6.5 x 55 Swede tumbling/keyholeing bullets?

[harringtondav]

Working my way through my bucket list of my Dad's guns I want to shoot.
He left a 1918 Swede Model 94. He kept meticulous notes. In 1963 he tested three different loads with good target patterns:
135 gr gas checked cast bullets. Dupont 4064. 30,26,24 grain charges. He noted the 26 grain loads gave the tightest groups.
In 1983 he tried reduced loads of 20 and 17 grains. #4227 powder (?). Same cast bullets. I recall it was around this time he mentioned the keyhole target punches.
Could the reduced load be the culprit? Any other possible causes?
He left loaded cartridges, but I have no idea of the charges w/o pulling the bullets. I have his reloading mold and dies, so I can make up more rounds. ....Just want to get it right.
Thanks,
Dave

[huntnman]

Yes it could. Reduced loads could reduce pressher and velosity. If there isnt enough velosity the projectile, may not stabilize, rate of twist and weight of projectile pending.

[garandsrus]

You may have a leaded barrel also.

[Stewbaby]

I try to stay under 1800fps with cast in the Swedish milsurps…their fast twist (1:8) spins the boolit too fast at higher velocities. I think Dutchman has a tread that discusses this.

…but that 17 gr of 4227 should be just under that and ok, especially with the shorter barrel of the carbine.

[chutesnreloads]

Could it be those boolits have shrunk with age? That could certainly cause your issue also.
With jacketed in the 3 swedes I've experience with, one would shoot .263 bullets very well. One shot then without tumbling but really poor accuracy.
The third tumbled them and were lucky to even hit paper at 100 yards.
All three shot .264 bullets well.

[harringtondav]

You may have a leaded barrel also.

Thanks, I'll check it.
Stewbaby's comment below about high velocity and high twist would support this.

[Hahndorf1874]

My 96 Swede goes 1.25– 1.5” @ 100 yds, Saeco Mould drops Lino @ 136 gns ,.268 as cast. 18 gns H4198 (2207) 50/50 Alox Gum turps lube. They like fat projectiles seated way out. Cheers Mal in au.

[Thumbcocker]

I too size to .268 for Swede milsurps.

[harringtondav]

I too size to .268 for Swede milsurps.

Wow. I'm getting confused. Dad cast to .266 with a Lyman #266469 mold, and sized to .263/.264. He slugged the barrel and measured .2655 groove dia.
I measured the bullet in the pic at .2625. He has some made up with Herters jacketed bullets, .2605. These bullets are between 40 and 59 yrs old. Earlier above someone mentions bullets may shrink.

Your .268 is .005 more than what I measured. Are my/his bullets undersized for the .2655 barrel groove? I'm planning on using his mold and sizing die, but will hold off until I know more.
Thanks.

[Thumbcocker]

Throats are loooong and around .268

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[harringtondav]

Throats are loooong and around .268

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I'm not embarrassed to say I'm a 68 yr old newb here. I don't understand the term "throats". Please answer again in baby talk. I'll catch up eventually.

[Prodigal Son]

Where the chamber stops and the bore with rifling starts, in between that minute' space is the throat!

[Prodigal Son]

Having shot many cast boolits in my time, the Swede "I", think would do better with a longer and heavier boolit! I know with the J word boolits all mine shoot the 156 & 160 gr. awesome!

[harringtondav]

Where the chamber stops and the bore with rifling starts, in between that minute' space is the throat!

Thanks. Quick measurements give a cartridge OAL of 2.965, mold bullet length 1.086, bullet exposure .816.
Dad fussed much over headspace, so I'm assuming its correct. ....no idea of distance to the lands. I think I know how to check this.

[Larry Gibson]

"ad cast to .266 with a Lyman #266469 mold, and sized to .263/.264."

There's the main problem....bullets sized too small. Should have been left at .266, as cast.

Also need to keep the velocity under 1800 fps, preferably down around 1600 fps. Might give 2400 powder a try.

[iron brigade]

Had my cg-63 out this morning
3 were in 3/4" and two high.
Load was
21 grains of h4895
Noe 126 grainer
Fed primer

[Stewbaby]

I'm not embarrassed to say I'm a 68 yr old newb here. I don't understand the term "throats". Please answer again in baby talk. I'll catch up eventually.

[Stewbaby]

I shot some yesterday finally with the wooden blank bullet m/14 surplus powder…10.5gn with 266673 150gn. Did great at the 100yds. Will be a great plinking load. No recoil of course.

[Eddie1971]

I use this mold for my Swede sized to .266 and it works real nice over 31 grains of IMR4895.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop...3-4-cavity-gc/

I want to eventually get one of these since I think it may work better in the old M96 with that heavier weight.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop...6-4-cavity-gc/

[Streetwalker]

Merry Christmas!
I have three Swede's that I have collectively shot thousands of rounds of cast boolits in and the best results I obtained came from Lyman mold #'s 266673 and 266469. The bullets were cast from 50/50 linotype and wheelweight alloy. With gas check, they weigh in the 150 gr. range. I use 10.5 gr. Unique with a standard primer and/or 16 gr. of 2400 with a magnum primer. I lightly crimp the bullet at the top of a lube groove with a lee crimp die. Those two loads shoot very well indeed in my rifles and other Swedes I have used as well.