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Post by urbino on Jun 14, 2021 0:53:15 GMT -5
Rather than continue to piggyback on the M1 Carbine thread, I decided to create a separate one. So I finally decided to just go ahead and go with 6.5x55 Swede instead of 6.5 Creedmoor (or .270, which was also a consideration). It's a cartridge I've been interested in for a very long time. I think I first read about it on Chuck Hawks' site, if anybody remembers that one. (Or maybe it's still around.) Its combination of low recoil, high effectiveness, flat trajectory, low wind drift, and long history of success on even extremely large game like moose, polar bears, and the dangerous African game seemed like the ultimate sweet spot in a cartridge. It's like eating your cake and having it, too. Once I'd taken an interest in the cartridge, I started looking into rifles chambered for it. You have, of course, all the milsurp Mausers, etc. I wouldn't mind having one of those, but their inability to handle modern case pressures make them more of a neat item than an effective one. However, I do like iron sights and traditional looks. Ultimately, I decided I'd someday like to get either a CZ American or a Ruger M77 African chambered for this cartridge; maybe even with a Mannlicher stock. Well, the time came and one of those options was readily available, so I went with the Ruger, no Mannlicher stock:  Iron sights. Blued steel. Walnut stock. Real checkering. Mauser action. Tiny bit of a nod to the cartridge's African heritage. I'm chuffed. |
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Post by simnettpratt on Jun 14, 2021 2:32:41 GMT -5
Chuck's links still work. I am also a blued steel, iron sights and the best looking wood I can afford guy. That M77 would be perfect. Chuck has some reloading data from Nosler, Hornady and Speer on his site, too. www.chuckhawks.com/6-5x55.htm |
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Post by toshtego on Jun 14, 2021 5:46:13 GMT -5
That is a real nice rifle. Ruger does a good job these days.
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Post by Plainsman on Jun 14, 2021 7:12:59 GMT -5
Bravo, and congratulations. You also have the advantage of adding optics easily, should you decide to do that. Whether or not you decide to reload right now, may I suggest that you start to lay in cases, perhaps only a few at a time? If you decide not to reload in future the cases will be easy to dispose of and you WON'T lose any money— just the opposite.
Great decision! Enjoy!
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 14, 2021 9:15:51 GMT -5
Beautiful rifle! Congratulations!
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Post by Gypo on Jun 14, 2021 9:59:47 GMT -5
Glad you chose the Swede it is a classic. I have one I have not shot in a long time M96
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Post by trailboss on Jun 14, 2021 18:45:31 GMT -5
A beautiful smokepole, I think you will be happy with it.
Now you have me wanting to buy another gun….. Enabler!
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Post by urbino on Jun 14, 2021 21:00:18 GMT -5
Thanks, guys. I expect to be very, very happy with it.
I'll see what I can do about brass, Bob. It's not exactly thick on the ground at the moment, afaict. I'll probably have 90 empty Lapua cases before long, though.
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Post by Gypo on Jun 14, 2021 22:44:12 GMT -5
Thanks, guys. I expect to be very, very happy with it. I'll see what I can do about brass, Bob. It's not exactly thick on the ground at the moment, afaict. I'll probably have 90 empty Lapua cases before long, though. save ever one it is the best brass around |
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driftingfate
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Post by driftingfate on Jun 15, 2021 5:34:50 GMT -5
The 6.5x55 Swede is a great cartridge for up to medium sized game at moderate distance. Plus, it's one of those cartridges which seems to just be inherently accurate. Sure, some great shots using solids have taken larger game, but it's really outside of its envelope.
I think it's a great choice over the 6.5CM which, modern darling that it is, really comes into its own only at long distance. Personally I've always liked Jeff Cooper's advice/practice that one shouldn't try a shot at game at over 200 yards because making a hit under field conditions is just too risky to be humane. Obviously with the popularity of long range hunting, that's a minority opinion these days, but there it is anyway.
.270 would have been a classic choice, too. In college I hunted with a borrowed Ruger No.1 in .270 and never found it lacking, though, truth be told, I'm a poor hunter and never had the chance to really put the rifle through its paces.
