Originally Posted by
Rapier
I have 12 Swedes, it appears that you are looking at M-38 Swede with a 24" bbl, most data on a Swede is not correct. Example; every Model 94, 38 or 96 rifle, before sale to the public, was proofed by the Swedish government to 78k, by Swedish law. They are made from Swedish steel, regardless. PO Ackley rated the Swedes as the very best of all the 95 style Mausers for conversion. Many people have begain their journey into Bench Rest shooting with a Swede 6.5x55. The Swedish Mausers are well worth reading about and the vast majority of owners love them.
The M-38 is capable of MOA accuracy with factory 140 grain ammo. It should not to be loaded as a 30 cal, it takes a lighter bullet to get similar effect due to the ballistics of the 6.5 bullets. The 140grain is the better combination of case capacity / velocity / energy. However, the 6.5x55 is surpringly accurate with the 85gr Sierra JHPs using 4831, even with the log lead of the short bullet.
The Swede loves the 140 grain Hornady Flat base spire point interloc. The powders like 4831 and 4350 do very well. RWS makes loaded ammo and has for years. Beware of the yugo remanafactured ammo, says non corrosive, but has corrosive primers. Europeans do not consider that combo as corrosive. Not cleaned properly will eat up a good barrel.
The 140 grain cast can shoot well, if cast hard and sized properly. The twist is 1-7.5-8 and spins up for the heavy jacked military bullets. The early Sweds used 156grain cupronickel nickel RN bullets, later changed to 140 grain spire points.
If you get a new Timney trigger, the 94,38, 96 trigger, you must elongate the sear hole in the receiver by at least 1/8" towards the chamber for that trigger to work properly, included instructions are not clear.
This is my wife's modified 96 Swede.