proper bullet weight for a 1905 swedish mauser? (m96/b)

[mrming]

Does anyone know the proper bullet weight for a 1905 carl gustov swedish mauser (m96b)? I'm thinking on trying it in a highpower competition end of this month, and it would be nice if I knew what bullet weight to use to keep the sights correct (and preferably the bullet correctly stablized out to 1000 yards)

 

[rbernie]

My Swede didn't like anything lighter than 140gr, and I used 140gr boattail match factory loads for most of my target shooting. You can get some Norma stuff that's closer to 160gr - I expect that the Swede will stabilize them OK, but you'll have to try 'em out to see how well yours likes them.

 

[Jim Watson]

The original 6.5x55 bullet was a 160 gr roundnose, later a 146 grain spitzer. I don't know when they changed over. I bet it would shoot 140 or 142 grain Sierra Matchkings that far.

 

[mrming]

Thanks gents, I know its shot poorly before (and is why i put it away in the safe) but that may well be because of too light a bullet. Will see what I can dredge up at the gunshow this weekend. Good to know that I should start at 140 gr.


I want to try the 160's, the brass disc of glory tells it has bad throat erosion but a perfect bore. If it likes the heavy weights, it'd give me a little extra bullet length to seat it a bit further out..

 

[Jim K]

Norma makes (or used to make) a Match cartridge using a 139 grain pointed boat tail bullet that shot extremely well in those rifles. There are similar bullets on the market for reloading.

Jim