I ran across a real nice 6.5 Swede the other day and I see alot of potential in a gun for varmints / deer. Does anyone use this caliber or have used it in the past. This is a nice vintage military rifle but its not all original so if was sporterized it would be no large loss.

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Vaya con Dios

Why would anybody want to shoot a 6.5 swede..??????

Heck I'd marry her.. or at least take her out... Oh WAIT..
I DID.. ( actually she's a 6.0 version )

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

I have one, nothing to be proud of to look at. An partner of mine "sporterized" a .mil Swede rifle and somehow another I ended up with it in one of the many dozens of gun trades we have made over the years...
Bought some cheap PMC ammo, about 100 rounds and took it to the range....stupid thing shot less than an inch with a cheap scope on it, so I used it for my "rain, sleet, snow" deer rifle....took the biggest deer I ever killed with it....a monster buck that of course ended up in the bottom of the deepest ravine n the woods....
I say all that to say this, I love that little rifle, it ain't for sale, and I still have 60 something of those rounds I bought 20 years ago....
If you need a deer rifle, you won't do any better

I've got a box stock "As Issued" M1896 that was made in 1906. Mine shoots about seven inches high at 100 yards as the ladder sight is regulated to a minimum range of 300 yards. Mine averages groups just over 1.5" using Winchester 140 gr factory loads shot over sand bags with open sights.

As far as hunting with the old war horse? Yes, I've used it successfully on whitetail deer. A buddy of mine has one that has been sporterized and used it this year to drop a 238 pound (on the butchers scale) 4x5 North Dakota mule deer.

As the good sheriff said "If you need a deer rifle, you won't do any better" is absolutely correct.

Class III

A Swedish Mauser rifle in this caliber is my favorite bolt action...

Nice fast bullet... More gentle recoil... Remarkably accurate... Precision manufactured, with a very smooth action...

Mine was made in Sweden at the Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori government arsenal.

You may still be able to get surplus ammo from Samco in Miami.

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Marc

Deer - schmeer!

Them Scandinavian hunters are dedicated marksmen , and use their beloved 6.5x55 for BIG deer , elk & caribou , and at looong range. It is to them what our 30-06 is to us Yanks. That long streamlined freight train-like .264dia bullet has excellent penetration and terminal effect on big game with fine accuracy and mild recoil to boot.

I have a 1918 Carl Gustav long rifle and it's a great shooter.

Be aware that the 'battle zero' on those rifles is about 300 meters , so it will shoot high at 100yds. Samco has front sight blades of different heights.

I don't have a Swede rifle anymore but I still hunt and shoot the cartridge.

My "Swede" is a CZ 550 chambered in 6.5x55. The rifle shoots great has beautiful wood and is very pleasing to the eye and for glass I have a Leupold 3x9.

I didn't draw any hunting permits this year so I didn't get to go hunting but the last two years I got 2 nice mule deer bucks with one shot each. Neither buck went more than a few yards before falling over.

If I ever draw an Elk tag I'm going to use the 6.5x55.

For the deer I used a Hornady 140 SP bullet. Besides the .30-06 the 6.5x55 is my favorite caliber.

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Mike
USMCR 84-87, USAF 87-07

I've been a Swede guy since the '80s - like the .41 Mag. and the 28-ga., it's a real "gun guy" caliber.

Don't shoot Qball,He didn't do it.

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Dum vivo cano

Well... actually....


I did


And by the way.... i'm only 5.5

I own a 1904 'Carl Gustav' M96 longrifle...Really have not shot it all that much. Does work well..and is accurate and all that.

The 6.5 X 55 is a great cartridge . Will kill anything in North America with proper bullet selection . If shooting a 1896 or M38 military action don't get crazy with your handloads & they're long throated . Get a 98 Mauser or modern action if you want max loads . A 140gr 6.5 bullet has the same sectional density as a 30 cal 200gr . Needless to say those pencil thin bullets penetrate like no tomorrow . Great first caliber rifle for kids & ladies as recoil is quite managable . It's also a very accurate round & still holds 300 meter records in Europe .

David, I often refer folks to this site and I am thrilled to be able to repay the debt. This link has a ton of info for you:
Surplusrifle Forum • View topic - References for Swede Mausers

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Always bet on stupidity.

I've had a 1908 Carl Gustav for almost 20 years. It sat around for about 10 years before I ever shot it. Accurate rifle for sure. They do shoot high at shorter ranges. Love mine.

You look much taller in pictures.

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Dum vivo cano

I shot a 6.5x55 in 1,000 yard F Class Competition for 5 years. Of course, it wasn't a M96 Mauser, but my loads (139gr Scenar at 2925fps) only required 25.5 MOA of up from a 100 yard zero to reach 1k.

Don

I actually have three m96
Two bone stock military version (correct numbers) and one modified with scoutmounted pistol scoop.
Shortend barrel and threded for a silencer.
Still have to make the silencer though.

