I pretty much confirmed a solid load for The Swede today.....

[Mikej]

I'd loaded up three different powder rates between 41.5 and 44.5 of Win Sta-Ball 6.5. I'm using Hornady 129 Gr flat Base soft points. That was about month ago, and I wasn't' sure if it was actually a good load, or I just got lucky. The 44.5 got a couple pretty good groups. I loaded up a box (20) of 44.5 gr of the Sta-ball 6.5, and shot it today.
Results....@ 100 yards.





Wish I had better trigger discipline. And could stay with it through the series. I always start my targets with the top left and go clockwise.
With the last five rounds I picked-off three clay targets nestled on the berm another 6 yards or so further. And with the last two tried to break the smaller pieces of clay.

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[Spitpatch]

Swede. Real Swede shootin'!

I've got a M38 Short rifle that I've never tried.

....and before someone beats me to it: your backstop may be in need of some additional buttressing.

 

[quneur]

What scope are u using? I imagine the eye relief would cause the shooter to hunch their heads forward.

 

[gmerkt]

What scope are u using? I imagine the eye relief would cause the shooter to hunch their heads forward.

Must be some kind of long eye relief scope. I've used those a couple of times on old milsurp rifles that I didn't want to disturb the originality of. There are mounts made that allow you to remove the original rear sight and replace it with a scope mount.

 

[gmerkt]

Win Sta-Ball 6.5.

I've used that with success in 7mm Mauser. Because I haven't been able to find any 760 for three years.

 

[drstrangelove]

I got my M38 dialed with the same setup. PM me if you would like some data. 100yd ladder testing. Aftermarket trigger helps a lot.

 

[P7M13]

before someone beats me to it: your backstop may be in need of some additional buttressing.

Nah, it's Po'tland. The neighbor's house works great.

 

[Spitpatch]

Nah, it's Po'tland. The neighbor's house works great.

I figured he might respond, saying he owned that apartment building and his lease agreements allow for some collateral damage.

 

[Spitpatch]

I got my M38 dialed with the same setup. PM me if you would like some data. 100yd ladder testing. Aftermarket trigger helps a lot.

View attachment 1899068 View attachment 1899075

Have quite a bit of data on the Swede, and have loaded for '94 Carbine and '95 Carbine, and a CZ Mannlicher, but your final recipe for an M38 would be of interest.

@Mikej is on to something with the Hornady 129 Interlock. This bullet worked well in all the above guns (and a .264 Ruger M77) with a Caribou to its credit with a Swede carbine.

The CZ Full Stock seemed to prefer 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tips.

 

[Spitpatch]

With those kinds of groups from century-plus-aged rifles, y'all could claim the cartridge was "efficiently designed", and "just by looking at it you can see the thought that went into it". Add a freaky barrel twist for limousine-length bullets (robbing yourself of case capacity and velocity), and you just might have the latest, greatest thing: But it needs a catchier name.

The 6.5 Swedemoor!

Destined to sweep the nation (amongst those never having shot a century-plus-aged rifle).

 

[Mikej]

What scope are u using? I imagine the eye relief would cause the shooter to hunch their heads forward.

I got to posting some years ago on gunboards.com when I became interested in the Swedish Mausers. I became aware of the Bad Ace mount that attaches to the original rear site base with no modifications to the gun. A member there had replaced his straight bolt with a bent bolt and had no more use for this:
https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-crossfire-ii-2-7x32-vplex-moa-scout-scope.html Or the Bad Ace mount, and made me a helluva' deal on the two. The guy takes good care of his stuff, the scope and base look brand new and 9" eye relief gives a perfect picture of the target. Perfect for me, my eyesight really doesn't allow me to enjoy shooting over 50-60 yards with iron sights.

I've used that with success in 7mm Mauser. Because I haven't been able to find any 760 for three years.

I started loading these Swedes with IMR 4064. I have another one, 1902 M96/38 too. Same powder for the M1s and the Swede's. That 4064 went NUTS in price! I'd seen Win StaBall 6.5 and thought hmm. Had been reading a lot of people running these slower powders in their Swede's like RL 19-RL-22. Sta-Ball 6.5 is right next to RL19 in burn rate. And has been available at less than insane prices.

