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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Rifles
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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26998
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
6.5 x 55 Models 1896 and newer modern actions
      #64862 - 29/10/06 01:45 PM

Some time ago, I picked up a Model 1896 Oberndorf Mauser 1912 chambered in 6.5x55. This wasn't my first 1896 6.5x55, but the only one I've had with a brand new, unfired barreled action. It was the long 29" barrel rifle, however it does have an oversized groove diameter of .366" with a bore diameter of .256" showing .005" deep rifling. I shortened the barrel to 22" and remodeled the stock for sporting use.
: Since that time, I've developed a number of handloads for it along with testing it with Normay factory 156gr. RN bullets. It's a good shooting rifle, so far with Hornady bullets ranging from 129gr.SP Hornady to 160gr.RN. It opens to 2.5" groups with 160gr. Sierra bullets with everything else pretty much landing in 1-1/4" to 1-5/8" groups at 100 meters. I'm shooting off the bags using the factory military rear sight and a modern ramp with post front sight.
: What sort of shooting have you done with your 6.5x55? and what loads have been developed for it?

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Marrakai
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3591
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: 6.5 x 55 Models 1896 and newer modern actions [Re: DarylS]
      #64868 - 29/10/06 05:53 PM

Daryl:
I also have an Obendorf 96-Mauser (M38 actually) made on an 1899 action. Beautiful workmanship compared with the Swedish Huskies and Gustavs. I am rather conservative with my loads however, being quite content with mild military ballistics to match the dial-sight.

I load 43 grains of ADI AR2209 beneath a 140gr Spitzer for around 2500 fps in the M38. PMC factory loads only do 2450 fps in this rifle. It is used solely for military rifle competition, so no need to juice it up and risk shooting over.

If loading for a sporter, it is possible to improve the 'factory' ballistics quite a bit. The standard Norma factory-load in the good ol' days was 51.2 grains of N-205 under the 139-grain bullet for a whopping 2946 fps! Ya-hoooo!
(at only 49,630 psi, BTW)

With that kind of ballistic potential, and the abundance of dirt cheap ex-mil rifles and carbines on offer, this is probably the most vastly under-rated cartridge/rifle in history!

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26998
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: 6.5 x 55 Models 1896 and newer modern actions [Re: Marrakai]
      #64881 - 30/10/06 08:06 AM

I load the 160's in the 2,500fps range while my favourite 129gr. high velocity load runs 2,966fps with 52.0gr. Re#19. These are in the 22" barrel chrono'd at 10' form the muzzle. As well, my best 140gr. SP load is 51.0gr. RE#22 for 2,864fps. All of these show .0005" (1/2 thou) less 'expansion ring' expansion than does the Norma factory 156gr. load, so either the RP/WW bras is stronger than the Norma brass, or the pressure is less. Either way, they are plenty safe in my rifle - fast and powerful. Loaded to the same expansion rate as factory Norma ammo, the 129's ould exceed 3,000fps from the 22" barrel - but there is no need. They are fine where they are, actually duplicating most 130gr. .270 Winchester factory ammo at this point.
: I-too believe the old 6.5x55 is mostly an unsung great round. It is a good round at factory levels and loading it to it's potential merely increases it's effectiveness as long as descent bullets are used. Fellows up here bought the Oberndorfs when a bunch hit the market back in the mid 1980's. Most of them used factory Norma 156gr. ammo for their moose for several years. I heard of only one that took more than one shot and that was due to a poor first hit.
; It's a fun round in it's normal guise, or run out to the Improved Arch or Ackley chambering. I went so far as to re-chamber one to 6.5x68 for a pressure test scenario after reading about Arch's experiments. The action is much stronger than many people give it credit for.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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blackberry9
.224 member


Reged: 28/07/06
Posts: 23
Re: 6.5 x 55 Models 1896 and newer modern actions [Re: DarylS]
      #64899 - 30/10/06 09:20 PM

Hi Daryl,

Iīve got a M38 Swedish-Mauser with 23,5" barrell and a hunting-stock.
First I shot the 139gr. Hornady Spirepoint loaded with 39gr. Rottweil R907. Often the lead disapear from the buillet-coat.
Than I shot the 156gr. Norma PPC Vulcan with a load of 45gr Rottweil R905. The coat or the lead were to hard for row-deers and wild-boars. Most of these games had a weight between 20 an 100lbs.
These good penetration-buillet was made for moose in northern Europe.
Than I changed to the 120gr. Nosler Ballistic-Tip with a load of 38gr. Kemira N550. Was the PPC Vulcan to hard for 20-100lbs wild-boars, the Ball.-Tip was to soft. Lots of bloody meat-parts were the results.
Now I shoot the 156gr. Norma Alaska. But till doday I havenīt shoot a game with that load.
A good buddy of me shoot since years, with good results the 140gr. Nosler Partition.

