6.5 x 55 Swede

[Random 8]

I believe the advent of the 6.5CM was an attempt to approximate the 6,5x55 SE loading in a more modern configuration. The Swede has always been handicapped in North America by it's geometry. It's not long enough to be "magnumy," and not short enough to fit a true short action. The 6.5CM solves the latter "problem." At the time when it could have gained a following (Remington, Ruger and Winchester tried), it was up against the slightly superior performance of and justified popularity of the .270 Win due to the flat based bullets common at the time.


I love the cartridge as chambered in military rifles and vintage Sporters. I've shot it to 1000 yards and it performed admirably vs more modern options. It is versatile for light to medium game. It is soft shooting and accurate. All these qualifications apply to the 6.5CM or .260 Rem as well. Outside of nostalgia, there is little reason for one to select the Swede over one of the more modern options. Personally I would get one, as I already have the supplies and knowledge base to load it to peak performance, but the selection of rifles out there is limited.

 

[Hokkmike]

How is the ammo supply lately?

 

[marksman13]

How is the ammo supply lately?

I’ve had no issue finding ammo.

 

[Speedo66]

How is the ammo supply lately?

AIM Surplus has both FMJ and SP in stock, PPU, at $21.95 a box.

 

[Barnfixer]

My former Swede that has been claimed by my daughter. It was sporterized by Herry McGowen 25+years ago and I recently changed the stock for my daughter. One of the more accurate guns in the cabinet.

 

[Space Ghost]

I'm a 6.5x55 Swedish owner now.
A Krag-Jorgenson built in Norway in 1944 under Nazi occupation, then sporterized sometime after the war.
I picked it up not long ago, had the funky brake taken off, and a Surefire FS and ramped front sight put on.
Now it should make a decent little (18") truck gun.

 

[Riomouse911]

I picked up my used CZ 550 in 6.5x55 with a Leupold scope for $500 after it languished on the wall at a police-oriented gun store for months. The younger crowd this store caters to is more into the AR or sniper-style Rem 700 .308 rifles, so hunting stuff got little attention.

I guess the original owner was involved in some domestic violence issue, so he was ordered to sell all his guns by the Court. He had a BUNCH of good stuff, and I flipped and flopped between this rifle and a Win Model 70 Fwt in 7x57. I chose the CZ because it was in almost unfired shape, and the Winchester looked like it had been hunted with several times. When I picked it up, the shop threw in a full box of ammo and a second one with ten empties that came with the gun. I believe those ten were all the owner ever fired through it to sight it in.

(This is the same store and consignment seller that sold me a 7.5” Ruger Redhawk .41 Magnum for $350. I bought that gun a few weeks after buying the CZ, the tag price of $700 wasn’t getting any nibbles so I offered half.)

Stay safe.

 

[1948CJ2A]

the 6.5 swede in a modern rifle kick the 6.5 cr ass, my CZ 550 in 6.5 swede with fast twist barrel will shoot 139-140 gr bullets into little biddy holes, darn near one hole at 100 yards with healthy doses of N-560 at 2800+ fps(most accurett load in my rifle).

Exactly... similar to other milsurp cartridges (ie: 7x57, 8x57, etc.), the SAAMI pressure are downgraded so factory ammo and published reloading data won't blow up some antiques. But in an environment where all variables are equal, the 6.5x55 Swede has more case capacity than the 6.5 Creedmore. The Swede has 57.9 gr of H20. The CM has 52.5 gr of H20.

I have a CZ 550 FS chambered in 6.5 Swede. I purchased it new ~10 years ago at a local Gander Mountain. The thing I really like about the CZ 550 is the single set trigger. You can push the trigger forward and change it from ~5 pounds down to about 2 or less. I think it's a pretty neat innovation without having to use the old double-set design, which is very cool in its own right.