6.5 x 55

[pythium]

Hello, I have been reading this forum for a while but this is my first post. I found some Igman ammo labeled as 6,5 x 55 mm with a case that reads 6.5 x 55SE. This ammo is relatively cheap and made in Bosnia. I was wondering if it is the same as 6.5 x55 swedish. Are the comma and "SE" just a result of grammar differences or is this some odd European chambering (I know, the 6.5x55 swedish isn't exactly common)? Thanks in advance for your help and by the way this is a great forum.

 

[OEF_VET]

First off, welcome to THR.

Europeans use a comma instead of a decimal point between numbers, so that's not unusual. As for the SE, I'm not sure what that's suppose to mean, but if the answer can be found, this is the place to find it.

Frank

 

[El Tejon]

Welcome to THR.

Excellent choice of caliber!

 

[mete]

There is more than one 6.5x55 .I don't remember the differences, though they are small. It is due to the differences in the Norwegian and Swedish military rounds .They finally (the 6.5x55 was introduced in 1894) decided to standardize and the result is the 6.5x55SE. I think the present commercial rifles have the this chambering.

 

[Baba Louie]

http://www.chuckhawks.com/6-5x55.htm

Welcome to THR pythium.
The 6.5 Swede (SE = code for Sweden) is one great round. Read Chuck Hawks take on it. 6.5x55 SE or 6,5x55SE... all the same thing basically.
Northern Europes answer to our 30-06, it actually preceded the 30-06 by about 12-13 years.
Even good for Polar Bear or Scandanavien Moose (elk?). Swedish Mausers and AG-42 Ljungman's are fine devices to launch said round from. Always wanted a Krag-Joergensun (sp?) to compare.

Adios

 

[Jim K]

Believe me, the Norwegian Krags are very accurate with the 6.5x55 pointed bullet. (Never fired the old round nose in one, so I can't comment on that.)

Unlike the U.S. Krag, in which the right lug (guide rib) is only a safety lug and does not bear, the Norwegian and Danish Krags make full use of both lugs.

Jim

 

[pythium]

mete,
My gun is '96 mauser sporterized by kimber, are the SE cartridges safe in the old guns or only newer ones?

Baba Louie,
I can't comment on polar bears but a number of groundhogs have fallen to "The Swede" as I call it.


Again thanks for your help.

 

[JohnKSa]

Igman ammo is getting pretty poor reviews.

It should be safe in your gun, but accuracy seems to be poor, and IIRC, someone was saying that the jackets don't stay on the cores.

 

[Baba Louie]

Well, it seems that most of the European loads are a tad bit hotter than the American style loads from what I read.

I've still got about 200 rds. of PMC's stuff which is "supposedly" too hot for the old 1900 Obie (or so I've read). They do tend to stick and are awkward to extract. That Balkan stuff is suspect not in heat, just accuracy. I doubt you'd blow out your Mauser with it.

Always wanted a Polar Bear rug in front of the fireplace. Good to know I've got something that can handle them, should I ever meet one on one of the local Nevada desert glaciers (and have the appropriate license of course).

I've also always wanted to buy one of those Kimber sporterized actions and make an 18" Mannlicher stocked style skinny stick Mountain/Scout type gun as the Krags are kinda expensive.

Pyth... It should be pronounced "da Svede"

Adios

 

[Kobun]

Even good for Polar Bear or Scandanavien Moose (elk?).

The 6,5x55SE would be a dismal round for both these.
In Norway, it is legal to hunt elk with it, but it is controversial as to whether there is enough energy in the bullet.
I would not recomend it for use against polar bears. But then again, anything can be killed with a .22LR.

As for the old Norwegian Krag-Joergensen rifles, they should not be used with todays higher pressure ammunition.
I'm not an expert about this, but this is what I've been told.

The 6,5x55SE is a very capable round for long range shooting. I've had very good precision out of fairly inexpensive rifles with it.

 

[NonServiam]

Yup, you would probably not want to tickle polar bears with a 6,5x55. A geologist buddy of mine who spends time on Svalbard carries an old .30-06 and a .44mag revolver. The last one is mainly for those times when his work does not pemit him to have the rifle as ready as he would want to.

The Swedes still hunt elk/moose (Noregian: Elg) with 6,5x55 ...

True, Norwegian Krags should not be used with modern 6,5x55 Mauser ammo. They just might decide to blow up in your face. In Norway, where the second largest sport (after soccer) is rifle shooting with 6,5x55, there are still a lot of old Krags being used in competition and for recreation. We therefore still produce factory 6,5x55 Krag ammo with lower pressure than modern 6,5x55.

 

[Bob F.]

Pythium: welcome!!!

I have a '96 still in original mil form, don't shoot it much cause I can't see the sights. My son loves it! Have another '96 sporterized by me; I'm sure Kimber is much better! But it's a goody, hovers around 1-1.5 inches off sandbags with mil trigger and an old Redfield x4 Tracker. I finally got a speed-lock, cock on opening striker and Dayton-Triaster trigger working properly and mounted a Nikon 3-9 this AM (can't see the 500yd gong well enough @ x4) Gotta redo the bolt handle, screwed up when I cut the old one off and the jerk that welded it back had no clue! May slip out to the range in the AM if weather permits!

Also have a Model 94, 18 in bbl and turned down bolt handle. Ordered a B-square scout scope mount and a cheap pistol scope. Ought to be a neat scout if the scope holds up.

Read an article on reloading the 6.5, they were surprised that the best accuracy was with the 160gr RN. Haven't tried it myself but good results with 100, 120, 129,140's. Have a ball clanking that steel disc at 500yds!!!!!!

 

[Gewehr98]

Those Hornady 160gr RN bullets...

Are a nice match for the original 158gr RN 6.5x55 service ammo, especially if you have a Swede M96 where the sights haven't been changed over to the later spitzer ammo. My 1899 Oberndorf and 1907 Karl Gustaf do great with those long heavy bullets on steel silhouettes out to 500 yards. The round is no slouch, look at Remington's .260, basically a 6.5x55 Swede in a short action.

 

[pythium]

Bob F,
Don't be so sure the Kimber is nicer. I know someone who has one that was sporterized by a local gunsmith. I like his gun just as good if not better. The stepped down barrel was left intact and I like the way it looks. His is blued with a wooden stock, while my is nickel with a black stock but the quality of his is the same as the Kimber job. I just wish Kimber had done a little work on the trigger. What would be a reasonable price on a M96 in original condition (unsporterized)? I have looked at gun shows and never seen one.

 

[Bob F.]

I bought my '96's about 5 yrs ago for $100 ea from a retail dealer, all matching #'s and VG bores. Prices were going up by the time I had my 3rd one that I traded off to my cousin, a high power match shooter. I think he slept with his after the first trip to therange with milsurp ball!

Bought the '94 from a private indiv. for the same $'s. Turns out it's worth 2-3 times that! Onlygood gun deal I ever made!