OAL for 6.5x55mm Swede

[Bear2000]

Hi,

I haven't reloaded 6.5x55mm Swede for a while, and when I did, it was for a Tikka T3. Then I was loading fairly hot with an OAL of 3.02". Tonight I am loading up a new batch (139 Lapua Scenars, 43 gr of VV N160, new Lapua brass, CCI BR primers) for my new (old, 1903, but just got it!) M96 Mauser. I pulled out my Lee manual to refamiliarize myself with the load and found the OAL to be 3.15". Various searches have revealed anything from 2.9" to 3.15", a seemingly large differential.

So, does anyone know if the M96 Mausers prefer the load a little longer than modern hunting rifles like the Tikka T3? I have them at 3.15" now, so bringing them down some won't be too difficult.

Thanks.

(Oh, and there's nothing like reloading with new Lapua brass and Scenars - OAL is extremely consistent!)

 

[Slamfire]

I measured 1986 Swedish Ball ammunition, 143 grain stuff, and the OAL was 3.065" plus or minus a little.

I have a M70 in 6.5 Swede, I think bullets for it have to be less than 3.0 or they won't fit in the magazine.

It is my recollection that M96 Swedes have long throats. You can seat your bullet as far as you want, and I doubt you will ever touch the lands.

Just load them for function, these are not target rifles. I got this group with this rifle at 100 yards and that is good enough for me.

 

[USSR]

...M96 Swedes have long throats. You can seat your bullet as far as you want, and I doubt you will ever touch the lands.

+1. Load them so you have 1 caliber in the neck (exclusive of the BT).

Don

 

[Bear2000]

Thanks for the tips SlamFire and USSR. I brought them down to 3.08" - we'll see how that does.

Yeah, I probably went a little overboard in terms of the quality of these loads. They're really meant for a nice BR gun (Lapua brass & scenars, etc.) But that's what I had in stock. I'll probably shoot half of the 50 I loaded tonight out of the M96 and the rest out of the Tikka, which will group them under .5".