6.5x55 Loads

I recently traded into one of the sporterized Swedish mausers that Kimber did back in the 90's. I replaced the trigger and installed a decent scope and am ready to start shooting it. Can anyone recommend any 6.5x55 loads. Thanks.

139-142gr bullets, start at 45.0gr of RL22 and work your way up to 47.0gr while checking for pressure signs.

Don

I have a Model 96 that I did some reload developement and found that in the powder it seemed to prefer the following in order: RL22 with loads at near the top listed in the manual, Hogdon H414 with a near max load, IMR4350 with a near max load, and IMR 4064 with a 80% load. This was with Remington 140 grain SP and Speer 140 grain JSP bullets. I tried some 120 grain loads but my rifle doesn't do well with the lighter bullets, the twist being to fast( 1 in 8" twist). It will do fairly well with the Hornady 129 grain JSP but not as well as the 140's. The 6.5x55 seems to prefer slower burning powders and the H414 loads need a magnum primer to light them efficiently. It is a wonderful round, almost as dear to my heart as the 30-06. I would recommend starting out with the starting load listed in the different powder or bullet reloading manuals and work up to accuracy or pressure signs. I usually work to the most accurate load in my rifle and then do some velocity checks with the chronograph. The most important factors being: 1. safety 2. accuracy 3. velocity in that order. enjoy your rifle, James

+1 on James57's advice . I've had 3 Swedes . A 96/38 , Kimber Sporter & Husky 38 . Because the military barrels are long throated 140 to 160gr bullets shoot best . 140 Horn SP with 48.1gr RL22 ( hunting ) & 160 Horn RN 44.0gr RL22 , 41.0gr H414 , 43.0gr IMR 4350 . Target 44.0gr AA4350 , 43.0gr VVN160 with Lapua 139 , 37.5gr IMR 4895 all very accurate . For cast loads with Lyman 266469 23.5gr H4895 or 13.5 to 20.0gr SR4759 were very accurate & great loads for small game , pests , target . Also great for kids to learn with as recoil is non existant . Above loads are near max or max . Work up to them in your rifle & watch for signs of high pressures . Swede 96 not the strongest of actions . All that said I've never had one in good mechanical condition that would not shoot .

Gents,
I have been shooting the 6.5x55 Swede cartridge for over 20 years and its my hands down favorite.
I own and shoot a host of other cartridges from 17 Remington to 458 Win Mag. I have more than a few 30 cal, 270 and 7mm rifles, a 358 Norma Mag (another swede), and a 375 H&H. I like them all, but I tend to reach for the 6.5 Swede more then any other. I doesnt kick much, shoot flat and the long, skinny bullets penetrate like a javelin.
Some of you have compared it to a 6.5x06. I have a beautiful 6.5x06 built on a custom Springfield 03 action and the metal and stock are stunning. It has a 25 inch Douglas super match barrel and it out distances the swede in angle of trajectory, but only by 100 yards.

My 6.5x55 is my ugliest rifle. It started life as a Turkish mauser ( large ring outside dimension and threaded for a small ring mauser 8x57 barrel, which equates to a really thick receiver ring. It had the flange at the front of the receiver turned off and the action squared, lugs lapped and a small ring Swedish Mauser barrel installed. The barrel was cut from 24" to 22", recrowned and the intermediate barrel step turned down to make for a smooth medium weight barrel. Twist is 1:7.5. Pretty tight and perfect for 140gr bullets. The barreled action sits in a epoxy/micro-ballon bed, in a Brown precision fiberglass stock, and the works are touched off by a Timney premium trigger.
Scope is a Leupold 3x9x42ish, VXIII. Nothin fancy. It is scarred from stem to stern and is darn ugly, but it shoots!!!
Since the throat is set up for military rounds and the round is shorter than a 270, you can seat the bullets to the depth of the throat and leave the balance for powder.
I have two loads that shine it this rifle.
First one is a 140gr (Nosler Partition, Sierra Game King, Remington Coreloc't, Etc., they all seem to group well) over 48gr of IMR 7828 or RE 21. Velocity runs around 2750fps. These loads hover at .5"-1" clover-leafers and is my standard deer round. Velocities aren't screaming, bullets mushroom perfectly and they don't tear up meat, shoots as flat a pancake to 250yds, and at 300 I put the crosshair on the backbone. Took that load and ugly rifle to Africa and used it for most stuff up to 550 lb critters.
Second one developed is a 120gr Ballistic tip over 48 grains of H414. velocity runs at 3,000 FPS and a one holer. Great long range antelope round and not half bad for coyotes. I have killed a few of deer, hogs, and coyotes with that combo. its a tad thin jacketed for hogs, so you have to ensure a clean lung shot. If you're worried use the 140gr and reset your scope a few clicks.
Neither of these loads are suitable for older M96 Swedish Mauser Infantry rifles. If you drop to 42-44 grains of either powder/bullet combo you should be ok.
These loads are MAX. Start with the M96 load and work up, checking for signs of pressure.... flattened primers, etc.
I hope you enjoy your Swede as much as I do. keep your powder dry and happy shooting.

Just consult any reloading manual. They all show 6.5 Swede loads. I prefer slower powders - 4350 or slower.

My favorite load has already been posted - 43 gr of 4350 behind a 140 gr bullet. I shoot an Carl Gustafs M94 and a Husqvarna M38.

enfield said:

My favorite load has already been posted - 43 gr of 4350 behind a 140 gr bullet. I shoot an Carl Gustafs M94 and a Husqvarna M38.

Click to expand...

This is what I use as well, behind a Berger bullet.

47 gr of reloader 22 160 gr roundnose 2535 fps ive shot this load for 15 years out of 3 rifles all old army carl gustoffs with 140 i like 48.2 gr of r-22 at around 2700 fps if you drop down to 129 bullits i would switch to reloader 19 around 48 gr you can use the r-19 in the heaver bullits but i think the r-22 is the best powder you can burn in the swede