6.5 Swede - What's so great about it?

BattleRifleG3 · 03-17-2004, 10:44 AM

I hear reports of incredible range and accuracy with M96 Mausers in 6.5 Swede. I was wondering if that was because of the ammo, rifle, or both. Is it timeless in its greatness or just great for its time? Would a Ljungman in that caliber be just as good?

And if I were considering a super-accurate rifle that was powerful enough for deer but mainly devoted to paper (not plinking), would this round be a better choice than good old 308? And would a modern rifle chambered for that round be just as good as a Mauser 96 or a Ljungmann?

Or is the key factor the bullets, which could do just as well in 257 Roberts, 250 Savage, 25-06, 6.5mm Rem Mag, or others?

NRAJOE · 03-17-2004, 11:12 AM

6.5 Swede is STILL used for hunting in many countries! I had a Swede 96 Mauser I was stupid enough to trade away for CB equipment of all things! That gun was one of the slickest feeling and accurate that I have ever had. Paid $69 bucks for it when Woolworths was going out of business...can't touch one for less than $250-$300 these days. Mine was mint!

PAPA G · 03-17-2004, 11:46 AM

just a great combo, also Winchester, chambered some M70's in it, maybe some other makers too.

BattleRifleG3 · 03-17-2004, 12:00 PM

Dang... I saw a Swede Mauser at a local shop on consignment for around $150.

Dale · 03-17-2004, 01:59 PM

The 6.5 X 55 is still being used to take moose.

It's as close to a .270 as you can get and, according to Lyman, the .270 is the only round that has taken every specie of thin-medium skinned animal on earth.

I guess there can be said great things about most calibers when being used to provide game for the table as it all depends on the circumstances as far as range, gun condition, the shooter him/herself, etc.

I've taken deer with a .22 hornet years ago growing up.

I'm with *1 as I have taken far more deer with a .30.30 than anything else.

But, I know how MY Swedes shoot and dang.....don't be out there when that .264" bullet goes screaming down range.

BattleRifleG3 · 03-17-2004, 02:15 PM

It's 0.264"? I thought it was 0.257". 6.5mm = 0.256", which is much closer to 0.257"

I mean, I know all about inaccurate numbers for rounds, just not about this one. So what other rounds use this bullet?

NRAJOE · 03-17-2004, 02:26 PM

http://members.nuvox.net/~on.melchar/65swede/

BattleRifleG3 · 03-17-2004, 02:47 PM

Took a bit of looking to find on NRAJOE's link, but indeed it it is 264". Thanks for the info, Joe and Dale. So I suppose the question is what bullets are good, bad; best, and affordable?

And what other rounds use this bullet, and do they use the same bullet?

NRAJOE · 03-17-2004, 02:56 PM

http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cus...llholders.html

BattleRifleG3 · 03-17-2004, 03:01 PM

So we got a Remmy mag and a Winny Mag. I don't see 260 Rem there, which I think is a 308 necked down. Wonder if it uses the same bullet. The case should be inherently accurate if its based on the 308...

BattleRifleG3 · 03-17-2004, 03:16 PM

Apparently the Japanese Arisakas used a 6.5x50mm round a little smaller in case size than a 308.

Reloadbench.com shows that round and a 263 Express based on 308 Win, a similarly sized 6.5 Redding SA, 6.5mm TCU (Uglade) based on 223 Rem, a 6.5x57mm apparently based on 8mm Mauser, 6.5mm-06 (self explanatory). Still can't find any sign of that elusive 260 Remington. Hmm

Shaun · 03-17-2004, 04:21 PM

Going to build one on a turk action in the next few years

toolman · 04-11-2004, 12:01 AM

There's a couple of reasons for the popularity. 1. The round is inherently accurate due to it's sectional density and long bullet. 2. The ammo was never produced with corrosive primers (very unusual for a military round), meaning that the vast majority of rifles out there have very decent bores.

jerry · 04-11-2004, 07:49 AM

If you can find an April 2004 copy of Handloader there is an excellent article on 6.5's

Jay A. · 04-11-2004, 12:50 PM

I love mine. It's shoots very flat over a long distance. The 140 grain bullet gives a phenomenal Coefficient. The only thing is the old ones take ALOT of work to convert for scope. At least mine does.

