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| <Mats> |
Hubie, Shortcut 1: Seat them deeper. You'll often find top accuracy in these funnel throats by seating .050"-.100" from the lands. Conventional throats (freeflight + 1.5-2.5 deg. throat) like 'em on or near the lands. Most 'Swedes' like CCI or older Win primers, few like Federal - I guess this relates to the massive impact from the heavy firing pin and the full 1" stroke, short-stroking them seems to improve grouping with Remington and Federal primers. Another thing to consider is loading with faster powders than normally used, with this short a barrel the muzzle pressure and thus -flash is 'a whole hatful' and slight imperfections in the crown can affect bullet flight more than usual. This will lead to a reduction in velocity of course, but as you probably already have seen it kills 'em stonedead anyways... Good luck, -- Mats | ||
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| <FAINA> |
Hi Hubie, it's difficolt to say if your rifle can give you great performance. At first what twist have the barrel??? If it shot good with heawy bullet it can shot bad with light bullets. Normaly the old 6.5 shoot great with 140g bullets, but if you like 120g..... Every barrel have hese preference so you must seat the bullet deeper (0.02" step); if it shot bad seat it higher. Wenn you have find the best position you can work at the powder weight. ciao and good work FAINA | ||
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| <Hubie> |
Thanks for the response. Hadn't thought about the faster powder idea, that's worth a try. One of the mods I did on this rifle was turning off the thumb tab on the cocking piece, and shortening the cocking piece and firing pin to match an FN style bolt shroud. So the firing assembly is a bit lighter, but still quite heavy, of course. As for twist, the bbl is orginal, so I think it has the 7 1/2" twist. | ||
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| <Charlie S> |
Hubie I believe Mats is on the right track. I have Two Sporterized 96 Swedes that I have used for deer hunting for several years now. 22"and 24" shortened military barrels. 120 nosler balistic tip and 125 Nosler partition bullets are my standard load. Neither bullet can be seated to within .100 of the lands, but both rifles with either bullet will shoot around 1 minute of angle( 5 shot group, good enough for hunting) One of my target barreled 6.5X55s (6 groove, 1-8 twist commercial bbl.) has 10,000 rounds through it,(set back 1" at 5,000) It will no longer shoot as good as it once did with 140 and 142s, but makes bug hole 5 shot groups at 200 yards with 120 matchkings, They are seated about .120 off of the lands ??? I use 42 grns. of 4064, Lapua case, and Fed.or Win. primer. 2900 FPS ? Regards cocking piece and length of firing pin fall-- I use the Dayton Trasiter cock on open cocking piece,then cut the nose of the cocking cam back to length of original and contour and polish and lap in. You still have a short cock on close, but don't have to modify bolt and have shortened striker fall to about 3/8 inch, use about 22-24 lb, firingpin spring. works slick for me. Good Luck Charlie S. | ||
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| one of us |
I have had excellent luck (accuracy wise)with the Sierra 142 gr. Match, Winchester cases and 36.0 gr. H4895, COL= 3.050. First time to the range shot a "194". The rifle is a gorgeous M96 "marksman" manufactured in 1919 by Carl Gustav. I am considering aquiring a M36 "calvary" model, anyone out there have any experience with this rifle? | |||
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| <Hubie> |
I guess I'm somewhat of a tradionalist. I've never really seen the advantage of "cock on open". Also, in the past, I have preferred the Mauser 2-stage trigger above all else (if it was slicked up properly). However, on this rifle I installed a Timney, and I have been VERY impressed... Makes me wonder what I might have been missing all these years with the high dollar Jewel's, etc. This rifle has been a "nostalgia trip" from the beginning. I built it to resemble, as closely as possible, a Mauser Mannilcher style sporting rifle. Considering it has the orginal bbl, it may never shoot sub-moa, and, in truth, is perfectly adequate as is for the most likely quarry. (E.TX whitetails) However, it's fun trying... I'm going to test seating the bullets deeper, and using a faster powder. Also will try some 140gs's when I get some. Will report back my findings... | ||
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| one of us |
Mine likes Re22 and 140 gr Hornadays. I can't remember the load exactly but I will try to find it for you. It really pulls the group in tight. My gun is a little particular about it's ammo. Several loads won't group well. I will get back to you. "D" | |||
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| <Hubie> |
Already had the 140 Hornadays on my "want list".. Would be interested in your load data. | ||
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| <chris schwartz> |
6.5x55 is my weapon of choice here in South Texas for varmints through long sendero shots on big whitetails and tough wild hogs. I use one load in my guns. Absolute 125 gr Nosler Partition have a good one, Chris p.s. mine are all Mod 96 sporters | ||
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| <Charlie S> |
Hubie I am a cock on close fan too. I May not have been to clear about modifying the Dayton-Trasiter "cock on open cocking piece", It becomes cock on close when you shorten the cam nose, but the sear portion of the cocking piece is further to the rear,thus giving you a much shorter firing pin fall,and quicker lock time. Sorry for the confusion. Chris | ||
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| <chris schwartz> |
p.s. -- just an afterthought about your swede -- is the action glassed and barrel floated? c. | ||
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| one of us |
My load is 46.5 gr of re 22 and Hornaday 140 gr sp interlocks. The last group measured .582 inches at 100, outside to outside. Take away the .264 and you get .318 inch group. I will take that to the deer woods. Good hunting "D" | |||
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| <Hubie> |
quote: Oh, ok. Now I understand! Chris, thanks for the load info. | ||
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| <Hubie> |
Hu quote: Yes, the action is glassed. The bbl is free floated to about 2" from the end, and the mannilicher cap holds the bbl tightly against the pad. | ||
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| <Exercion> |
This thread is right up my alley, as I have been looking to duplicate the original loading of 156gr in my M96 for 100yd match shooting. I have been wondering if the Sierra 155gr Matchkings would work for this application? I have the original barrel so plenty of length and barrel twist. Someone raised the question of stability at 6.5x55 velocities (my reasearch shows the original loads at 2300fps) Has anyone loaded these in this rifle? I currently load 140s, 120s, and have some 85s around here somewhere, but am interested in the heavier bullets. | ||
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| <chris schwartz> |
I loaded up the samples that Sierra sent me on request with AA3100 in my sporterized m96 which is trimmed to 23 inches. Shot right around an inch. Only had 15 I would think it should be no trouble to c. | ||
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