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Offline kix

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Swede loads
« on: January 14, 2009, 02:37:33 AM »
  Hello all. I recently obtained a 1904 sporterized  Swede wearing the original barrel and have tried two loads-120 gr. Nosler B.T. with 4350 and 140 Rem. C.L. with 4350 and neither have set any records. Both are loaded 1 gr. below max. I have no idea what the rate of twist is so what has been your experience? 140 or 120? I installed a Timney trigger, checked and rechecked scope mounts and the bore looks excellent. It has an older Japanese Bushnell Banner 10x which responds well to adjustments. Maybe it's just me. Any advice would be appreciated to save me some time experimenting. By the way, the barrel was cut and crowned by a smith of good standing.  Kix
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Offline FW Conch

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2009, 03:03:38 AM »
 ??? What is meant by " didn't set any records" ?  Did you start @ the bottom & work up to those loads,

looking for patterns as you went ?  Did you do a "ladder test", looking for sweet spots in the barrel ?  Does

the chamber have a long throat ? etc., etc., etc.   More information required  ;) !  Jim
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Offline kix

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2009, 12:32:14 PM »
   Thanks Jim. There are too many variables; I knew that. It's just going to take some experimentation. By "didn't set records" let's say 4-6" groups and I usually shoot better than that. Maybe I should have asked, "What shoots good in your Swede"; at least it would be a place to start. I started right under max. because I know where this gun came from and knew it to be a strong, safe rifle. Maybe I should just drop down some. Ah, too many rifles and not enough time!  Kix
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Offline Siskiyou

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2009, 01:15:52 PM »
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Offline FW Conch

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2009, 01:43:35 PM »
 :) Kix, with the link Siskiyou has provided I feel you have all that you need to proceed.  It will take a little

 time to work things out, but that's where the fun is !  ;)  Good Luck - Good Shooting    Jim
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Offline Davemuzz

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2009, 02:09:06 PM »
Kix,

These old Mausers can shoot some pretty accurate groups. But from what I have see (from shooting my own 6.5 Swede and from observations of others) is the cartridge OAL has a lot to do with it. So, if your just loading it to SAMI OAL you may have to "re-think" that.

I don't know if you have measured the freebore of your chamber or not, but you may want to do that. There are several ways to do this and if your not sure, a quick search will probably get you your answer. But, suffice it to say, you may need to seat your bullets a bit longer than the SAMI max....again, depending upon your chamber's available freebore.

Dave
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Offline Larry Gibson

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2009, 07:09:28 PM »
Kix

Two things are suspect if all is well with the bedding and scope (all the screws in the action and mounts are tight?) ;  First the bullets. Swedes have about a 1-7.5" twist which is very fast. Another is most of the grove depths in 6.5 Swedes runs .266+.  This means that sometimes bullets without flat bases do not shoot well, like the Nosler.  Also, some Remington CL, especially the bulk ones, don't shoot to well just because.  The second suspect thing is the crown. You mention the barrel was shortened and recrowned.  Doesn't take much to make it bad.  Not saying that's it but right now we don't know.

First things first, let's work on the easy first; what is the specific load you are using with each bullet?  Are you neck sizing or full length sizing? 

BTW; I've been shooting the 6.5 Swede for 30+ years and haven't found one yet that wouldn't shoot well. 

Larry Gibson.
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Offline Davemuzz

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2009, 07:15:47 AM »
Ahhhh.....follow Larry's lead, now we can get somewhere!!  Anyone who has shot the Swede for that long will know his stuff!

Larry...you can be "The Swede King".  (Just to bad it's all about the rifle and not about the Swede blond's....eh?)
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Offline Steve P

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2009, 09:05:04 AM »
Fast twist = heavy bullets.  Use the 140 and ^.  Base of bullet no deeper than base of neck.  Try to keep them out near max so they fit to your magazine length.  When working up my loads, the sweet spot was in the middle of the book load range on several of the powders.  I didn't have to push the limit to get accuracy.

Good luck,

Steve :)
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Offline AtlLaw

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #9 on: January 16, 2009, 09:41:22 AM »
Quote from: Larry Gibson on January 15, 2009, 07:09:28 PM
haven't found one yet that wouldn't shoot well. 
Larry Gibson.

+ 1!  I've got 3.  The one "built just for me" rifle I have is chambered in the Swede.  Never seen one that wouldn't or couldn't be made to shoot very well.
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Offline kix

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2009, 03:38:04 AM »
    Thanks men for your help. I have been reloading long enough to know it takes experimenting and shooting but my newbie question generated what I needed- excellent advice!  Let's see, with the 140 C.L. I used 45 gr. of 4350 and 48 gr. with the B.T., both out of the old Speer manual. The OAL is 3.00; think I will increase that a bit. I have a large supply of 4350 (and use it in many rifles) so I am going to stay there for awhile. I still have about 70 140 Rem. C.L's. remaining; going to work on those too. One thing I found interesting about Siskiyou's link (among others) is the reference to A-max bullets as a shooting buddy uses them in several calibers with amazing accuracy; that can be an option I might explore. Also, to eliminate one very big variable, I am going to take a Vari-X 111 scope off my retired .270 and mount that. And, after checking the action screws, letting the barrel cool off between shots while cleaning occasionally, I'll see what happens. Because of that nasty thing called work it will be a few days before I get to the range but I will try to keep you posted. Thanks again.  Kix
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Offline don weber

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2009, 08:09:32 AM »
I shoot a Carl Gustaf swedish 6.5*55 converted to a Scout rifle. The barrel was only shortened to 24 in. and crowned. New trigger and synthetic stock. I had a hard time finding cases for it, so i used reformed Winchester 270 cases.
5 shot groups as follows
100 meters----39 gr.--IMR 4895--129gr Horn.PSP.CCI reg.primer. Group .928.
                     40gr.--WW.760---140 Horn.PSP. CCI. reg.primer. Group. .966.

The rifle shoots at its best with the bullet seated no deeper than the base of the neck. The pressures seem OK.  I have now aquired new 6.5 cases but have not done much reloading with them. I am waiting for the weather to warm up.
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Swede loads
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2009, 11:59:35 AM »
Great post!!  For me very timely!!

 I have had two Swedes (A 96 and a 38) for YEARS and never fired a shot out of them!!! I have been flirting with the idea of shooting some fun shoots at a local club. the shoot modified hi power rules with any military rifle w=meeting NRA spec's. I got out the '96 and cleaned her up, this one is very clean, so figured it would do better with the longer barrel. I loaded up a box of variable powder charges using IMR 4895 and a Sierra 140 Match bullet. I also have 100pcs of Hornady 140 A-Max's to try. Mine has an extremely long throat as seated as long as possible I just touched the rifling!! I seated the bullet so the base was flush with the shoulder, neck juncture.

 Once the weather turns, I am going to have a month of Sundays worth of shooting necessary to get thru what I have loaded in the past two months!!!!

CW
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