A "new" 6.5x55 Mauser ...

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AlHunt

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So, I'm pretty excited. I blundered into a 96 Swede action recently. Today I dropped it off at the gunsmith to get a new barrel. I'm going right back to the original 6.5x55 Swede cartridge. A 20" lightweight barrel. I have a scope of some kind upstairs to get me started when it gets back.

I'll put a wooden stock of some kind on it, looks like semi-inletted walnut stocks are available that won't break the bank and I have the woodworking ability to finish it.

He says a couple of months. Seeing some of the wait times mentioned on here, that's not too shabby.

I have no particular use for it, I just wanted something like it and didn't want some run of the mill $400 econo-box rifle.

I have a couple thousand LR primers. The hunt is on now for dies and brass. Should be a fun project.
 

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Very cool!

I've used its ballistic doppleganger, the .260 Remington on deer and antelope. I never had to shoot anything twice - they all dropped in their tracks.

Haha - I just noticed our duelling signatures!
 
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Nice project rifle.
Swede actions are good starting points and the orig caliber is a great one.
You already have the bolt handle conversion done for a scope sighted rifle.
That's a plus as well.
Every one from LEE on up makes 6.5 Swede dies.

I use a set of LEE 6.5 Swede that I converted by shortening the FL sizer to be able to form brass for a 256 Gibbs Magnum,,
I can tell you that the LEE sizer was extremely hard and needed carbide bit to cut the die in the lathe.

2 months build time for the rifle is very good.

Pics when it's done!!
 
For brass, there is absolutely none better for 6.5 Swed, than Lapua! It was the last brass that company still made in Berdan Primed, so if it is old stock from before the mid 70's be specific on Boxer primed.

All the die companies make 6.5 Swed. but I wouldn't settle for less than standard RCBS or Standard Redding! The shell holder is the same as 308/30-06/45ACP, so you don't need anything special.

If you have trouble with the common outlets, you could try Huntington! They have all manner of European components.

I'm a big 6.5mm fan and have picked up partial boxes of bullets for years. From Sierra 87HP to Hornady 160 clad steel RNFMJ. I loaded several military 6.5's and 264 Win Mag, I don't think anyone in the US makes better 6.5mm bullets than Sierra. Even my Carcano became a sub MOA gun with Sierra's!

Ivan
 
Ivan the Butcher said:
For brass, there is absolutely none better for 6.5 Swed, than Lapua! It was the last brass that company still made in Berdan Primed, so if it is old stock from before the mid 70's be specific on Boxer primed.

All the die companies make 6.5 Swed. but I wouldn't settle for less than standard RCBS or Standard Redding! The shell holder is the same as 308/30-06/45ACP, so you don't need anything special.

If you have trouble with the common outlets, you could try Huntington! They have all manner of European components.

I'm a big 6.5mm fan and have picked up partial boxes of bullets for years. From Sierra 87HP to Hornady 160 clad steel RNFMJ. I loaded several military 6.5's and 264 Win Mag, I don't think anyone in the US makes better 6.5mm bullets than Sierra. Even my Carcano became a sub MOA gun with Sierra's!

Ivan
Click to expand...

Definitely appreciate the benefit of your experience. RCBS dies are about $40 and the brand has served me well, so that's probably what I'm going to get.

MidSouth has Lapua brass for about a buck per. I'll be watching for it to go on sale. 1 or 2 hundred pieces would probably last me forever.

Have you any thoughts on a bullet for the 1:8 twist? Primary targets will be paper and tannerite.
 
For bullet weight I would start with 120 grain ang go up from their.

On quantity of brass: I have 200 for a 22 BR and a 338 Lapua mag. When it's new and exciting, that the minimum. When it is just another rifle in the rotation, 200 separates loading sessions by a very long time. I have 100 for my 6x284, that rifle gets so fun when I get around to shooting it, I shoot them all up! My mainstay was 308 sniper rifles, I usually have 500 brass per rifle, but my current only has 350. (45-70, I have a couple thousand!)

It all is determined by how much YOU will shoot and how often you want to be reloading a particular cartridge.

I have settled on Federal Primers for anything that uses Large Rifle Match 210M or Large Rifle Mag. Match 215M. Lapua uses standard Federal Primers in all their factory rifle ammo. (They get fantastic groups with their target ammo!

CCI BR-2 (LR) and BR-4 (SR) are also very good primers!

In today's real world, we tend to take what we can get. I stocked on Federal Primers about 9 years ago by buying four 5000 ct. cases at $35/1000 in each size. That sounds like a bargain now; BUT I remember CCI BR primers at $8 and $9/1000 (circa 1980).

