Swedish Military Ball 6.5x55

[Jolly Green]

For the longest time I have just been shooting the web-linked 6.5x55 from SAMCO, but have finally got into reloading. I made my first batch of Hornady 129 gr (meant for a 140gr, but misread the box) with 49 gr of RL 22 behind it. It fielded just fine, but I rather try and replicate what I originally was shooting.

My question is: what is the recipe for the typical Swedish Military ball for the m96?

 

[blarby]

Not sure of a typical recipe for a swedish military ball... I've never had the chance to break one down.

Try this

http://www.nosler.com/Reloading-Data/6.5x55mm-Swedish-Mauser-140-Grains.aspx

and i'll keep looking.

 

[blarby]

Ok heres the best info I can get on the SAMCO stuff :

Theres a lot of it, or was at one time.... its all mil surp, so exactly what you had may be in dispute.

However, with that said:

90% of it was a 146 gr bullet in front 45 grains of " an extruded stick type powder, larger than 3031"

So, I'd stick with the nosler recipes in the nigh load range, spire points.

Hope that helps.

 

[Slamfire]

What powder the Swedes used should be of little concern as you are not going to be able to buy it.

Also, powders used in military and commercial loads are not blended powders. The powders available to you are blended from fast and slow lots to give you the same performance as the last can you bought.

Arsenals and factories have pressure equipment and are able to determine just how much powder of Lot X gives what pressure and velocity.

This is why it is dangerous to use data copied from Military technical manuals. People quote Army Technical Manual 43-0001-27 all the time, http://www.dtic.mil/dticasd/sbir/sbir032/a044a.pdf it has all sorts of data, including charge weight, but the exact lots in the manual are not available to you. And when they were used up the next lot used a different charge weight.

I tested my Swedish ball in several rifles, I consider a ball equivalent to be my load with 4350 and a 140 Hornday bullet a ball equivalent.

[SIZE="3"]M1896 Infantry Rifle 29' barrel Carl Gustafs  mfgr 1903				
		 	
17-Aug-06 T = 85  °F							
143 gr FMJ 1986 Swedish Ball 					
		 					
Ave Vel =		2610	 		
Std Dev =		14.38			 		
ES =		45.59			 		
High =		2633		 	 		
Low =		2587		 	 		
N =		8		



M38 Infantry Carbine 24" barrel	
28-Oct-94 T ≈ 60 °F							
							
143 gr 1986 Swedish Ball OAL 3.065"  47.4 grs powder average					
		 					
Ave Vel =	2427					 	
Std Dev =	22					 	
ES =	62					 	
Low =	2395					  	
High =	2457					 	
N =	10						
							


M700  22" Barrel 	
				
143  gr Swedish Ball 1986 headstamp	
				
2 Feb 2008 T = 54 °F			
				
Ave Vel =	2470			
Std Dev =	18			
ES =	48			
High =	2491			
Low =	2443			
N =	5

140 gr Hornday Spire Point 43.0 grs AA4350		
	R-P new brass CCI-200 OAL 2.990"		
					
2 Feb 2008 T = 52 °F				
					
Ave Vel =	2512			 	 
Std Dev =	27			 	 
ES =	72			 	 
High =	2547			 	 
Low =	2475			 	 
N =	5	[/SIZE]

 

[blarby]

Sometimes that ammo you like just has a "feel" to it you'd like to replicate, doesn't it ?

I'm sure thats why the "original recipe" concerns you.

The swede round was a little on the softer side, if that can be said about bullets of any nature, so I'd edge towards a lower loading of vit, or perhaps reloader 17 from alliant ( both manufacturers have the recipes on their respective sites)

Hope this helps !