Swedish 6.5x55 reduced cast bullet loads….

[Dante]

I have 2400 powder and have used that for ages but I am running low. I do have IMR4895 and recently found comments that it could also be used for similar purposes and velocities using 19-26 grains. The article referred to the 30-40 Krag cartridge. Is this loading safe. I expect it will be if I start low and work up. Thoughts. Dave

[wesson357]

Try to keep your velocity 1500-1700 fps.

[farmer66]

I have interest in this caliber with cast and 2400. Do you mind sharing the bullet mold number and the grains of powder you have used?

[Baltimoreed]

I reload Swede 6.5 cast but don’t use either of those powders.

[Czech_too]

For the OP, in the One Book/One Caliber manual there is a listing using IMR4895 & the Lyman 266469 mould (143 gr.)
Suggested starting load 17.0 gr. @ 1316 fps w/max load of 30.0 gr. @2177 fps
Load(s) tested in a Swedish military carbine

There are no loads shown regardless of bullet weight using 2400. Didn't check other manuals on hand though.

[Tracy]

This will probably be like throwing a rock at a hornet's nest. But here goes, for those who aren't afraid to think outside the box.
J&G has some M14 wooden bullet practice ammo for 6.5 Swede. Currently they have a 250 round cloth belt for about $30, or a 10 round box on stripper clips for about $3.00; or $2.00 if you buy 50+ boxes. I would go for the boxes even though they are more expensive because the stripper clips are useful, and the ones on belts have reviews of being corroded. Even buying the boxes with stripper clips, you can get 500 rounds for $100 plus about $30 shipping.

So, here's what I did: pull the wooden bullets and dump the powder into an empty powder container. Each round had about 23-24 grains of powder. I use a 1cc dipper (about 10.5 grains) of this powder to reload a case, then seat my 120 grain cast bullet. Works fine. I think it would work fine with any normal weight 6.5 cast bullet.
Some people claim that it is about the speed of Unique; to me it seems slower than Unique. Doing it this way I have just under a pound of powder left over. In other words I get enough powder to reload those 500 cases, plus an additional 500+ rounds.

The cases are brass, Berdan primed. J&G says to expect them to be corrosive, but every report I have read from others who have done this says they're not. None of mine have been corrosive, thus far.

This is not a recommendation; it is a report of what I have done.

[stubshaft]

I use Unique in my 6.5X55 K96.

[15meter]

Here:
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?12502-6-5x55-Swede-load

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?20344-cast-loads-for-6-5x55-w-9-quot-twist

http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/ByFireArm/Accurate%20loading%20of%20cast%20bullets%20for%20t he%206.5%20Swede.pdf

Ain't the innerweb grand?

[405grain]

I shoot 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser in a M38 Turkish (98 Mauser) with a sporter barrel with a 1-9 twist rate. Swedish military rifles will have a much faster twist rate, and the accuracy usually falls off with cast bullets at above 1600 fps with the military barrels. Even though I could (theoretically) probably push my rifle up to around 1750 fps, I've been having good accuracy in the 1600 fps range, so haven't tried for higher velocity yet. I've been shooting the 150 grain Lyman # 266673 with good success. With 2400 I use a charge of 14.5 grains. So far this has been the most accurate load. Other powders that I've tried are IMR-4227, 5744, IMR-4198, and Reloader #7. I've used 18.0 grains for all of these powders, and they put me in the range of around 1600 fps.

Lots of other folks shooting the 6.5x55 swear by the 140 grain Lyman # 266469 bullet. It seems that this bullet gives excellent performance in Military Swedish Mausers. My sporter rifle with the slower twist rate barrel hasn't shot that bullet very well, but this is the exception, not the rule. Lots of other guys say that it's their favorite 6.5mm boolit. I've also heard good stuff about the Saeco # 264, but don't have any firsthand experience. One thing that I've read over and over again is to avoid the "cruise missile" boolit like the plague. Again, I have no firsthand knowledge regarding that mold, but from reading posts here, few have had success with it, and many more have not.

[Dutchman]

I have 2400 powder and have used that for ages but I am running low. I do have IMR4895 and recently found comments that it could also be used for similar purposes and velocities using 19-26 grains. The article referred to the 30-40 Krag cartridge. Is this loading safe. I expect it will be if I start low and work up. Thoughts. Dave

Please spend a few bucks and buy the Lyman Cast Bullet manual. Then buy a pound of Unique, Reddot or 700X. Lots of cast bullet shooting with more economical powder.

Dutch

[leadhead]

The Lyman 266469 works really well as other lightweight 6.5 bullets. The other one that didn't shoot worth a damn
was the Lee cruise missile. After I cut it down so the weight was around 150 grains, it shot pretty good.
My load is between 14 and 15 grains of 2400. Hope this helps.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Listen to Dutchman, he is the Swedish Mauser Guru here. Figured this out many years ago. In case you guys haven't figured it out, I tend to search out "them that knows." Dutch is one of them.

Randy

[Streetwalker]

I have interest in this caliber with cast and 2400. Do you mind sharing the bullet mold number and the grains of powder you have used?

I have 3 Swede Mausers and I use Lyman mold #'s 266469 and 266673. I load 16 grains of 2400 with any brand of magnum primer for each bullet from the previously mentioned molds. Very accurate combo in all my Swede's and other Swedes that I have loaded and shot as well.

[muskeg13]

Don't overlook Reloader 7. This powder used to be popular for CB shooting. Someone else on another Swede thread on this website recommended it and said 18.5 grains was his preferred load. I tried this load (without any filler) using the nominal 150gr Lyman 266673, and it's excellent in my Swedes and is mild. I definitely pulled the flier on the left, so the group should be 0.79 at 60 yards.
315983 315984 315985 315986

[W.R.Buchanan]

I like that you installed a Lyman Receiver Sight !!! Well done sir!

Randy

[muskeg13]

I like that you installed a Lyman Receiver Sight !!! Well done sir!

Randy

Thanks, but actually it's a Redfield Series 70 with a Merit Adjustable Sight Aperture.

I wanted to maintain the carbine in as close to military configuration as practical, but chose to install a receiver sight so I can hit things. I've done the same with almost all of the military rifles in my collection that didn't come with receiver sights as original equipment (but should have).

[TD1886]

Don't overlook Reloader 7. This powder used to be popular for CB shooting. Someone else on another Swede thread on this website recommended it and said 18.5 grains was his preferred load. I tried this load (without any filler) using the nominal 150gr Lyman 266673, and it's excellent in my Swedes and is mild. I definitely pulled the flier on the left, so the group should be 0.79 at 60 yards.
315983 315984 315985 315986

That's a nice looking rifle. I use Reloader 7 and you're right about it's pretty good for cast.

[Garand]

My go to load for a Lyman 150 grain LRNGC bullet is 19.0 grains of IMR 4227 giving me a MV out of a 29" barrel of my Mauser M1896 of 1,763 fps. Decent accuracy to 300 yds.

[Dante]

Thanks to all. Special thanks to Czech_too. I copied your reply and will be using 4895 when I get back to the bench. My mould is Lyman 266469. Dave