Snakebite · 04-13-2004, 06:36 PM

BRG3

The 260 Remington does use a .264 bullet. The loads listed in my manuals are darn near identical to the 6.5 Swede. The 260 uses a tiny bit more powder but the velocity gain is almost nothing. Most all loads listed put the 260 within 100 fps of the Swede.

Cant improve on the good old Swede!! Great shooter.

A little trivia. The jerk in the Texas Tower massacre used a 260 Remington. He was getting one shot kills at 500 yards.

ScottD · 04-13-2004, 06:43 PM

I just finished building a 6.5 x 284 Win on an Arisaka action just for grins. Waiting on the barreled action to get back from polishing and will attempt some engraving. Can't wait to shoot it.

TEA · 05-16-2004, 09:34 PM

Here's mine, best shooting rifle I've ever owned.

http://images3.fotki.com/v34/photos/.../swede1-vi.jpg

ScottD · 05-16-2004, 10:16 PM

One word, Bell.

lefty o · 05-16-2004, 10:16 PM

the 6.5x55 is a very accurate round, as is the .260 rem which is a ballistic twin for all practical purposes. it is not a flat shooting cartridge by modern terms, especially in loadings that are totally safe in the small ring mausers- in modern actions it can safely be loaded up a couple of hundred fps. my m96 has put 5 under 2-1/4" at 200yds and i'm pretty certain with a better shooter it is capable of 1-1/2" at 200.

03-17-2004, 10:44 AM	#1
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	6.5 Swede - What's so great about it? I hear reports of incredible range and accuracy with M96 Mausers in 6.5 Swede. I was wondering if that was because of the ammo, rifle, or both. Is it timeless in its greatness or just great for its time? Would a Ljungman in that caliber be just as good? And if I were considering a super-accurate rifle that was powerful enough for deer but mainly devoted to paper (not plinking), would this round be a better choice than good old 308? And would a modern rifle chambered for that round be just as good as a Mauser 96 or a Ljungmann? Or is the key factor the bullets, which could do just as well in 257 Roberts, 250 Savage, 25-06, 6.5mm Rem Mag, or others? __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

03-17-2004, 11:12 AM	#2
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,052 Images: 3	6.5 Swede is STILL used for hunting in many countries! I had a Swede 96 Mauser I was stupid enough to trade away for CB equipment of all things! That gun was one of the slickest feeling and accurate that I have ever had. Paid $69 bucks for it when Woolworths was going out of business...can't touch one for less than $250-$300 these days. Mine was mint! __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

03-17-2004, 12:00 PM	#4
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Dang... I saw a Swede Mauser at a local shop on consignment for around $150. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

03-17-2004, 01:59 PM	#5
Dale Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Too Dang Hot, Arizona Posts: 4,284	The 6.5 X 55 is still being used to take moose. It's as close to a .270 as you can get and, according to Lyman, the .270 is the only round that has taken every specie of thin-medium skinned animal on earth. I guess there can be said great things about most calibers when being used to provide game for the table as it all depends on the circumstances as far as range, gun condition, the shooter him/herself, etc. I've taken deer with a .22 hornet years ago growing up. I'm with *1 as I have taken far more deer with a .30.30 than anything else. But, I know how MY Swedes shoot and dang.....don't be out there when that .264" bullet goes screaming down range. __________________ "It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me

03-17-2004, 02:15 PM	#6
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	It's 0.264"? I thought it was 0.257". 6.5mm = 0.256", which is much closer to 0.257" I mean, I know all about inaccurate numbers for rounds, just not about this one. So what other rounds use this bullet? __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

03-17-2004, 11:46 AM	#3
PAPA G Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: somerset, kentucky Posts: 12	just a great combo, also Winchester, chambered some M70's in it, maybe some other makers too.

