reloading a 6.5x55 Swede

Don't have any data to share with you but kudos on getting a swede!!
My wife got a 1917 swede mauser on a wool buying trip(long story) and it is a sweet shooter. Beautiful smooth action, accurate and very mild recoil. I'm thinking of buying a modern CZ in 6.5x55 so I can "push the envelope" a bit.

Been awhile since loading 6.5 Swede but I remember favoring the Sierra 142 grain HPBT match bullets.



They worked well on top of about 40.0 grains of IMR 4350. I also liked the Hornady 140 Grain BTHP Match bullets over the same charge. I also liked the VV powders with a focus on VV N-165 with the same 140 to 142 grain bullets. This was in 1:7.5 twist barrels. For hunting the 120 or so grain spitzers were useful bullets but for target I always liked the 140 or 142 grain bullets.

As always, consult your loading manuals and work up your loads for your rifle.

Ron

When I had mine, it performed best with Sierra 120 grainers with the 140s close behind. While 4350 did good, 3031 did a little better in MY gun and 4064 did decent as well.

140 gr Speer HotCor is least expensive quality bullet. I've used them and 120 gr with total satisfaction through a .260 Rem. For, deer the 120 is satisfactory, for elk or Moose, use the 140. If the predicted Ice age occurs and we get moose invading Georgia, I have some discontinued Sierra 160's that are exceptionally accurate. The 140's go through our smallish deer like a hot knife through butter. But kill them very dead.
No need for a $$$ bullet with the "Swede". A Sierra , Speer, or Hornady cup 'n core bullets work just fine!

I have a M-38 sweed dated 1925 seem to love IMR 4350 shoots both 120 gr. and the Hornady 129 SP both loaded with 43.5 grains

The sweed has a scout scope set up

E-rex;

Between my son and myself, we've had a few 6.5 Swedes over the years & been reloading for it since the mid-90's.

With the M94, check the receiver ring for who the manufacturer is also. It could be one of three: Carl Gustav, Husqvarna, or Mauser. All model 94's have a very smooth action, if your's feels gritty or the bolt travel feels tight, have it immediately inspected by a good gunsmith, not Backyard Bob. It should also have an arsenal disc on the buttstock, a brass circle about an inch in diameter. The information on that disc is easily available on the web and it's good to know.

What powder charge of IMR4350 you use will depend also on what bullet you use. Due to different jacket thickness, brass alloys, and hardness, they do not all go down the barrel with the same amount of friction. Be aware of this and it'll help a great deal avoiding an overpressure situation. Because the M94 is not considered to be the equal of a strong commercial action, it's a good idea to be a little more careful than not when working up with one.

Bullet choice in large part depends on what you want to do. Are you looking to hunt with it, or just punch paper and ring gongs? Nothing wrong with working up a load for each purpose either. One thing I would not do is buy into a "Premium Bullet" mindset for reloading the 6.5 Swede. Perfectly adequate results can be obtained with Hornady, Sierra, or Speer bullets, in boxes of 100 at moderate cost. My particular hunting load uses the Sierra 140 grain Gameking bullet, and I'm not afraid to hunt elk with it. I live in Outer Montana & do that every year. We have also seen some very nice accuracy produced by the Sierra HP target bullets. Please don't think this is just an ad for Sierra either, the other bullet makers products can really perform also.

900F

Great Whitetail Round.

Goose and I have the same taste in bullets. I shot a 700 classic for several years and a 120gr Speer over a 46gr of IMR-4350 was my whitetail load. You need to remember that this was in a modern action and not the military mauser. The twin lug mauser isn't as strong as the 700 or model 98 actions.

I load for three friends who shoot the model 94's. All three guns liked the 140gr with Reloader 22. Start low and work up. You won't be disappointed.

Hi,

Although I have a modern 6.5mm Swede I have had great results with;

120gr. Sierra Pro Hunters
130gr. Nosler Accubonds
140gr. Sierra Game Kings

This would lead me to believe that the calibre accepts differing weights with ease. I liked the 140gr. Game Kings which produced the best groups, if not only by a small margin. All were in the region of 0.6MOA.

If your rifle has a 18" barrel then using a 140gr. SGK with a COL of 3.15" and 42.9gr. of IMR 4350 should get you to 2 411fps at a safe pressure of 47 350psi. This has you on Node 8 for an 18" barrel.

Moving to Node 7 is theoretically possible ( 2 525fps at 54 055psi) but as this is just below maximum chamber pressure you will need to work up to this load to ensure that the set of components and chambers size permits this load safely.

If your barrel length differs let me know and if you have existing bullets let me know and we can model new loads.

With a military Swede, especially if it is a M94 and not a M96, you have to keep your loads within the pressures of the service round. The materials of the era were fine with service pressures, but they are not fine when exceeding service pressures.

Modern rifles, made of modern alloy steel, there is no reason why pressures can't equal any other modern cartridge/rifle combination, but these old guns, you are limited by the metallurgy.

That being said, I ran some loads over the chronograph. With a 29 inch barrel the 6.5 X 55 Swede really looks great. Ballistically this ought to beat the stuffing out of a 30-06 with a 150, 168 or 175 grain bullet. Might be getting close with a 190 grain 308 bullet.

My IMR 4350 loads, I think they are close to service pressures, could cut them by a grain.


M1896 Infantry Rifle 29' barrel Carl Gustafs mfgr 1903

17-Aug-06 T = 85 °F
143 gr FMJ 1986 Swedish Ball

Ave Vel = 2610
Std Dev = 14.38
ES = 45.59
High = 2633
Low = 2587
N = 8



M38 Infantry Carbine 24" barrel

28-Oct-94 T ≈ 60 °F

143 gr 1986 Swedish Ball OAL 3.065" 47.4 grs powder average

Ave Vel = 2427
Std Dev = 22
ES = 62
Low = 2395
High = 2457
N = 10


M700 22" Barrel

143 gr Swedish Ball 1986 headstamp

2 Feb 2008 T = 54 °F

Ave Vel = 2470
Std Dev = 18
ES = 48
High = 2491
Low = 2443
N = 5

140 gr Hornday Spire Point 43.0 grs AA4350
R-P new brass CCI-200 OAL 2.990"

2 Feb 2008 T = 52 °F

Ave Vel = 2512
Std Dev = 27
ES = 72
High = 2547
Low = 2475
N = 5









M70 Featherweight 22" Barrel

140 gr Hornady Spire Point 43.0 grs AA4350
R-P new brass CCI-200 OAL 2.990"

18 Nov 2007 T = 75 °F

Ave Vel = 2428
Std Dev = 29
ES = 95
High = 2480
Low = 2385
N = 24

easy bolt life,nice rounded primers