6.5x55 cast bullets

[growr]

Not much seems available for the 6.5 in cast bullets, even molds are nearly $100.00!

Anyone recommend a good source, none of the standard companies have an offering for this fabulous cartridge.

Will use in my M96 rifle.

Randy

 

[Nevada Ed]

The makers will be asking top $$ for this popular, new kid on the block
that all the rags have built up, to help out the gun and ammo makers.

Just the way it is.

Good luck finding equipment.

 

[growr]

The 6.5x55 has been around since the late 1890's and is a new kid on the block?

Randy

 

[rockquarry]

In one sense, the cartridge is a "new kid on the block". The 6.5x55 was not popular in this country for a very long time. Even in the mid-1980s, I was unable to find new unprimed brass for use in two Swedish Mausers I had just bought.

If I remember the facts correctly, Federal was the importer and/or distributor for Norma ammunition at the time. I eventually broke down new Norma 6.5x55 ammo to have brass for loading cast bullets in this cartridge. Best bullet design was from an NEI (no longer in business) mould - a long 160 grain round nose that pretty well duplicated the design of the Swedish military jacketed bullet.

If you like the original 6.5x55 chambering, it gives up little or nothing to the new arrivals of similar ballistics but shorter overall cartridge length like the Creedmoor or the Remington cartridges.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Not apples to apples but: A friend was shooting a like new 98 Mexican small ring Mauser in 7x57. Using Cast 175 RN with gas check, but I don't know the powder charge. At 600 yards it took 5 rounds to get on and centered on a 12" steel plate, then 15 consecutive shots in 3" using the iron sights!

Ivan

 

[Skyhunter]

I feed my M96 either of the following two cast bullets - both are cast from Lyman molds. #266469 is a 140 gr. RN-GC bullet and #266673 is a FN-GC bullet. I cast them using Lyman #2 alloy so they're on the "hard" side, but shoot well in my Mauser and in my Ruger #1-A.
The first mold was purchased from a well-known mid-continent distributor and the other was found on fleabay.
Good luck on your quest.

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[Duckford]

I barely dabbled in it. Used a mould that would drop 170 grain long bullets, had some light load of Green Dot, and it seemed accurate out of my M96. But, got onto other projects and didn't get back to it.

Sounds like a project I should try again.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The 6.5x55 has been around since the late 1890's and is a new kid on the block?

Randy

If you say 6.5 in any sporting good store
9 out of 10 people will answer................... Creedmoor !

Sorry. I miss understood you ammo selection, being the old "Swedish" load.

The old "Euro" rifles are great rifles and very accurate.
They will do anything the Creedmoor will do out to 400 yards.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Ruger 13]

All I shoot in my Swede’s are my own cast bullets!

 

[nedlate]

I have a Swedish Mauser I bought from a friend, he also gave me some ammuniton downloaded with 120g cast bullets. What a pleasure to shoot, right to POA with open sights at 100 yards. He also gave me the bullet mold for the 120g round nose bullets-I would have to dig through stuff to find it though.
Unfortunately I never got around to getting his load data for this one.
Ed

 

[growr]

I found a Lee 2 cavity 170 grain mold at Mid South Shooters supply for $44.00 shipped.

I have no problem casting my own!!

Randy

 

[Warren Sear]

I load cast bullets for use in my M96 Swede Mauser. I use a 150 grain gas checked bullet cast from a Lyman #2660625 mold. I size them to .266", with a Lyman die.

I generally use a small charge of Unique powder with the cast loads.

I also load with jacketed bullets and IMR4064 powder.

(Edited to add) Sorry about the rotated images. I don't know how that happened, and I am not able to rotate them.

 

[growr]

Warren,

With your load did you have to change the front sight to get on target at 100 yards and less?

Randy

 

[Warren Sear]

I am embarrassed to admit it, but I haven't shot it for years, and I cannot state with certainty, but I think with low powered cast bullet loads, it shoots to point of aim at 100 yards. I might have had to elevate the rear sight, but I am not sure.

I had forgotten about owning this great rifle until reading this thread. When I was digging around for taking the pictures, I found a bunch of cast bullet ammo that I had loaded about 10 years ago. Now I am going to get out and shoot this work of art again soon!

 

[Warren Sear]

One more picture...

 

[growr]

Fine looking rifle sir!!

Randy