03-17-2004, 02:26 PM	#7
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,052 Images: 3	http://members.nuvox.net/~on.melchar/65swede/ __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

03-17-2004, 02:47 PM	#8
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Took a bit of looking to find on NRAJOE's link, but indeed it it is 264". Thanks for the info, Joe and Dale. So I suppose the question is what bullets are good, bad; best, and affordable? And what other rounds use this bullet, and do they use the same bullet? __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

03-17-2004, 02:56 PM	#9
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,052 Images: 3	http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cus...llholders.html __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

03-17-2004, 03:01 PM	#10
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	So we got a Remmy mag and a Winny Mag. I don't see 260 Rem there, which I think is a 308 necked down. Wonder if it uses the same bullet. The case should be inherently accurate if its based on the 308... __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

03-17-2004, 03:16 PM	#11
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Apparently the Japanese Arisakas used a 6.5x50mm round a little smaller in case size than a 308. Reloadbench.com shows that round and a 263 Express based on 308 Win, a similarly sized 6.5 Redding SA, 6.5mm TCU (Uglade) based on 223 Rem, a 6.5x57mm apparently based on 8mm Mauser, 6.5mm-06 (self explanatory). Still can't find any sign of that elusive 260 Remington. Hmm __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

03-17-2004, 04:21 PM	#12
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,592 Images: 1	Going to build one on a turk action in the next few years __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

04-11-2004, 12:01 AM	#13
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,582 Blog Entries: 22	There's a couple of reasons for the popularity. 1. The round is inherently accurate due to it's sectional density and long bullet. 2. The ammo was never produced with corrosive primers (very unusual for a military round), meaning that the vast majority of rifles out there have very decent bores. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

04-11-2004, 07:49 AM	#14
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,881 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	If you can find an April 2004 copy of Handloader there is an excellent article on 6.5's __________________ I'm a down home back woods redneck

04-11-2004, 12:50 PM	#15
Jay A. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Montana Posts: 116	I love mine. It's shoots very flat over a long distance. The 140 grain bullet gives a phenomenal Coefficient. The only thing is the old ones take ALOT of work to convert for scope. At least mine does.

04-13-2004, 06:36 PM	#16
Snakebite Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tucson, Mexico Posts: 1,839	BRG3 The 260 Remington does use a .264 bullet. The loads listed in my manuals are darn near identical to the 6.5 Swede. The 260 uses a tiny bit more powder but the velocity gain is almost nothing. Most all loads listed put the 260 within 100 fps of the Swede. Cant improve on the good old Swede!! Great shooter. A little trivia. The jerk in the Texas Tower massacre used a 260 Remington. He was getting one shot kills at 500 yards.

04-13-2004, 06:43 PM	#17
ScottD Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Evanston, IL Posts: 1,020	I just finished building a 6.5 x 284 Win on an Arisaka action just for grins. Waiting on the barreled action to get back from polishing and will attempt some engraving. Can't wait to shoot it. __________________ "Some people can not live without wilderness"-Aldo Leopold

05-16-2004, 09:34 PM	#18
TEA Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Valrico, Florida Posts: 241	Here's mine, best shooting rifle I've ever owned. http://images3.fotki.com/v34/photos/.../swede1-vi.jpg __________________ Check out all my gun pics at: http://public.fotki.com/teadie/

05-16-2004, 10:16 PM	#19
ScottD Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Evanston, IL Posts: 1,020	One word, Bell. __________________ "Some people can not live without wilderness"-Aldo Leopold

05-16-2004, 10:16 PM	#20
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,804	the 6.5x55 is a very accurate round, as is the .260 rem which is a ballistic twin for all practical purposes. it is not a flat shooting cartridge by modern terms, especially in loadings that are totally safe in the small ring mausers- in modern actions it can safely be loaded up a couple of hundred fps. my m96 has put 5 under 2-1/4" at 200yds and i'm pretty certain with a better shooter it is capable of 1-1/2" at 200.