Anyone shoot 6.5 Swede?

[Qball]

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.

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.

 

[Cyrano]

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

 

[Freischütz]

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

 

[Combat]

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.

 

[Sven]

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!

 

[DGNY]

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

 

[Cricker]

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.

 

[JohnK]

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.

 

[Texas Star]

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.

 

[Nico Testosteros]

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

 

[Texas Star]

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.

 

[Joe in SC]

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.

 

[reddogge]

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.

 

[bad-bo]

carl gustafs stads gevarsfaktori 1918

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

 

[Erich]

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!

 

[bad-bo]

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.

 

[enfield]

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

 

[Erich]

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.

 

[Snapping Twig]

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

Really a great caliber.

 

[cmort666]

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.