The Swede

[Seymour]

well I hate to bring up another 6.5 question but here we go. I've read everything I can read about modern loads for the Swede and I feel I'm getting nowhere. I'm building a Swede hopefully be done by the end of February. specs are as follows: 26" 8 twist on a savage action. I've always been a heavy for caliber person so my goal is 130s to 140s. Biggest problem is I have a stack of reloading manuals that are a waist high and I know they are behind the times. I'm just looking for something the that is for a modern action. Don't expect anyone to do the work for me just asking if someone can point me in the right direction for a modern load. Rifle will be used for deer and hogs from in your face to that's a long way over there.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[WildRose]

Seymour you may have a hard time finding loads for heavy for caliber bullets so it may require some work on your part.

You might do well to go over to Alliant's website along with Norma's and download their loading manuals since both sell heavily in Europe where the Swede remains very popular.

On Alliants, download both the 2017 and 2016 versions as for some reason the 2017 version dropped a lot of older loads.

With the heavies look to the slower powders like RL19,23 and 26 and you will likely be very happy with the results.

 

[just country]

morning, I bought a swede in a WWII mauser action. changed the bolt handle,
safety, trigger and stock. I used the loading info for from 4 different loading
manuals. look at the loads between the 6mm and the 6.5x55. these loads
r very close to each others performance. the caliber and cartridge r
very accurate. the rifle had a 29" barrel. I tried the 120 and 140gr. bullets.
powders I used were according to the burn rate and the weight of the bullets.
the use the burn rate chart to get and idea as to the burn rate of the powders
I wish to use. this rifle was not pretty, but the low recoil, made this rifle
and caliber a pleasure to shoot. powders RL15, 4831, 4064, 4320, W760,
ramshot big game were the powders of choice. very accurate
GBOT TUM

 

[FEENIX]

well I hate to bring up another 6.5 question but here we go. I've read everything I can read about modern loads for the Swede and I feel I'm getting nowhere. I'm building a Swede hopefully be done by the end of February. specs are as follows: 26" 8 twist on a savage action. I've always been a heavy for caliber person so my goal is 130s to 140s. Biggest problem is I have a stack of reloading manuals that are a waist high and I know they are behind the times. I'm just looking for something the that is for a modern action. Don't expect anyone to do the work for me just asking if someone can point me in the right direction for a modern load. Rifle will be used for deer and hogs from in your face to that's a long way over there.

Thanks in advance!!!

"IF" you identify what bullets (Berger VLDs, Hornady ELDs, etc...) you might yield better results.

 

[just country]

amen

 

[Seymour]

Thanks for the replies and the info.
I plan to use the Bergers. I apologize for not mentioning that before.

Thanks

 

[Predator 22]

My Swede is a pre-64' model 70 with a 24" benchmark tube in a McMillan stock. I'm shooting 140 Berger hvld with 47.5gr H4831sc fed 210m in Lapua brass. I tested both the 130's and 140's, they both hit pressure about the same speed for me so I just stuck with the 140's. I ran the 140's to around 2950' but my best accuracy was with the above load at 2800'. I'm going to be reworking this load when I get home with the 140gr elite hunter.

 

[Hand Skills]

I've been enjoying the VV data recently;

http://www.vihtavuori.com/en/reloading-data/rifle-reloading/6-5-x-55-swedish-mauser--skan.html

Max loads are 55k psi

 

[Bowfishn]

well I hate to bring up another 6.5 question but here we go. I've read everything I can read about modern loads for the Swede and I feel I'm getting nowhere. I'm building a Swede hopefully be done by the end of February. specs are as follows: 26" 8 twist on a savage action. I've always been a heavy for caliber person so my goal is 130s to 140s. Biggest problem is I have a stack of reloading manuals that are a waist high and I know they are behind the times. I'm just looking for something the that is for a modern action. Don't expect anyone to do the work for me just asking if someone can point me in the right direction for a modern load. Rifle will be used for deer and hogs from in your face to that's a long way over there.

Thanks in advance!!!

With more info on what you can run for COAL what your H2O case volume is someone could run numbers for you using QL.
QL has the same max 380mpa for their load data as Vihtavuori is using (55,114 psi CIP) It will help you figure a starting point and what powder bullet combination.

 

[cdherman]

On a modern action, QL is sure your friend here. Do some runs using book loads from a couple american manufacturers -- see what pressure QL thinks you would have with their loads. Likely less than 50k, perhaps as low as 44k. Pay attention to seating depths etc. You'll also need to measure H20 capacity.

I am shooting my tikka with loads WAYYY over book. I see no pressure signs. QL says they are approaching 60k psi. This is a modern action, over quality Lapua brass, worked up to slowly and with TONS of cross referenceing. There is really no problem with this -- the European factory loads are loaded to 56k or hotter. But US books are all worried about those old Krags floating around.

Think about it: A modern action shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor at 64k PSI has more bolt thrust than a 6.5x55 at 60k. No-one has qualms for a second about shooting Creeds, now do we.....

BTW, do some reading about the Mausers and you will find that you can push even an old Mauser to 50 k safely, and for guns made after the mid 1920s (better check this) when there were several metalugical process improvements, you can push the mauser M96 design even further, if you must.

Me, I think pushing the 6.5x55 over 50k should be done in a modern action, which your savage certainly is.....

 

[WildRose]

On a modern action, QL is sure your friend here. Do some runs using book loads from a couple american manufacturers -- see what pressure QL thinks you would have with their loads. Likely less than 50k, perhaps as low as 44k. Pay attention to seating depths etc. You'll also need to measure H20 capacity.

I am shooting my tikka with loads WAYYY over book. I see no pressure signs. QL says they are approaching 60k psi. This is a modern action, over quality Lapua brass, worked up to slowly and with TONS of cross referenceing. There is really no problem with this -- the European factory loads are loaded to 56k or hotter. But US books are all worried about those old Krags floating around.

Think about it: A modern action shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor at 64k PSI has more bolt thrust than a 6.5x55 at 60k. No-one has qualms for a second about shooting Creeds, now do we.....

BTW, do some reading about the Mausers and you will find that you can push even an old Mauser to 50 k safely, and for guns made after the mid 1920s (better check this) when there were several metalugical process improvements, you can push the mauser M96 design even further, if you must.

Me, I think pushing the 6.5x55 over 50k should be done in a modern action, which your savage certainly is.....

In the post war era there were a ton of sporterized 98's built on just about all of the modern magnum calibers with perhaps the exception of the big African mag's.

There are forums full of serious Mauser devotees than can run down serial numbers and tell anyone exactly what they have and what would be safe to run in them so that might be a good option too.

 

[WildRose]

Seymour I may have missed it but what action are you building this on? Year of MFG?

 

[CaptnC]

Seymour I may have missed it but what action are you building this on? Year of MFG?

He said it was a Savage.

I built one on a M48 intermediate length Mauser action. The manufacture date on mine is as new as 1956 to 1965 so I have loaded it pretty heavy. I still need to get a stock done for it. The one I've been using is shared with another rifle. So I have not shot since I did the head space and barrel break in.

I'm think I'm going to build one on a Savage action for long range work...

 

[FEENIX]

Thanks for the replies and the info.
I plan to use the Bergers. I apologize for not mentioning that before.

Thanks

E-mail Berger's tech support, they are very good in sharing their load recommendations.