I got my M38 dialed with the same setup. PM me if you would like some data. 100yd ladder testing. Aftermarket trigger helps a lot.

View attachment 1899068 View attachment 1899075

I love these Swede Mausers. The one above is all matching, except the top hand guard. Barrel is threaded, and even though these rifles are not known for heave recoil I decided to pick up a "Swiss Products K-31 Pressure Diverter". Makes it even better and doesn't make it louder.
The trigger on this is quite light/smooth. Maybe 3lbs?

Have quite a bit of data on the Swede, and have loaded for '94 Carbine and '95 Carbine, and a CZ Mannlicher, but your final recipe for an M38 would be of interest.

@Mikej is on to something with the Hornady 129 Interlock. This bullet worked well in all the above guns (and a .264 Ruger M77) with a Caribou to its credit with a Swede carbine.

The CZ Full Stock seemed to prefer 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tips.

View attachment 1899280

I haven't shot my other Swede short rifle since I picked this one up and scoped it. I guess I should. It's just been more fun to reach out to 100 yards instead of just 60. Maybe I'll be lucky and the other Swede will like this load too?

I'm happy as a clam that these flat base bullets happened to work this well. They're not expensive. I'd pick up other "Fancy" bullets that people had left over, and would cost so much more if I had to go on the open market, Barnes, Nosler.

The 6.5 Swedemoor!

Those rounds don't have the Swedish elegance factor. "6.5 Chubmore"?

 

[drstrangelove]

@Mikej my trigger is 2lbs. Feels like the set trigger on my CZ527. Had to relieve some wood to get it to fit. The Husqvarna trigger was smooth but near 5lbs with longish pull.

Dayton Traister Trigger…

M96 Swedish Mauser

#DMT96

Available at the Hawken Shop

 

[Spitpatch]

My Swedish Mauser M38 Short Rifle.
I bought two from SARCO when they dumped a shipload (literally) on the continent. Sold the "less perfect" one, and kept the "near perfect" one. Bayonet was on a gun show table in a pile of "bayonets: your pick". It is near perfect as well, and the machine work and intricacy of design matches that of the rifles/sights. I noticed some startlement and hesitation from the table-holder when I paid him. I don't think it was supposed to be in that pile.



Don't believe I'd ever go with the "scout scope" idea (my eyes can still see a buckhorn) for aesthetic reasons, but I did put away a Timney trigger for it in the event the bench reveals a need for trigger improvement.

Along the way, I picked up a couple HEALTHY piles of Swedish practice ammo. Wood bullet version and aluminum "pellet" (80gr) version. Real curious about these, but haven't shot anything out of this gun yet.

 

[Caveman Jim]

 

[Spitpatch]

@Mikej my trigger is 2lbs. Feels like the set trigger on my CZ527. Had to relieve some wood to get it to fit. The Husqvarna trigger was smooth but near 5lbs with longish pull.

Dayton Traister Trigger…

M96 Swedish Mauser

#DMT96

Available at the Hawken Shop

These triggers (and cock-on-opening conversion from D.T. as well) I installed in two (previously modified) Swedish Mausers. One is a very well-done sporterized '95 carbine (probably done in the 60's), and the other is a "Kimber Salvation" rifle built by Kimber while in receivership.

They too purchased Swedish Mausers when the flood of them came over, and turned them into basic sporter deer rifles in 6.5x55 if the barrel condition warranted cutting and turning it. .308's and .243's (Maybe .257 Roberts??) got a new barrel. Ramline stock, Bushnell scope, Weaver rings and mounts, plastic hard case all for $299. Electroless Nickel finish if you wanted it. A three hundred dollar gun with the Kimber roll-stamp.

A Nickel .308 got the Dayton Traister treatment from me when it shot like a dream to start with.

...and these guns kept the machinery of Kimber running.

