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A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 4:37 pm
by DavidABQ
I have a 1908 Swedish Mauser that I wish to reload for and I need some guidance. I am not looking to load for absolute accuracy, just good enough accuracy and by that I mean I can hit 18”x18” steel plate out to 200 yards. I am more concerned about not damaging the rifle.
I intend to use Hornady ELD bullets but I have no idea on weight or powder? What is a good go-to powder for 6.5X55 Swede and what is a good bullet weight for the military twist that the rifle came with?

Thank you.

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 7:06 pm
by Varn
Load a 140 over 34 grains of Varget or 40 grains of H4350. Seat it so that the only the boat tail is below the neck shoulder junction. All factory 6.5x55 chambers have a long throat. Don't worry about bullet jump. it wont matter much. one of the above powders will give you nice accuracy and be very mild.

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 5:30 am
by DavidABQ
Varn wrote: Sun Jun 30, 2019 7:06 pm Load a 140 over 34 grains of Varget or 40 grains of H4350. Seat it so that the only the boat tail is below the neck shoulder junction. All factory 6.5x55 chambers have a long throat. Don't worry about bullet jump. it wont matter much. one of the above powders will give you nice accuracy and be very mild.
Thank you for giving me a starting point.

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 7:01 am
by Another Dang 9
David I loaded ammo for a 6.5x55 a friend had and it would shoot better with flat base Spitzer type bullets better. No idea why.

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 8:05 am
by ywltzucanrknrl
David, I'm with another dang nine----my Swede 6.5's model 96's and 38's shoot best with something like the Hornady 160 round nose or a Sierra GK 140 flatbase. If you can find a box of the Sierra 160 semi pointed---they always shot great for me---but I think they may have been discontinued. I've always had good luck with mine with slower powders like 4350 and 4831. The round nose and semi pointed bullets don't give have a great trajectory, but they sure shoot good in the Swedes. With the Swede's, I stick with loads that are in the starting range listed in manuals---I shoot them a lot and like you, I don't want to damage them.

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 8:33 am
by thauglor
The mecca of swedish mauser knowledge https://forums.gunboards.com/forumdispl ... arms-Forum
There are periodic threads on loads quite often, lots pr info.

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:37 pm
by Another Dang 9
I was loading Speer 160gr. RN with Reloader 19 powder. I think I used Speer load data or Sierras.

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 1:35 pm
by DavidABQ
Thank you VERY much everyone for the information! I feel nervous about reloading for my Swede. 8)

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 4:29 pm
by Another Dang 9
Post a pic. Some of the old Swedes were made into target rifles.

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 5:32 pm
by DavidABQ
I will have to go take one but mine is as-issued Carl Gustav armory regular infantry rifle.

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2019 7:05 am
by ywltzucanrknrl
No need to be nervous David. Mine are all as issued also. I picked the first one up in 1977 and I have shot it a bunch, for sure well over 2,000 rounds that were my reloads--never an issue. They shoot fine with mild or moderate loads, they are safe, well built rifles. There should be a date stamp on the barrel near the receiver----I have a couple that were built in the early 1900's and both had new barrels in the 1930's---if you check the date stamp you can see when the barrel was put on. The only thing I can think of is to make sure it's mechanically sound, nothing obstructing the bore and check it with a set of go-no go gauges. Make sure the trigger works correctly---the as issued triggers are not bad in my opinion. There are quite a few people that shoot these in military sniper matches and I've shot the match version CG-63's in across the course matches---like I say, no need to be nervous---have someone who knows Mauser's check it out if you are not comfortable. And try the Hornady 160's, they have shot well in every as issued Swede I've owned.

Re: A non- silhouette reloading question.

Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2019 4:48 pm
by ywltzucanrknrl
David, I'm a shooter and not a collector. So, I stopped at a friends house this afternoon who knows more about collecting and we talked about Swedes. He said I was wrong about the number stamp on the barrel being the year it was re-barreled or even if it was re-barreled. So, strike that comment.......