I have an 1899 Mauser Oberndorf Swede, A 1900 CG and a 1943 M38 Husqvarna. Wonderful rifles to shoot. I need a M94, anyone have one for cheap. I already have a bayonet for it.

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Copyright MCMLXII ©

The rifles that had threaded muzzles weren't threaded for a silencer. They were threaded for an attachment that shredded the wooden 'bullet' on blanks. You'll need a mighty big 'can' to suppress the blast of a 6.5.

Samco and Sarco each sell a 'flash hider' that threads on.

I made a brass 'false muzzle' for mine.

I've seen M38 and M96 rifles that came with a threaded cap to cover the muzzle threads.

I looked and looked at my M96...no cap..no threads...I guess all of the cool Swedish rifles didn't get threaded.

The Swedish bayonet..another nice piece of hardware..

Well.. this one is for a silencer.
It was made in a lathe at my work at the same time the barrel was shortend.

The rifle was a parts gun so no damage done.

I don't think a military 6.5 would make a good varmint gun; the rifling twist is too fast for light bullets.

I've shot caribou with the 6.5x55. Results were excellent. 140 gr bullets exited the animals on broadside shots.

I do have a couple of 6.5's I shoot every now and then. Great rifles, both dates 1903. But then again I have several Swedish guns in different calibers. I like them all.

Before he died, my dad gave each of us boys (my brothers and two cousins) a M38, saying every good Swede needs a 6.5. I ended up with his personal 6.5 and I gave it to my son. They were all Husqvarnas, so I really should pick up a Carl Gustaf. Saw one at a local gun auction a couple of years ago -- a carbine with a beautiful mannlicher stock and receiver sight. I told myself I'd go $325 on it, and finally stopped at $450. Wish I would have kept going!

Mine are well made and accurate - around 1.7" 5 shots @ 100. I picked them when that was easy to do. Found accuracy with 85, 100, 120, 129 and 140 gr bullets. Mine especially liked 100 gr Noslers with surplus H4831 [now all gone] and Sierra 140s with RL22. I neck sized for each individual rifle. Prefer Lapua brass to avoid slight case bulge from US spec ammo having case base a few thousandths small. Fiddled with OAL, tho 100 gr Noslers always had a jump to rifling.

Have scout scope on 38/96. Tried scope on 96 also. Never bothered on fine Husky 38, which I shot little to keep cherry.

Always thought a CZ would be fun, but much pricier than the affordable Swedes from mid 90s. Have fun.

Regards,

Dyson

I have 2 6.5X55's. A Model 94 swedish carbine that was my dad's deer rifle for many years and a 12" Encore handgun I bought from Virgin Valley Custom Guns. Both are excellent shooters. As I grew up around the 6.5 bore, I find the .260 Remington in a Model 7 to be almost the perfect Adirondack Whitetail rifle.

I've been loading with a friend, for his CZ Full Stock in 6.5 X 55.

Fantastic rifle. Beautiful wood, clean lines, and the best trigger I've ever pulled.

With IMR 4350, the relatively short barrel gives a 3,000 fps average, with a 120 grain Nosler BT. Shoots in one hole.

Think I'll get one just like it.

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NRA Instructor

Is Winchester still making the M-70 Fwt. in 6.5mm? Does Ruger chamber it in the M-77?

The 6.5X55 in modern loads is noticeably hotter than the old 6.5X54mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer that killed so much game in Africa in the early 20th Century.

Peter Hortberger, who owns Fallkniven Knives in Sweden, uses a 6.5mm on moose (alg), but bought a 9.3X62mm because he sees bears where he hunts.

His knives are exceptional, BTW. Not cheap, but superb. His Northern Lights line looks a lot like Randalls, but have modern laminated steel blades, with VG-10 cores. www.fallkniven.com He has a few US dealers. Prices on the site are in Swedish kroner.

What concerns me about using lighter bullets in 6.5mm is that the leap to the rifling is farther than with 140 grainers, and Jack O'Connor said that using 139 grainers in a 7X57mm throated for 175 grainers caused excessive bore erosion. That's a big reason why he switched to the .270, which he championed so heavily through most of his gun-writing career. Still he got one of the last pre-'64 M-70's chambered in 7mm and one was also his wife's primary hunting rifle. I'm guessing that the old Swedish military rifles would be more affected by using lighter bullets, due to softer steels and the throating being for heavier bullets. The Mannlicher was known for deep penetration with 160 grain bullets, so I guess they can be used in 6.5X55, too. But I think I'd sight-in with 140 grainers, probably Noslers, if they're available in factory ammo in that caliber.

I just checked and the Featherweight Model 70 isnt available in 6.5x55. The CZ550 is available.

Thanks. I don't know when they were made, but some M-70's are around. May be from about the 1980's. Don't know how they shoot in that caliber.

