6.5X55 Swede
- Thread starter MPFD
- Start date
Arizonahunter
New member
Which Mauser action? Is it a 96 or 98? If it's a German 98, or a CZ or Zastava, Ruger or Win. then they are very good.
As for the caliber, if you plan to hunt any deer size game or even larger get the 6.5 x 55. The Swede has a wide variety of bullets to choose from, and their B.C's are very high. I shoot only 120/129 grainers in mine. But most guys go with a 140. Heck you can even get 160's easily.
Right now I use mine (a type 96 made in 1942 by Husqvarna) for javelina and coyotes. But with the right bullet (like a Barnes X,XLC or TSX) I would even use it on elk. Most people would not say the same for the 243.
Also, it's pretty easy to reload for.
As for the caliber, if you plan to hunt any deer size game or even larger get the 6.5 x 55. The Swede has a wide variety of bullets to choose from, and their B.C's are very high. I shoot only 120/129 grainers in mine. But most guys go with a 140. Heck you can even get 160's easily.
Right now I use mine (a type 96 made in 1942 by Husqvarna) for javelina and coyotes. But with the right bullet (like a Barnes X,XLC or TSX) I would even use it on elk. Most people would not say the same for the 243.
Also, it's pretty easy to reload for.
Coyotejunki
Well-known member
Probably not, since so many rifles were made on the cheaper Mauser actions. But it could very well be worth more. If built on a good action, using a good barrel, and has the M70 type safety installed, it could easily be worth more. So many "ifs" like who did the gunsmith work.
My guess is someone "bubba'd" an old M96 Swede, and threw it in a cheap tupperare stock. Not enough info here to tell.
My guess is someone "bubba'd" an old M96 Swede, and threw it in a cheap tupperare stock. Not enough info here to tell.
MPFD
Well-known member
It was bought from an outfit in the late 80's early 90's that built these guns and sold them at a pretty fair price. Not sure who they were but I could find out. Pretty sure its a K98 action, the barrels is an original 6.5 swede military barrel that was susposedly from a unissued rifle, cut and crowned to 22 inches. Ramline synthetic stock, and a Simmons Aetec 2.8-10x44. I've shot the rifle and it was pretty sweet. The handloads used were a 120 grain sp with a good dose of IMR 3031 pushing it. It had alot less felt recoil then my .243 with a 100 grain softpoint. I don't know why but it was pleasurable to shoot. We chronoed those loads just a shade over 3000 fps. and the group I shot from the rifle was under MOA. I am intrested in a .264 rifle because of the sectional density and ballistics of the bullet. I may rebarrel the 700 to a 260 Remington or maybe a 7-08.
Allwaysdog
New member
I can really recomend the 6.5x55 as a all-round caliber. Here in Sweden it is the most common caliber used by hunters. Maybe a bit to small for moose, bears and wild boar but people here use it all the time for big game. I have two and use them for everything from grouse to moose.
/ Alwaysdog
/ Alwaysdog
MPFD
Well-known member
I made the trade and I gotta say think I did the right thing. The BDL was a piece. Nice action but this swede will out shoot it anyday. I have shot it a couple of times and am impressed. It's a k98 action with a timney trigger, and a 6.5 barrel with a butler creek stock(not ramline). The BDL may have been a nicer more expensive gun but if it don't shoot it ain't worth squat. The only round that gun liked was a 58 grain v-max at 3800 fps. which was cool but my ATR shot the same bullet with only .2" larger group.
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Howard Nguyen
New member
Quote:
It was bought from an outfit in the late 80's early 90's that built these guns and sold them at a pretty fair price. Not sure who they were but I could find out. Pretty sure its a K98 action, the barrels is an original 6.5 swede military barrel that was susposedly from a unissued rifle, cut and crowned to 22 inches. Ramline synthetic stock, and a Simmons Aetec 2.8-10x44. I've shot the rifle and it was pretty sweet. The handloads used were a 120 grain sp with a good dose of IMR 3031 pushing it. It had alot less felt recoil then my .243 with a 100 grain softpoint. I don't know why but it was pleasurable to shoot. We chronoed those loads just a shade over 3000 fps. and the group I shot from the rifle was under MOA. I am intrested in a .264 rifle because of the sectional density and ballistics of the bullet. I may rebarrel the 700 to a 260 Remington or maybe a 7-08.
I have that exact rifle like yours, which was bought in 1991. It was built on a 98 Turkish action and a surplus military surplus Swedish barrel cut to 22 inches with the steps turned down. Mine did not shoot well due to the Ramline stock binding on the barrel. It shot a pattern like a shotgun.