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Post by Plainsman on Jun 15, 2021 7:12:55 GMT -5
The 6.5x55 Swede is a great cartridge for up to medium sized game at moderate distance.
News flash for the Finns and the Norwegians...
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 15, 2021 9:01:05 GMT -5
I hear that it works great on SS officers too.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 15, 2021 9:08:31 GMT -5
If you can get some European ammo they load it to 60k PSI, compared to 51k here. You can push a 160 grain bullet to 2650 fps, just in case you are invaded by elephants.
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Post by urbino on Jun 15, 2021 13:01:03 GMT -5
If you can get some European ammo they load it to 60k PSI, compared to 51k here. You can push a 160 grain bullet to 2650 fps, just in case you are invaded by elephants. That's some hosspower. |
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Post by urbino on Jun 15, 2021 14:28:30 GMT -5
Managed to find a bit more ammo, including a little bit of much less expensive Prvi Partisan. All together so far, it's:
20rds Lapua 100gr. ball
50rds Lapua 136gr. OTM
50rds Lapua 139gr. HPBT
50rds Lapua 123gr. HPBT
40rds Prvi 120gr. HPBT
No idea, really, what the 100gr. ball ammo would be good for, but I like to try a variety of things, and it's not like I'm a hunter, anyway. It'd be nice to find some 150-160gr loads at some point, and some of the Nosler/Barnes/Swift stuff.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 15, 2021 15:13:31 GMT -5
Managed to find a bit more ammo, including a little bit of much less expensive Prvi Partisan. All together so far, it's: 20rds Lapua 100gr. ball 50rds Lapua 136gr. OTM 50rds Lapua 139gr. HPBT 50rds Lapua 123gr. HPBT 40rds Prvi 120gr. HPBT No idea, really, what the 100gr. ball ammo would be good for, but I like to try a variety of things, and it's not like I'm a hunter, anyway. It'd be nice to find some 150-160gr loads at some point, and some of the Nosler/Barnes/Swift stuff. Anything is good on coyotes. |
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Post by urbino on Jun 15, 2021 17:37:30 GMT -5
Managed to find a bit more ammo, including a little bit of much less expensive Prvi Partisan. All together so far, it's: 20rds Lapua 100gr. ball 50rds Lapua 136gr. OTM 50rds Lapua 139gr. HPBT 50rds Lapua 123gr. HPBT 40rds Prvi 120gr. HPBT No idea, really, what the 100gr. ball ammo would be good for, but I like to try a variety of things, and it's not like I'm a hunter, anyway. It'd be nice to find some 150-160gr loads at some point, and some of the Nosler/Barnes/Swift stuff. Anything is good on coyotes. I can see where it would do that job, yes. Now that it's in hand, it's a little interesting. It's a flat-nosed bullet, which I assume helps expand it a bit when it gets where it's going. It could almost be shot out of a tubular magazine if anybody made a lever gun in 6.5 Swede. |
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Post by toshtego on Jun 15, 2021 17:41:12 GMT -5
Anything is good on coyotes. I can see where it would do that job, yes. Now that it's in hand, it's a little interesting. It's a flat-nosed bullet, which I assume helps expand it a bit when it gets where it's going. It could almost be shot out of a tubular magazine if anybody made a lever gun in 6.5 Swede. All the 6.5 X 55 Swedish cartridges I have purchased were made in Europe and used Spitzer bullets. I have never seen a flat nosed 6.5. |
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Post by Plainsman on Jun 15, 2021 17:49:24 GMT -5
The only lever-action I can think of that might have been made in the Swede is the Browning BLR. But I don't think they ever made one. That 100gr round would probably make an excellent antelope or even whitetail cartridge.
