My old 94 Swede

[Barlow]

I had 20, 85 gr Sierra Hp's sitting on my shelf. I loaded them up in Herter's cases (6.5x55)with H4895 from 40 to 43grs in 1/2 grain increments. Bullet jump is a looooot, WLR's, 2x7 VX2, 95 yards 80 degree temps but mostly calm. Military barrel and I don't have clue as far as round count, and it been restocked with original trigger. 40 gr 3 shot =.504, 40.5 grs 3 shots=.457 and 41 gr 3 shot= 1.036. The last group it was getting hot (on me) and I rushed it. This 1914 iirc rifle never ceases to amaze me. Just had to talk. Barlow

 

[jonbearman]

You sure it isn't a model 96? The swede's are excellent shooters , probably one of the most accurate military rifle's produced with 03 springfield design coming in almost as accurate. I have 3 or 4 96 swede's and a ruger mkII in 6.5x55 as well, they are good shooters. The only problem with swede's is their site's being zeroed out at about 300 meters so they always shoot high unless you install a higher front sight to recalibrate it to a 100 yds. The machining on them is superb for mass produced weapons. Most are unfired that cam around in the 1980's and some have been shot with most maintained very well with tons of life in them.

 

[Barlow]

It's a 94, and I have a 96. When I got this 94 it had a hack job stock and it does not have matching numbers. I had it restocked, reblued and cleaned up. I have a Brux barrel on my 96 and it's a shooter but this old 94 shot these 85 gr Sierra 1/2 moa today and it does the same with 160 gr Hornady RN.s. I was thinking about the 85 gr load for coyotes this winter if they were accurate enough, they are and I will. Barlow

 

[joshb]

I love Swedes.

 

[ebb]

What is it that the Swedes knew that make these guns such good shooters? The cartridge doesn't dominate the match results, 94s and 96s were nothing special in other calibers. Did the Swedes hand fit and assemble with only the best barrels and parts? I just don't get it.

 

[Barlow]

This morning I shot the 41.5 and 42 gr load of H4895 with the 85 gr Sierra hp. I did not clean the barrel from yesterday, but shot two foulers this A.M. The 41.5 gr load went into .359 at 95 yards (3 shot) and the 42 gr load went into 1.668. Odd thing they chronoed 2869 and 2871 mv. I have to find some more of those bullets. Barlow

 

[Laurie]

What is it that the Swedes knew that make these guns such good shooters? The cartridge doesn't dominate the match results, 94s and 96s were nothing special in other calibers. Did the Swedes hand fit and assemble with only the best barrels and parts? I just don't get it.

6.5X55mm is an inherently accurate cartridge that has been used in Europe as a match cartridge for many decades in 300 metre competition. There was a considerable variety of improved sights available for the M1896s / M1938s including two different receiver mounted aperture models. It is still used today in the Scandinavian countries' inter-regional and inter-country matches using the Sauer STR 2000 rifle and issued ball ammunition.

It is the USA that has only recently woken up to the 6.5s' potential and by the time that happened, the 6.5X55 has been appreciated by relatively few people there thanks to a combination of its old age, low SAAMI pressure rating (45,000 CUP), and that it needs a long action.

The Swedish Mausers are very well made and that's a help. They aren't the only military Mausers that can offer superb precision though if in good condition. There are many exceptionally accurate 7X57s out there too. (We Brits discovered that between 1898 and 1902 when we got our arses kicked in South Africa by Afrikaaner farmers turned Boer Kommandos using M1895 contract rifles, and your great great grandfathers found the same thing in Cuba around the same time in the Spanish-American war by regular Spanish infantry using the original 7mm Mauser, the M1893 Spanish rifle.)

I have a pair of Chilean long rifles, a DWM M1895 ('93 type small ring action as per the Spanish and Swedes) and Steyr M1912 ('98 action) both of which will put three shots into well under an inch and five into less than two inches off the bench. And since I can hardly see the crude sights and target together, that is really something. (Many years back, I read an American article somewhere - maybe Guns & Ammo, more likely one of the Gun Digest annuals - about the staggeringly small groups that a Brazilian M1909 7X57 produced off the bench when a small LER pistol type scope was mounted in place of the rearsight.)

I can't comment on the 7.65mm Mausers, but I've owned and shot many 7.92X57s including some unissued mint examples, the best of which was a superb Persian long rifle with a '98 action. None would shoot better than 2-MOA at 100, and more often 3-MOA or more in days when I could actually see through their sights. I don't believe this is a primarily cartridge design issue, rather the 7.92 chamber with its long tapering leade used to get the pressures down on very hot loaded cartridges.

 

[joshb]

Here's the targets from my first try. HV100 and Hornady 120 BTHP at 100yds.

 

[Ggmac]

Sweden was neutral and the rifles were never used in battle . I believe they were issued to every adult male . It was there responsibility to maintain and maintain marksmanship . I may be wrong on all this , it's been a long , long time since the books have been read !
War is hell , especially on men and weapons .

 

[JSH]

I got ate up with the better quality milsurps for several years. I got my first swede by accident when the guy said it was a 7x57.
There are those that hold the 03 and 03A3 in high regards. Don't get me wrong,very good rifles.
The Finnish Nagants are a quality piece as well.
The very best I and many others have encontered ar the K31 Swiss rifles, a lot of folks got spooked on the 7.5x55 and its case. Nothing more than a 30-284. I have shot mine to 500 with the iron sights. I was pleased until I let a couple of friends give it a go. They cut my MOA groups in half!!
The K31 is really not a fair comparison to others as they were never pressed into service and subjected to being used in the field.

My swede with my cast bullet load is just down right scary at 100.