gingerbreadman Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Hello, my buddy just called me saying he knows of a good deal on a semi auto 6.5x55 ..... Is this a decent caliber? I want it for plinking and maybe the odd 100-200 yard goffer or coyote ...... I didnt have much time to talk about the make or model of the gun but i will know tonight..... I worrie being its a semi that its probly had several rounds through it...... how bad is this caliber for throat errosion and barrel life?? and how do i look the rifle over for signs of wear?? my bud has a 6.5x55 also so i can test shoot this big bad girl...... what are your oppinions...... -gbm- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 My gosh why that caliber, and why a semi auto? 10 better cartridges are in no special order: 1. 270 Win 2. 30-06 Spgfld 3. 7x57 Mauser 4. 284 win 5. 280 Rem 6. 260 Rem 7. 7-08 8. 308 Win 9. 7 WSM 10. 270 WSM Any of those in a good quality bolt gun. My opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shipster Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 What Semi-Auto? It's not a US chambering in a semi-Auto that I can recall. It must be a foreign military rifle or something custom, but 6.5X55?. But the original chambering was a bolt rifle. I personally like the 6.5 caliber myself, I've got a 6.5-06 planed for completion this summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Shipster BIG difference between 6.5x55 and a 6.5-06. I have nothing against the 264 caliber, but there are sooo many better choices than 6.5x55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shipster Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 tightloop I agree with you on the 6.5x55 If it is a custom chambering here in the US. If it a European military rifle, that’s something else. But the 6.5x55 is about the equivalent in popularity in Europe as the 06 is in the US. Well maybe not! but close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Posted December 23, 2002 Share Posted December 23, 2002 Gingerbreadman - you there? So, more info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPSC CHIK1 Posted December 23, 2002 Share Posted December 23, 2002 the closest USA caliber to the 6.5x55 is the .260 remington. my ex brother-in-law uses one for whitetails with extremely good results, but it IS pricey for factory ammo SharonAnne L2387 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wknewbie Posted December 23, 2002 Share Posted December 23, 2002 I have a swede mauser 6.5 that I have put more than a few rounds through. As for the caliber itself I like it, I find it to be accurate and soft shooting. Its real popular in the military bolt action matches around here. As for the occasional gopher and coyote it will do, matter of fact I shot a coyote this past october with it. The semi auto part throws me off, never heard of one. All in all its a pretty neat cartridge, especially if you like having something a little different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Posted December 23, 2002 Share Posted December 23, 2002 Still waiting for more info HOWEVER - if its a 6.5 semi then its likely the Ljungman 10 round semiauto surplused from the Swedish military. Very accurate with REAL 6.5x55 ammo - not the US made crap which is undersized b/c its based on the 30-06 case- use Norma or Lapua brand brass only. Rifle costs about $500 on the surplus market. Uses direct gas system like the AR-15. Similar to the Egyptian Hakim rifle but MUCH better quality. In Sweden and Norway, we used the 6.5 on deer and moose - though be sure to use the right bullets for big game - again Lapua og Norma only. At one time, this round was the darling of 1000 yard target shooters and it has much better BC generally than .30 cal match bulllet. You are right about .260 - balisticallty very similar but capable of hotter loads since its a new round while the CIP (SAAMI in USA) has to limit 6.5 due to Swedish mausers over 100 years old - even though they can take it - Swedish steel is supperior to German mauser steel and thus stronger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbreadman Posted December 24, 2002 Author Share Posted December 24, 2002 Quote: from Carlos on 7:57 pm on Dec. 23, 2002 Still waiting for more info HOWEVER - if its a 6.5 semi then its likely the Ljungman 10 round semiauto surplused from the Swedish military. Very accurate with REAL 6.5x55 ammo - not the US made crap which is undersized b/c its based on the 30-06 case- use Norma or Lapua brand brass only. Rifle costs about $500 on the surplus market. Uses direct gas system like the AR-15. Similar to the Egyptian Hakim rifle but MUCH better quality. In Sweden and Norway, we used the 6.5 on deer and moose - though be sure to use the right bullets for big game - again Lapua og Norma only. At one time, this round was the darling of 1000 yard target shooters and it has much better BC generally than .30 cal match bulllet. You are right about .260 - balisticallty very similar but capable of hotter loads since its a new round while the CIP (SAAMI in USA) has to limit 6.5 due to Swedish mausers over 100 years old - even though they can take it - Swedish steel is supperior to German mauser steel and thus stronger. Hey guys sorry for forgetting about this thread i started here. it is infact a Ljungman 10 round semiauto from the swedish military, Tho i havent scene the gun my friend has and