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Post by urbino on Jun 15, 2021 17:53:04 GMT -5
I can see where it would do that job, yes. Now that it's in hand, it's a little interesting. It's a flat-nosed bullet, which I assume helps expand it a bit when it gets where it's going. It could almost be shot out of a tubular magazine if anybody made a lever gun in 6.5 Swede. All the 6.5 X 55 Swedish cartridges I have purchased were made in Europe and used Spitzer bullets. I have never seen a flat nosed 6.5. This is a box of Lapua, so definitely European, and the nose is flat. I mean, it's not wadcutter flat or anything, but it's not the least pointy. It's not even round-nosed like a .30-30 or .22lr. It rounds down like those, but then at the tip there's a sharp shoulder where it flattens off to a very slightly radiused nose. |
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Post by urbino on Jun 15, 2021 17:55:26 GMT -5
The only lever-action I can think of that might have been made in the Swede is the Browning BLR. But I don't think they ever made one. That 100gr round would probably make an excellent antelope or even whitetail cartridge. I have a BLR in 7mm-08. It uses a box magazine. As far as I know, they all do, so no need for a flat nose. |
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Post by Plainsman on Jun 15, 2021 18:07:31 GMT -5
All the BLRs were box-magazined. One of their great benefits. Funny-looking but pretty good rifles, so I hear.
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Post by toshtego on Jun 15, 2021 18:10:28 GMT -5
All the 6.5 X 55 Swedish cartridges I have purchased were made in Europe and used Spitzer bullets. I have never seen a flat nosed 6.5. This is a box of Lapua, so definitely European, and the nose is flat. I mean, it's not wadcutter flat or anything, but it's not the least pointy. It's not even round-nosed like a .30-30 or .22lr. It rounds down like those, but then at the tip there's a sharp shoulder where it flattens off to a very slightly radiused nose. I have not seen that. All my 6.5 ammo came from Czech Republic. |
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Post by urbino on Jun 15, 2021 18:16:14 GMT -5
All the BLRs were box-magazined. One of their great benefits. Funny-looking but pretty good rifles, so I hear. I got no complaints. They're really more of a lever-actuated bolt action than a Winchester or Marlin lever gun. They even lock up like a bolt action. It's pretty slick, actually. My affection for oddballs showing again. |
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Post by urbino on Jun 15, 2021 18:22:46 GMT -5
This is a box of Lapua, so definitely European, and the nose is flat. I mean, it's not wadcutter flat or anything, but it's not the least pointy. It's not even round-nosed like a .30-30 or .22lr. It rounds down like those, but then at the tip there's a sharp shoulder where it flattens off to a very slightly radiused nose. I have not seen that. All my 6.5 ammo came from Czech Republic. I managed to take a not entirely terrible pic with my phone:  |
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Post by trailboss on Jun 15, 2021 18:33:31 GMT -5
Lapua makes great ammo, they have a huge facility in Mesa Arizona where they crank out projectiles around the clock. Before I stopped delivering there, they were shipping 120,000 pounds a week with the carrier I worked for. They also own Talley Defense which is on the same property. We hauled a lot of their shoulder fired missile launchers, I begged for range day there. I would like to work there, but the jobs I am qualified for, ain’t nobody quitting.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 15, 2021 21:20:09 GMT -5
All the BLRs were box-magazined. One of their great benefits. Funny-looking but pretty good rifles, so I hear. If I was buying a lever action rifle I would sure love a Browning. In 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor. |
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Post by urbino on Jun 15, 2021 22:42:59 GMT -5
All the BLRs were box-magazined. One of their great benefits. Funny-looking but pretty good rifles, so I hear. If I was buying a lever action rifle I would sure love a Browning. In 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Only drawback (so far) is magazine capacity, and that's just a niggle. There's a company in Australia that makes 10-rounders, but last I checked they weren't available in the US. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 15, 2021 22:45:29 GMT -5
If I was buying a lever action rifle I would sure love a Browning. In 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Only drawback (so far) is magazine capacity, and that's just a niggle. There's a company in Australia that makes 10-rounders, but last I checked they weren't available in the US. I just saw one in 35 Whelan. Drool 🤤. |
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Post by urbino on Jun 15, 2021 23:04:27 GMT -5
Only drawback (so far) is magazine capacity, and that's just a niggle. There's a company in Australia that makes 10-rounders, but last I checked they weren't available in the US. I just saw one in 35 Whelan. Drool 🤤. About as big-bore as I would ever want, with my back. |
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