After I free floated the barrel and glass bedded the action it was able to consistently produce 2" groups with handloads using H414 and 120 grains bullets. I have not tried any other recipes to know the full potential of this rifle. It is definitely a sweet shooting rifle for $200 I paid for it.
It was bought from an outfit in the late 80's early 90's that built these guns and sold them at a pretty fair price. Not sure who they were but I could find out. Pretty sure its a K98 action, the barrels is an original 6.5 swede military barrel that was susposedly from a unissued rifle, cut and crowned to 22 inches. Ramline synthetic stock, and a Simmons Aetec 2.8-10x44. I've shot the rifle and it was pretty sweet. The handloads used were a 120 grain sp with a good dose of IMR 3031 pushing it. It had alot less felt recoil then my .243 with a 100 grain softpoint. I don't know why but it was pleasurable to shoot. We chronoed those loads just a shade over 3000 fps. and the group I shot from the rifle was under MOA. I am intrested in a .264 rifle because of the sectional density and ballistics of the bullet. I may rebarrel the 700 to a 260 Remington or maybe a 7-08.
I have that exact rifle like yours, which was bought in 1991. It was built on a 98 Turkish action and a surplus military surplus Swedish barrel cut to 22 inches with the steps turned down. Mine did not shoot well due to the Ramline stock binding on the barrel. It shot a pattern like a shotgun.
After I free floated the barrel and glass bedded the action it was able to consistently produce 2" groups with handloads using H414 and 120 grains bullets. I have not tried any other recipes to know the full potential of this rifle. It is definitely a sweet shooting rifle for $200 I paid for it.
MPFD
Well-known member
2" was all the better yours did huh? I think it's gonna be a little better deer rifle then the .243 was. I really like the feel of it and the trigger is pretty nice (never owned a Timney). I think I wanna shoot the 142 grain sierra HPBT.
We'll see the group I made that was under MOA was with a 100 grain bullet. After a little bit of research I found out that it was built in Clackamas, Oregon which is where Kimbers Manufacturing facilty is. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif So I would say there is a good possibility it was one of the 6.5 built buy the company that became Kimber.
We'll see the group I made that was under MOA was with a 100 grain bullet. After a little bit of research I found out that it was built in Clackamas, Oregon which is where Kimbers Manufacturing facilty is. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif So I would say there is a good possibility it was one of the 6.5 built buy the company that became Kimber.
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Coyotejunki
Well-known member
I have over as half dozen 6.5x55's. One is a modern rifle, a CZ550. That cartridge is one of my favorites for WT deer hunting. The Hornady 129 SPT's with H4350, have worked very well on the last six deer I have shot.
Great cartridge. I am thinking a building a lighter weight rifle though. Maybe a 260 because they are so close in performance.
Great cartridge. I am thinking a building a lighter weight rifle though. Maybe a 260 because they are so close in performance.
Howard Nguyen
New member
Quote:
2" was all the better yours did huh? I think it's gonna be a little better deer rifle then the .243 was. I really like the feel of it and the trigger is pretty nice (never owned a Timney). I think I wanna shoot the 142 grain sierra HPBT.
We'll see the group I made that was under MOA was with a 100 grain bullet. After a little bit of research I found out that it was built in Clackamas, Oregon which is where Kimbers Manufacturing facilty is. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif So I would say there is a good possibility it was one of the 6.5 built buy the company that became Kimber.
I'm quite confident mine would do better than 2" groups but for all practical need it is more than enough for me in the deer woods....
I have a Timney on it also and it is worth every dime I paid for even though I honed the original trigger to perfection it still was not as good as the Timney.
You are right, it was built by Kimber, who also sporterized a bunch of Swedish Mausers and sold them for under $200 back in the late 80's.
2" was all the better yours did huh? I think it's gonna be a little better deer rifle then the .243 was. I really like the feel of it and the trigger is pretty nice (never owned a Timney). I think I wanna shoot the 142 grain sierra HPBT.
We'll see the group I made that was under MOA was with a 100 grain bullet. After a little bit of research I found out that it was built in Clackamas, Oregon which is where Kimbers Manufacturing facilty is. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif So I would say there is a good possibility it was one of the 6.5 built buy the company that became Kimber.
I'm quite confident mine would do better than 2" groups but for all practical need it is more than enough for me in the deer woods....
I have a Timney on it also and it is worth every dime I paid for even though I honed the original trigger to perfection it still was not as good as the Timney.
You are right, it was built by Kimber, who also sporterized a bunch of Swedish Mausers and sold them for under $200 back in the late 80's.