kennedy
Member
I have a M96 swede and am going to start reloading for it, I all ready have varget and H4895 powder, any one have any luck with them in this caliber?
6.5x55 swede load?
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nambu1
Member
39.5 gr H4895 with 100 gr SP. 37gr H4895 with 140gr SP. Never used Varget.
BsChoy
Member
I used Reloder 22 47.0 grains under a 140 hornady spire point
ftierson
Member.
Keep in mind that Hornady lists a max load of 45.4 grains of RL-22 with their 129 gr bullets...
I'm not saying that 47.0gr with Hornady's 140gr didn't work for BsChoy, either, since I use a charge a little over the listed maximum charge of IMR 4831 with 140 grain Sierra SPBT bullets. However, I've carefully worked that load up, using a chronograph, in the rifles that I shoot it it...
Stay safe...
Forrest
ftierson
Member.
True, as far as it goes...
But kennedy originally asked about reloading for a Swedish M1896 rifle...
Let's not blow his head off...
Forrest
evan price
Member
129 Hornady SP projectile, Winchester rifle primer, 35.5 grains Varget. Sweet!
NCsmitty
Member
My experience has been that the fast twist mil spec barrels do not shoot the lighter weight bullets as well as the 140's and up. The Swede action is strong but they do not have the safety features of the M98. They should be treated like the beautiful ladies that they are and they will perform. The 6.5x55 is probably my favorite cartridge.
NCsmitty
NCsmitty
aerod1
Member
This is one of my all time favorite rifles. I have two M-96 one M-94 and one M-38. My M-94 has been Bubba-ized to heck, such as shortening the forearm stock and mounting a scope on it. No serial numbers match, including the bolt and reciever. However it is a very accurate rifle that bounces around on my ATV while deer hunting and the cheep Tasco scope always holds POA. I wish it were all original but it isn't. If it were, it would have cost more than $125.00. I agree with NCsmitty, if all original, they are "beautiful ladies". 3 of my 4 are all original. My M-94 is ugly but she sure shoots good.
I am watching this thread very close to see what some of the "favorite loads" are. I haven't reloaded for this rifle yet but I think it will be a fun one to reload. I'll be getting a set of dies for it shortly.
I am watching this thread very close to see what some of the "favorite loads" are. I haven't reloaded for this rifle yet but I think it will be a fun one to reload. I'll be getting a set of dies for it shortly.
I don't know if you have a chronograph, but I develop my loads over a chronograph and try to duplicate ball ammo velocities in service rifles. There are a couple of reasons, one is that the rifle is likely to be most accurate with ammunition that duplicates service pressures and velocities, and the rifle was structually designed to be used with service ammunition.
In my own load development I found that the 4350 type powders worked very well in the 6.5 Swede. It seems that slower is better in this caliber. So I would recommend developing your loads with Varget as it slightly slower than H4895.
As for service rifle velocities, below is data gained with Swedish ammo shooting a M1896, a M38 and a modern 700.
You can see that velocity really drops going to the shorter barrels, and the older 24" Infantry barrel must be really loose compared to the modern M700 barrel. As the shorter new barrel exceeded velocities of the older longer barrel.
M1896 Infantry Rifle 29" barrel Carl Gustafs mfgr 1903
17-Aug-06 T = 85 °F
143 gr FMJ 1986 Swedish Ball
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
In my own load development I found that the 4350 type powders worked very well in the 6.5 Swede. It seems that slower is better in this caliber. So I would recommend developing your loads with Varget as it slightly slower than H4895.
As for service rifle velocities, below is data gained with Swedish ammo shooting a M1896, a M38 and a modern 700.
You can see that velocity really drops going to the shorter barrels, and the older 24" Infantry barrel must be really loose compared to the modern M700 barrel. As the shorter new barrel exceeded velocities of the older longer barrel.
M1896 Infantry Rifle 29" barrel Carl Gustafs mfgr 1903
17-Aug-06 T = 85 °F
143 gr FMJ 1986 Swedish Ball
Code:
[SIZE="3"]Ave Vel =2615 2610
Std Dev =18.76 14.38
ES = 48.34 45.59
High = 2632 2633
Low = 2584 2587
N = 5 8[/SIZE]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
cracked butt
Member
I use 43-46 gr of RL-22 with a 140gr SMK or 140 gr Rem Corelokt.
FWIW, the M/41 ball ammo used byt he swedes is probably some of the most accurate military issue ammo every made (sorry swiss fans, the GP-11 is good, but The M/41 stuff is better). The Swedish load was a 143gr bullet with 46.3 gr of a Norma powder very similar to if not identical to RL-22 (either Norma MRP, NC1220, or another Norma powder that MRP eventually replaced, depending on the source).
The 6.5x55 loves slow powders.
FWIW, the M/41 ball ammo used byt he swedes is probably some of the most accurate military issue ammo every made (sorry swiss fans, the GP-11 is good, but The M/41 stuff is better). The Swedish load was a 143gr bullet with 46.3 gr of a Norma powder very similar to if not identical to RL-22 (either Norma MRP, NC1220, or another Norma powder that MRP eventually replaced, depending on the source).
The 6.5x55 loves slow powders.
BsChoy
Member
The M96 is mush strong an action than the M94. My 1941 M38 shot the 47.0 of R22 all day with no problems. Alot of guys like that powder in thier guns
cracked butt
Member
The 94s and 96s are identical mechanically and were made in the same factories at the same time. Its the older Norwegian Krags with their single lugged bolts that need to be worried about.
I'm about to start reloading 6.5x55 for a Tikka T3 Hunter. I have Varget and VV N540 available for powder and 107, 120, 142 SMKs, 129 Speer SPs, and 140 A-Max's for bullets. Any suggestions? I understand that some have concerns about the speed of the Varget, but this is not going in a 100-year old Mauser, but a modern hunting rifle.
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