30-40Krag and 6.5x55mm loads

archangele · February 12, 2006, 05:00 PM

Hi all,
I have been tinkering for some time with the Swedish Mauser and it's 6.5x55mm round and have found a load that may work well in your vintage 'Swede". I use 44.1 gr of IMR 4831, a CCi 250 primer and a Berger 140 grain bullet. The rifle laid down a 3" group at 200 yards firing 10 rounds. My rifle is a Carl Gustafs long rifle made in 1908. I seat the round such that the case overall length is a very long 3.210". Believe it or not, they cycle fine out of the magazine in my rifle. Do NOT load this round any hotter! Going up to 44.5 gr shows signs of over pressure. Use this load only in rifles in real good condition. Oh, in a gun vise, this round produced sub MOA groups and at worse, a tad over 1" at 100 yards. My 200 yard groups were off a sand bag using iron sights.
I am also fooling around with a model 1896 30-40 Krag and have found that this rifle works really well with lighter loads and 180 grain bullets. Initially I loaded my rounds with 180 gr Nosler Ballistic tip bullets and 36.5 gr of IMR 4064 for what was a rather potent round, but one which produced 4 " groups out of my rifle at 100 yards. I had some light loads that I had made and just on a lark, decided to fire off a few. Well, guess what, my groups tightened up to under 2"! Not bad for a Krag at 100 yards. Anyway, this light load used the same 180 gr Nosler bullet but a load of 26.4 gr of IMR 4198 powder, and a CCI 250 primer. Again, the bullet is seated way out for an overall cartridge length of 3.190". This load is real kind to brass and the over 100 year old action and barrel. My Krag is sporterized and has a scope so I was able to try it at 100, 150 and 200 yards. The drop from 100 to 200 yards is considerably more then with a normal load, but the grouping, even at 200 yards is far better. About 1/2 the diameter of the groups with full power loads. My rifle is a carbine so if you have the long barrel version, this load may or may not work. Also, Krags are notorious for variations in barrel dimensions relative to the nominal .308 caliber. This is a light load. About up to 30-30 pressures so it should be safe in any Krag that is considered safe to shoot. The recoil is light as well so it might be a nice load to use if you are trying to introduce a young shooter to high powered rifles. Don't be fooled though. This load is potent enough to kill a big deer at 100 - 200 yards.

marks655 · February 14, 2006, 12:01 AM

Have you tried 120 gr bullets in your swede?

How about H4350 ?

I shoot several swede mausers and a Sako 75 in 6.5x55. I get excellent consistency when loaded just into the lands with 45 gr of H4350, 120 gr Nosler BTs. OAL is 3.15 inches. I use Norma or Remington brass, CCI200 primers.

Typical chronographs are 2,850 fps. The two rifles with scopes sometimes shoot 3-shot groups under 1/2 inch.

I just bought some overstock Berger 140 gr match bullets to try.

February 12, 2006, 05:00 PM	#1
archangele Junior Member Join Date: February 12, 2006 Posts: 6	30-40Krag and 6.5x55mm loads Hi all, I have been tinkering for some time with the Swedish Mauser and it's 6.5x55mm round and have found a load that may work well in your vintage 'Swede". I use 44.1 gr of IMR 4831, a CCi 250 primer and a Berger 140 grain bullet. The rifle laid down a 3" group at 200 yards firing 10 rounds. My rifle is a Carl Gustafs long rifle made in 1908. I seat the round such that the case overall length is a very long 3.210". Believe it or not, they cycle fine out of the magazine in my rifle. Do NOT load this round any hotter! Going up to 44.5 gr shows signs of over pressure. Use this load only in rifles in real good condition. Oh, in a gun vise, this round produced sub MOA groups and at worse, a tad over 1" at 100 yards. My 200 yard groups were off a sand bag using iron sights. I am also fooling around with a model 1896 30-40 Krag and have found that this rifle works really well with lighter loads and 180 grain bullets. Initially I loaded my rounds with 180 gr Nosler Ballistic tip bullets and 36.5 gr of IMR 4064 for what was a rather potent round, but one which produced 4 " groups out of my rifle at 100 yards. I had some light loads that I had made and just on a lark, decided to fire off a few. Well, guess what, my groups tightened up to under 2"! Not bad for a Krag at 100 yards. Anyway, this light load used the same 180 gr Nosler bullet but a load of 26.4 gr of IMR 4198 powder, and a CCI 250 primer. Again, the bullet is seated way out for an overall cartridge length of 3.190". This load is real kind to brass and the over 100 year old action and barrel. My Krag is sporterized and has a scope so I was able to try it at 100, 150 and 200 yards. The drop from 100 to 200 yards is considerably more then with a normal load, but the grouping, even at 200 yards is far better. About 1/2 the diameter of the groups with full power loads. My rifle is a carbine so if you have the long barrel version, this load may or may not work. Also, Krags are notorious for variations in barrel dimensions relative to the nominal .308 caliber. This is a light load. About up to 30-30 pressures so it should be safe in any Krag that is considered safe to shoot. The recoil is light as well so it might be a nice load to use if you are trying to introduce a young shooter to high powered rifles. Don't be fooled though. This load is potent enough to kill a big deer at 100 - 200 yards.

February 14, 2006, 12:01 AM	#2
marks655 Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 363	Have you tried 120 gr bullets in your swede? How about H4350 ? I shoot several swede mausers and a Sako 75 in 6.5x55. I get excellent consistency when loaded just into the lands with 45 gr of H4350, 120 gr Nosler BTs. OAL is 3.15 inches. I use Norma or Remington brass, CCI200 primers. Typical chronographs are 2,850 fps. The two rifles with scopes sometimes shoot 3-shot groups under 1/2 inch. I just bought some overstock Berger 140 gr match bullets to try.