6.5x55 swede

K

ksduckhntr

Active member
There are a lot of great 6.5mm rounds out there now but does anyone shoot a swede? It seems like it would have a large case capacity and be able to seat some of the heavier bullets. Just curious if people shoot this caliber and if for hunting or long range work.
 
There are several hotter 6.5s, but the ol' Swede is a great round in my estimation. It's easy to load for, pleasant to shoot, very versatile, and loaded with nostalgia. I shoot one in a Sako L691 and love it. I've killed a number of deer, pronghorn, and hogs with it. Many rifles, mine included, are chambered such that long, heavy bullets can be loaded. Lots of moose have been killed in Scandinavia with 156 grain bullets out of a Swede. I've experimented with a few bullets and powders, and have now settled on 129 grain Hornady SSTs over a near max load of Re19 in Lapua cases. It's a nice moderate-handling load that flat works. Of the dozens of animals I've shot with that load, I've yet to recover one of those plain 'ol cup and core bullets. If you're looking for a non-mainstream round that duplicates the more modern .260 Remington, give the Swede a look. I think you'll be impressed.
 
I'm a huge fan of Swedish women and Swedish cartridges. Both work exceedingly well for their intended purposes.

The 6.X55 Swede is an excellent older cartridge for most North American game animals.
 
Own a four rifles in 6.5x55 Swede, most are sporterized Swede military rifles. Don't hunt, just shoot paper with mine. I enjoy shooting the cartridge, but my shooting is limited to 200 yds max. Fellow range member has a 6.5x55 custom rifle with a Schmitt Bender scope he uses for shooting up to 600 yds on our range with good success.

Forgot to mention, when I decided to rebarrel a Stevens 200 to a 6.5 caliber, I thought seriously about the 6.5 Creedmore and decided on it. Shortly before placing my order for the replacement Savage type barrel already chambered, I had second thoughts and asked myself what the heck is wrong with getting another 6.5x55 Swede as I was already reloading it. I couldn't think of a reason good enough not to get another 6.5x55 Swede.
 
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My CZ 550 American in 6.5x55 is my favorite rifle. I load using PRVI brass, Norma MRP, CCI LR primers and Berger 130 grain Humting VLD's.
 
I appreciate the responses, it seems like a forgotten caliber with all the new hot rod 6.5's. I am interested in something that is a little different but has good performance. Keep any more opinions coming.
 
The Swede is pure class all the way. Very few cartridges are half as sexy, nostalgic or effective as the 6.5 Swede. Fewer still are as available. Perfect 10's are exceedingly rare. The 6.5 Swede, the 7mm Mauser, the .38Spl and the 22 rimfire are all perfect 10's. All are a century old, all are more effective than their paper ballistics would have them be, and can be comfortably handled by experts and rank novices. Also, they are all hugely versatile.

I own three Swedes at the moment. I own other 6.5 cartridges and like them a lot, but the Swede is the one that I loan to a first year deer hunter. I honestly believe that the only cartridge that rivals the Swede as a perfect deer killer is the .257 Roberts. The "Bob" is a 9.9 as it is less than a century old, originated as a wildcat, and is not quite as versatile.

Having said all of that, I don't like the 6.5 varmint bullets for coyotes. In my experience, those bullets under 100 grains and designed for varmints would be perfect for 'chucks or smaller critters, but if you are into saving pelts, the light bullets are [beeep] on fur. I have never done so, but I can envision the Swede turning a woodchuck into a very colorful rorschak test blot. I have had good experience with standard cup and core deer bullets of 120 and 140 grains on 'yotes.
 
a friend has one of the sporterized military swedes and is thinking of trading or selling it. If anyone is interested please pm me.
Thanks
 
My next rifle will be a bolt rifle chambered in 6.5 Swede since I can't find any sporter rifles chambered in 260. It's a great cartridge, you can't go wrong.
 
A sweede can be loaded hotter in a aftermarket actions then the books state. The older military actions were not that strong and all the books out list reduced loads for safety reasons. But in a good strong action like a Rem700, savage, or Large Ring mauser(NOT SMALL RING) can be loaded to higher muzzle velocities then the .260 or the creedmor. GOOD brass is available from laupa as previously stated. I have a .260 and had a sweede. It was on a 98K action but the barrel didn't like 140's and I was bound and determined to use them, so I sold it. Wish I hadn't...
 
I had a Remington 700 Classic years ago that I loved, worked up a load pretty quickly with the Sierra 100gr HP, easy recoil, actually made a neat little varmint rifle, moving into a bigger house and all the expense that comes with it forced me to sell.
 
my neighbor just had a 24" Brux barrel chambered in the minimum SAAMI spec Match 6.5x55(short leade) put on a Rem 700 action and bedded in a laminate stock...glory...it shoots every bullet extremely well!
 
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