The 6,5x55 needs long barrells to burn the slow powders. When the barrel-length is under 24" dont use the slowes one like IMR 4831, Rottweil R905, MRP or N160. The next faster powders like Rottweil R904, N205/204 or N150 are the better choise. Every 2" shorter barrell use the one class faster burning powders.

regards
Manolito

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blackberry9
.224 member


Reged: 28/07/06
Posts: 23
Re: 6.5 x 55 Models 1896 and newer modern actions [Re: blackberry9]
      #65034 - 01/11/06 09:34 PM

Ups, sorry,

right is 47gr N550 with the 120gr Nosler Ball.-tip. The 38gr N550 is the load for the 156gr. Norma Alaska.

regards
Manolito

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26998
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: 6.5 x 55 Models 1896 and newer modern actions [Re: blackberry9]
      #65488 - 08/11/06 06:37 AM

Blackberry, note my 22" barrel Swede makes 2,966fps with the 129gr. Hornady using Re#19 powder. This powder has a similar burn rate to the various 4350's, yet works splendidly with this barrel length. Pressure wise, is it sub - Norma factory 156gr. as to expansion of the case web. by .001". The 160gr. load noted below develops .0005" less expansion than the 129gr. load. The accuracy with the this load is terrific as well. I submit that 1-1/2" groups off the bags at 100 meters with iron sights is terrific. Once I find a B-Square mount for it, I'll see what a scope might give for acurracy.
: I expect a 160gr. Hornady Interlock, driven at 2,580fps by Re#22 to do nicley on a Mule Deer buck next weekend, given the opportunity, that is. My Daugter will be using her .260 Rem (built by myself) with 160gr. Sierra SemiRN at about 2,300fps. This load is far from even moderate for pressure in her .260, but is accurate, she shoots it well indeed and it duplicates the 6.5x54, a proven game ctg.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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blackberry9
.224 member


Reged: 28/07/06
Posts: 23
Re: 6.5 x 55 Models 1896 and newer modern actions [Re: DarylS]
      #65500 - 08/11/06 10:32 AM

Hi Daryl,

can you get a EAW-mount in the states? Try this mount and you will never get an other.
What for an scope will you put on the 6.5x55. Iīm a friend of Pecar-Scopes. The 4-10x45 with Plex will be a good choise for long distance-shots. The 3-7x35 is a little bit lighter an the better choise for the heavyer buillets.
You compaire the .260 Rem. with the heavy buillets good with the old austrian 6.5x54Mannl.-Sch. With the lighter buillets from 100-140gr. itīs compairable with ouer german rimed 6.5x57.
(Some of our german hunters in our forums mean the .260 Rem. is not far from the power of the 6.5mm Rem.Mag.)
All middle 6.5 cal. are a good choise for light and softskinned games. In this part of Germany where I live the 6.5x55 gets every year more friends to shoot for row-deers.
Sure, the 6.5x55 is the suggsessfullst cardridge in the world. Made in 1894 it was more than 60 years the standart army-cal. in Sweden, in Norway more than 50 years, its untill today the most used huntingcardridge in these bouth countrys and one of the most prefered sportcardridges in the world. Unbreaked suggsess since more than 110 years.

regards
Manolito

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26998
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: 6.5 x 55 Models 1896 and newer modern actions [Re: blackberry9]
      #65511 - 08/11/06 02:30 PM

Since the mount will not be over the action, I expect a straight long eye-relief 4X will end up being the appropriate scope. As to long shots, I'm not in favour of them, depending of course, what you consider a long shot. Up to 300 yards I am comfortable, given an appropriate bullet. since I've yet to have to pull the tirgger on a Moose, deer or elk beyond 100 yards, save one, 4X is all anyone actually needs. I've done well with all my variables set to 2X, 3X or 4X andonly use higher powers at the range when testing loads.
: My comparrison of the .260 to the 6.5x54 was merely the load picked, not what it can do at the top end. I guess you misunderstood my statement. The .260 Rem is about the same as the 6.5x55. If each are loaded to their absolute maximum for modern actions, they both put out the same bullet weights ar the same velocities. The 6.5x55 has a couple grains capacity over the .260, however the .260 is capable of being loaded to slightly higher pressure due to the case shape. The case size of the 6.5x55 was originally designed to give the same capacity as the 7x57 ctg. , in a slighlty shorter package, This, it does due to a slightly larger base diameter.
: Both the .260 Rem and 6.5x55 will exceed 3,000fps with a 120gr. bullet with top-end loads and mid 2,800's fps with 140's. These are virtually the same ballitics as I used in my old 6.5RemMag with it's 20" barrel, except I needed 60gr. of powder to do it in that case size.
: All of the current standard cased 6.5's are very efficient cartridges and will even approach the 6.5/284, balistically.
: Another efficient wildcat I worked with a short time ago, had a 60gr. water capacity. It was identical to the .260 Rem case shape, except it was .143" longer. I necked down and fireformed 7mm Mauser brass for it. I called it the .260 CLC (Carol's Little Ctg) It ran 3,308fps with a 120gr. Barnes XLC bullet, identical velocity to my friend's loads in his 6.5x68Schuler and 50fps higher than my .264 WinMag would deliver with it's slow barrel. In capacity, it was identical to the 6.5/284 presently by Norma. Due to it's increased recoil and since it was my daughter's rifle, I shortened the breech end of the barrele that .143" so it would properly handle the .260 Rem factory load. The same bullet now runs approximately 3,050fps with a top end load. The extra 6 grains of capacity in the .260CLC was good for 300fps over the shorter, .260 Rem.
: Yes, the 6.5x55 has been very successful, but it is still behind the .45/70, of 1873 in long term continuous useage.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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