 

[gmerkt]

I started loading these Swedes with IMR 4064. I have another one, 1902 M96/38 too. Same powder for the M1s and the Swede's. That 4064 went NUTS in price! I'd seen Win StaBall 6.5 and thought hmm. Had been reading a lot of people running these slower powders in their Swede's like RL 19-RL-22. Sta-Ball 6.5 is right next to RL19 in burn rate. And has been available at less than insane prices.

Big case, smaller bore, slower powder. As I said, I couldn't find 760 lately, so I went for the StaBall 6.5, mostly because it was in the speed range I wanted and was available. I've noticed it might be on a store shelf when nothing else is. It's a newer product, I don't think all that many people have experience with it yet. I've also used the StaBall 6.5 in .243 Win.

Accurate makes their version of 4064, costs less than IMR and it's available. I bought a couple of pounds of it for .30-06 in the M1 Rifle. I've tried it in some test loads, works fine, I can't tell the difference. Bottle says Made in Canada, which is also what IMR 4064 says.

 

[Spitpatch]

Big case, smaller bore, slower powder. As I said, I couldn't find 760 lately, so I went for the StaBall 6.5, mostly because it was in the speed range I wanted and was available. I've noticed it might be on a store shelf when nothing else is. It's a newer product, I don't think all that many people have experience with it yet. I've also used the StaBall 6.5 in .243 Win.

Accurate makes their version of 4064, costs less than IMR and it's available. I bought a couple of pounds of it for .30-06 in the M1 Rifle. I've tried it in some test loads, works fine, I can't tell the difference. Bottle says Made in Canada, which is also what IMR 4064 says.

That just begs for a side-by-side comparison on the chronograph.

 

[Mikej]

My Swedish Mauser M38 Short Rifle.
I bought two from SARCO when they dumped a shipload (literally) on the continent. Sold the "less perfect" one, and kept the "near perfect" one. Bayonet was on a gun show table in a pile of "bayonets: your pick". It is near perfect as well, and the machine work and intricacy of design matches that of the rifles/sights. I noticed some startlement and hesitation from the table-holder when I paid him. I don't think it was supposed to be in that pile.

View attachment 1899313

Don't believe I'd ever go with the "scout scope" idea (my eyes can still see a buckhorn) for aesthetic reasons, but I did put away a Timney trigger for it in the event the bench reveals a need for trigger improvement.

Along the way, I picked up a couple HEALTHY piles of Swedish practice ammo. Wood bullet version and aluminum "pellet" (80gr) version. Real curious about these, but haven't shot anything out of this gun yet.

That a Husqvarna, or someone had the bolt handle bent?

My other Carl Gustaf (1902) is all matching, including the stocks, and unthreaded. But it was shortened. I'm not really one to goob up an old rifle. But the price for the scope and mount what it was.... And my eyesight not allowing me to shoot out further. I couldn't help myself.

When I got the the short rifle off Gun Broker I immediately looked for ammo. At that time I picked up 300 rounds of PPU at about $14.00/box. I'd read PPU is one of the tops for reloading. But at that time I also grabbed 100 rounds of S & B, just because. Hadn't heard at that time S & B isn't supposed to be great for longevity. But, as a test, I loaded and shot 20 S&B SIX times, so far, without getting any split necks. (shrug?)

Big case, smaller bore, slower powder. As I said, I couldn't find 760 lately, so I went for the StaBall 6.5, mostly because it was in the speed range I wanted and was available. I've noticed it might be on a store shelf when nothing else is. It's a newer product, I don't think all that many people have experience with it yet. I've also used the StaBall 6.5 in .243 Win.

Accurate makes their version of 4064, costs less than IMR and it's available. I bought a couple of pounds of it for .30-06 in the M1 Rifle. I've tried it in some test loads, works fine, I can't tell the difference. Bottle says Made in Canada, which is also what IMR 4064 says.

Before IMR powder "Blew Up" I'd picked up a bunch of the 4064. Probably 8 lbs. I was using it in Garand and the Swede. 47 grains in Garand, 37ish in The Swede. Loading up a 60, or so, rounds for each makes a helluva' dent in powder supply! so the 4064 is just feeding the M1 now. And I'll hope Sta-ball will stick around for as long as I need it.

 

[Spitpatch]

It's a Husky. 1941.