I've been a Swede fan for many years. In my opinion it is one of the best military calibers ever conceived and grossly under appreciated as a sporting round.

I started with a surplus 96 and when I had the chance to move to a commercial action so chambered, I did. A modern action like the Remington, Ruger or Winchester makes a difference if you reload your ammo. Not that the surplus guns are not great if you get a good one, but the round can be loaded to a higher pressure in a modern action and it is definitely an improvement on an already great round.

I bought the Remington Classic that was offered in 94, if I remember the date correctly. It will shoot everything I load for it from 85 grain to 140. You can go heavier, but I have no need to shoot the heavy bullets.

The only thing I had to do to this rifle was adjust the trigger. It shoots all the loads I have tried, 85, 90, 100, 120 and 140 grain under 1 1/4". I believe it is good to go on any North American big game except maybe a big bear and I'm not sure it wouldn't handle one of those in a pinch if the range was reasonable. A really great cartridge.

I'll bet one with a heavier barrel would be a hellofa long range varmint rifle or target gun.

My M96 CG rifle was made in 1904 and is all matching (except cleaning rod which very few match) and is in wonderful shape and can really shoot. It really like 160 gr roundnose bullets. I retained the original front sight so it shoots pretty high (about 14") at 100 yards.

The M38 Husqvarna is also a fine rifle although not quite as good as the M96. The triggers are excellent for military triggers.

The one I'd have loved to own was a M94 carbine. They are neat.

my father left me this carl gustafs stads gevarsfaktori 1918 .i've heard there are alot of fakes.anybody out there help me out.

Never heard of anyone faking one of those, and I've been into Swedes since the mid-'80s. Why don't you tell us a little more about what you have: is it an 1896 (most likely)? Maybe show us some pictures . . . ?

Welcome to the forum, by the way!

thanks for the reply, it says 1918 . i was just trying to find out a little more about it. i'm new at this , i'll post a picture when i can figure it out.

I have two - a sporterized 1894 (no, I didn't do the dirty deed) and an M38 from 1942. Love both of them.

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VIVERE MILITARE EST

bad-bo, you might want to Google Swede Mausers. There were a few different models, the main ones being the 1894, the 1896 and the M38. The "1918" on yours is the date of manufacture.

I don't have a Swede, but I do shoot a 6.5, a 6.5-06.

Really a great caliber.

A friend used to use a Swedish '96 as his first 1,000 yard target rifle. It did very well for him until he graduated to a 7-08mm Remington 700.

I've got a '96 that I haven't shot for ten years or more.

If I still had some place to shoot a rifle seriously, I'd love to have a Savage 12BVSS or equivalent in 6.5x55mm.

Some years ago a shooter wrote an article on using the 6.5 as a target rifle. he won the Wimbledon Match (1000 yds) at Camp Perry with it.

I know it is your rifle, but even a mismatched rifle with a good full stock and handguards should be left complete, IMHO.

I have both a M96 and a M38. I got them when they first started coming in the country in volume, back in the late 80s. I think both were from Century Arms for less than or around $100. The asking price for decent ones has gone up quite a bit! The old military rifles are well made, most of them in very good condition, it is an easy cartridge to load and they all are great shooters. Get a higher front sight blade though, because they are designed to shoot at 300m.

Also, don't forget the Ljungman AG-42 semi-automatics that came in about the same time. They will beat up your brass, and have a long, heavy action, but are really cool rifles of unusual operation and design.

A local gunshop recently took in a Norwegian 1898 Krag in the original 6.5x55 chambering that is in remarkably good condition. Although priced high, I have been sorely tempted to expend funds on that one.

Winchester and Ruger have both chambered rifles in 6.5 x 55. I have a Ruger M77 in that chambering. It is a great shooting rifle. In fact, I only shoot handloads in it and haven't found anything yet that wants to shoot groups much bigger than 1" at 100 yds. You can also improve on the performance of the cartridge since in a modern rifle handloads in the 50+kpsi range will really make them step out! My favorite load is a Hornady 129 at about 3000fps with Re-19 (don't do this in older military rifles). Ruger also produced a Number 1 in 6.5, last year I think, for one of their distributors as a special.

Winchester also made a production Featherweight Model 70 in 6.5 Swede with a push-feed action in the 90s. One of my friends had one, and in a moment of insanity decided to sell it before he told me he was going to do so! They were planning to offer a Model 70 Classic (controlled round feed) in SS with a Featherweight walnut stock the year they decided to close New Haven. I have the catalog with them in it. I don't know if they actually shipped any, but I was sure planning to get one. That would have been "the perfect rifle".

e/t/a -- apparently they did ship some, because I found a few that had been offered for sale. Here is the Win catalog info: http://www.winchesterguns.com/produc...=12&mid=535966

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" I said, good DAY! "

I witnessed my brother shoot a pronghorn at 400 yds with his Rem 700 Classic in 6.5 Swedish. The bullet went through both shoulders. Very impressive.