Military Bolt-Action Rifles

 

LOADS FOR THE 6.5x55 SWEDE

Bullet	Bullet Weight (gr.)	Powder	Case	Primer	Charge (grains.)	Velocity (fps)
Sierra HPBT	120	IMR 7828	Norma	Rem. 9.5M	49.0	2,891
Nosler Partition	125	Reloder 19	Norma	Rem. 9.5M	47.0	2,921
Nosler AccuBond	130	IMR 7828	Norma	Rem. 9.5M	48.0	2,910
Barnes Triple Shock	130	Reloder 19	Norma	Win. LR	45.0	2,850
Swift Scirocco	130	IMR 4350	Norma	Win. LR	47.0	2,855
Hornady SST	140	Reloder 22	Norma	Rem. 9.5M	46.5	2,749
Nosler Partition	140	Reloder 22	Norma	Rem. 9.5M	46.5	2,754
Berger VLD	174	Reloder 22	Norma	Rem. 9.5M	46.5	2,732

When you stand it up against the latest hyper-velocity short mags, it's not too impressive. It's too long for a short action, case capacity isn't great, and the bullets look odd because they stick out of the case more than others. The 6.5x55 is one of those cartridges you have to shoot and hunt with before you appreciate how effective it is.

Sweden and Norway adopted the 6.5x55 as their military cartridge 12 years before Uncle Sam adopted the .30-06, so it's been around for a long time. What makes it so popular, and why do hunters and shooters who have a rifle chambered for the 6.5x55 consider it a prized possession?

The answer is obvious after you have used a rifle chambered for 6.5x55. It is one of those cartridges that is inherently accurate. So much so, it is still used in Europe for 300-meter competition. Recoil even with full-charge loads and heavy bullets is very moderate. It's an ideal cartridge for young hunters and women who might be affected by recoil. Ammunition is readily available from Winchester, Remington, Federal, Norma, Nosler and others. If you are a handloader, it is hard to brew up a load that does not shoot.

The 6.5x55, 6.5 Swede, Swede Mauser or whatever people call it is effective on most any big game that is pursued. Some say it might be too light for elk-size critters, but Scandinavians will dispute that statement. I would almost be willing to wager that more moose have been harvested using the 6.5x55 in Sweden, Norway and Finland than elk have been added to the freezer using the .30-06 in the U.S.

On a recent moose-hunting trip to Sweden I was fortunate enough to get a tour of the Norma facility. More than 80 percent of the actions used in the company's ballistics lab were the same Model 96 Mausers that were imported into the U.S. I guess this speaks to the strength of the Model 96.

In a good, strong action such as the 96 Swede or 98 Mauser, higher chamber pressures can be handled without any problems. At one time or another, Winchester Model 70s, Remington Model 700s and Ruger Model 77s have all been chambered for the 6.5x55. Numerous European rifle manufacturers still chamber for it. And it's still a favored cartridge of custom riflemakers.

 

Thousands of Swedish Mausers imported into the U.S. After World War II introduced American hunters to what many consider to be the finest medium capacity 6.5mm cartridge developed during the tail end of the 19th century. And of all the war surplus rifles that invaded American soil during the fifties and sixties, the little Sweede carbine was the one we all wanted. It has class. Workmanship and accuracy were second to none. Even today the 6.5 x 55mm is an extremely popular cartridge among American hunters. And many Scandinavian hunters consider the little 6.5 to be potent medicine for all big game up to the size of moose. Norma offers several factory loads; one a 139 grain spitzer at 2800 fps, another a 156 grain round nose at 2500 fps. For all around hunting of deer size game with the little 6.5, the Nosler125 grain and Hornady129 grain bullets are excellent choices. For Whitetails and Pronghorn in open country, the 120 grain Speerand 120 grain Nosler shoot flat and hit hard. For woods hunting, trying the Hornady160 grain round nose. When it comes to powders there is no best choice. Feed the 6.5 x 55mm anything that burns at a slow to medium rate and it will sing a pretty song.