he knows his stuff, its not sporterized so theres no scope mounts, the guy wants $250 canadian for it, good deal, i dunno maybe, but the more i look at the ballistics of the caliber the more i realize its just a hair less than my .270 I decided to pass on the gun since it is just a military rifle and i dont realy need another "hunting" caliber, with a 300 ultra, .06 and a .270 all i really need is a varmit caliber such as 22-.250 or .223 or if i want to burn some barrels a .220 swift...... thanks for all the info boys...... -gbm- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loves2Shoot Posted December 24, 2002 Share Posted December 24, 2002 If you get it I have some dies and bullets and brass I would sell you real cheap. I had one growing up and killed a lot of varmits with it, it worked well for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoTenX Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 old thread. this is an excelent cartridge and has survived many of the other cartridges mentioned. recently offered om ruger model 77 mk II, remington 700, win 70 and in CZ. I have a match cg-63 based on the model 96 swedish mouser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 6.5x55 is a great cartridge. I would take one in a bolt gun ANY day. Semi? I don't know anything about that rifle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Gaines Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 6.5x55 is made in Sweeden, Its a very accurate round. Probably one of the more accuate rifles I have shot. Well I guess the only 6.5 I have ever shot was the Swedish mauser. But I have never heard of a 6.5 in a semi before. Hmm do you have any pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huston in Austin Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl17-e.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Sweeney Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I've handled a few Ljungmans. If you're worried about "M1 thumb" don't pick up a Ljungman. The bolt will snip off a fingertip if you're careless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightshooter1 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 (edited) But it is a superbly accurate semi-auto. Bores are almost always great, but be sure to check it as, for some reason, they don't seem to run as mint as the 1896/38 bolt guns. Not sure why as it is said (never checked to see if it was true) that the Swedes never used corrosive primed ammo. They seem to be selling for a bit more in the last couple of years, not uncommon for someone to ask $695. Too much IMO unless it is mint, mint, mint. I load the 6.5 and it will do an honest inch with the open sights with handloaded match ammo. Cast bullets seem to be hit or miss-either it shoots 'em well or it doesn't. Lots of complaints about cast and the 6.5. But you probably would not do cast in your semi anyway. The Hakim was based on the Ljungman, not as nice and in 8mm, but pretty accurate(2" at 100 yards is not uncommon, 3" probably average). The Ljungman can shoot nearly as well as the bolt 6.5s and are beautiful pieces of machinery-just a little different. I've heard of shooters bragging about Ljungmans shooting nearly an inch at 100 yards, though I have never seen one to that well. I have seen an inch and a half with hand loaded ammo though. Patrick is correct, that you can get your thumb or finger caught similar to the M1, but a few minutes familiarity should show you how to avoid it. I find they are easier than the M1 to avoid problems with the thumb. I don't know anyone who ever got caught by one and I know lots of folks who have had the old M1 thumb, sadly including me (but there are lots more folks fooling with M1s than Ljungmans so maybe it's a numbers thing). Uses same shell plate on a Dillon 550 as the 30'06, is easy to load jacketed bullets for, Sierra makes several MatchKings, all of which work beautifully. Brass is easily obtained. Surplus Swede ammo is available, pretty accurate, though not comparable with hand loads. I never really liked the commercial 6.5 loaded by Federal (hunting ammo) as it never shot less than about 2" or just a bit less for me in any Swede I tried it in. I love the 6.5 Swedish cartridge, love the guns, and you can always peddle the Ljungman if it doesn't work out. If the bore is excellent, you can easily sell it to me if you don't like it. Lots of us here would share loads for it with you. Many of the same guys would probably buy it from you. Again, make sure the bore is not messed up-then, if you get it, you can get out of it if you don't like it. WOW-just saw this was a real old thread-why did someone revive this one? Just when I had my hopes up the guy would PM me and say his buddy wanted $150 shipped and he was gonna pass on it-let me have a shot. Oh well, story of my life. Bob Bob Edited July 13, 2006 by straightshooter1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Why a 6.5 Swede auto? Use the 260 REM. And oh by the way the rim on the Swede is about .015 larger and will need the bolt face opened. I have 3 M96 Swedes and a Win model 70 featherweight in the Swede. They are good shooters but it operates at a relatively low pressure compared to the 308 case offshoots... Didn't I see Kelly N use an FAL style gun in .260 at the TX3 Gun in 2003??? Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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