For powder, I have never loaded Swed, but in many cartridges in that size, I swear by Varget.

Ivan
 
You're livin' the dream there.

I like 6.5X55 and admire it more than 6.5 Creedmore, because it was first. I have an '03 Springfield action and a VZ 24 98 Mauser action that I've been threatening to build into a 6.5X55.
 
I owned 15 Swedes at one time, m/38s m/94s m/96s, a CG63 and shot vintage sniper with an m41/B. The 6.5X55 is one of those rounds that will do most anything and do it well. 800 yards, no problem. Surprising it never really caught on here.
 
I have had a few 94 and 96 Swedish Mausers over the years, sold them all off with most of my C&R stuff when I relocated to Texas back in 2011. A couple of years ago I found this M94/14, always loved these Swedish carbines.
 

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You are going to really enjoy this cartridge!! Have harvested several deer with my Remington 700 Classic in 6.5x55, one shot one kill instantly at ranges up to 300 yards here in Montana.....no elk yet.

I found that Reloader 23 and Accurate Arms "Magnum" powder deliver outstanding accuracy with my 140-160 grain bullets. Will shoot about 3/4-1 inch over a rest at 100 yards very consistently with a hot or stone cold barrel

Am using an original Redfield 5 Star scope set on 6x as that is how it will be used in the field.

Be sure to let us know how it does for you....looks like you action is a m96 which is a push to cock action.....used to be there were some kits to convert to cock on opening. you might ask your builder if those are still available.

Randy
 
growr said:
Be sure to let us know how it does for you....looks like you action is a m96 which is a push to cock action.....used to be there were some kits to convert to cock on opening. you might ask your builder if those are still available.

Randy
Click to expand...

It does cock on open. I'm going to run it and see how it goes. I've read mixed things about the conversion and I can always do it later.

The good news is that the stock safety clears my scope so that's something else I'm going to work with and see how it goes.

I'm looking forward to my new 116 year old rifle! The action was made in 1906.
 
I haven't reloaded for the 6.5 Swede in several years. If my memory serves - the base diameter is different from many other Mausers and US cartridges. Something like .480" instead of .473".

At one time US made factory ammo was loaded with the smaller base diameter. It didn't matter for factory ammo, but if you reload the swelled cases they would fail quickly with normal loads.
 
I have formed hundreds of 6.5x55 cases from .30-'06. Also have used 7mm and .270 brass, but mainly '06. One pass through the FL die and TTL. Base is slightly small, but that is not a problem. No case failures. For a long time I shot benchrest using a custom Mauser action with a Douglas heavy barrel. I always used IMR 4064 with 130 grain bullets. I no longer have that rifle but I do have a Model 96 and an AG42b. Most have never heard of the latter, very few were imported.
 
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I have had many a 6.5 Swede thru the years in my collection. Currently, I kept a Huskvarna made M 36 made in the forties, during the war. I don't think any of the "new" 6.5 mm calibers have anything on the old Swede. Just like said above, it just didn't "catch on" in this country. I reload for it, and recommend Redding dies, but actually most will work quite well. After selling most of my milsurp collection, I bought and now hunt with a Howa 6.5 Swede, and just love it. Accuate, low recoil, and fairly light. Boyd Stocks has a nice assortment of wood or wood laminate stocks. I have used a half dozen or so of their stocks, and the quality is good.
 
minconrevo said:
My gunsmith friend likes M96 Swedes. His advice is to go easy on the loads. Says the action is not designed for today's hot rod loads.
Click to expand...

Some references state that original Swede bolt actions are not as strong as Model 98 actions. Frank DeHaas' book on bolt action rifles is one of them. As I remember, he recommends that loads producing chamber pressures over 45K psi should not be used in them. I have no idea whether that is true or not. A safe approach would be to avoid top-end loads provided in reloading manuals.
 
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minconrevo said:
My gunsmith friend likes M96 Swedes. His advice is to go easy on the loads. Says the action is not designed for today's hot rod loads.
Click to expand...

That's exactly why I decided to stick with the original caliber, pressure. It's highly respected and effective cartridge in it's own right. And, I'd think the lower pressures would give it better barrel life.
 
Bought my first recently, a 1903 6.5 Swedish Mauser. A really good looking milsurp rifle, goofy bayonet though. Found a Lyman 266469 mould and rcbs dies. Initially reformed 30-06 brass then got some 6mm Remington that made beautiful 6.5 brass but last week horsetraded 25 lb of ww's for 90 pcs of real 6.5x55 brass. It's a keeper.
 

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