140 gr bullet, CCI 200 primers, Win brass. I have a simple Nikon Prostaff 3-9 x 40 scope and a Timney trigger installed. VEry inexpensive set up but it will shoot sub MOA out to 300 yards...haven't shot any further due to lack of range distance. Any thoughts on a better load for the mauser would be much appreciated. I have used the same load for the mauser which I use for the Ruger. I may need to utilize the 160 gr bullet from HOrnady