6.5×55mm Swedish
The 6.5×55mm Swedish is a first-generation smokeless powder rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge. It was introduced in the 1890s, and is still one of the most common cartridges in modern rifles built for the Scandinavian market today. The cartridge was developed in a joint Norwegian and Swedish effort starting in 1891 for use in the new service rifles then under consideration by the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. In 1893, the cartridge was standardized and adopted under the name to facilitate logistical cooperation between Norway and Sweden. The two nations had independent armies and consequently the normal procedure at the time was for their respective governments to use the same ammunition and then purchase small arms of their choice. Norway adopted the Krag–Jørgensen M/1894 rifle, while Sweden adopted the Mauser m/1896 rifle design that was based on a Mauser service rifle designed around the 7×57mm Mauser cartridge.
The 6.5×55mm cartridge has a smaller bullet diameter and lower free recoil than other full-power service rifle cartridges like the later developed 8×57mm,.30-06 Springfield and 7.62×51mm NATO. Thanks in part to its relatively roomy case which was designed for loading long, heavy 6.7 mm bullets, and a diameter bolt face, it has proven more successful than other first-generation smokeless-powder military cartridges of similar bullet calibers, such as the 6×60mm US Navy, 6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer, 6.5×53mmR Dutch Mannlicher, 6.5×52mm Carcano and 6.5×50mm Arisaka.
While the original and colloquial cartridge name is 6.5×55mm, there are some variations in chamberings. In addition to the original 1890s specification, three modern chambering and ammunition pressure variations also exist.
- ' is the European C.I.P. designation with SE being the Swedish two-letter ISO country code.
- ' is the American SAAMI designation.
- is the Scandinavian designation used by the Scandinavian shooting associations DFS, DGI and SvSF.
History and development
In 1886, France introduced a cartridge for use with the then-new smokeless propellant, introduced as Poudre B in the 1886 pattern 8×50mmR Lebel, which started a military rifle ammunition revolution.In 1891, the Swedish-Norwegian Rifle Commission started its work. After extensive ballistic tests where different calibers were tested, the optimal caliber was determined to be 6.5 mm. Following this decision, a joint Norwegian-Swedish commission was established in December 1893. This commission worked through a series of meetings to decide on the different measurements for the cartridge case. A rimless cartridge case of 55 mm length was approved, and each possible measurement was decided upon. The corresponding dimensions of the cartridge chamber to be used in a future service rifle was also determined. At the time of its development the 6.5×55mm was a high-performance smokeless-powder cartridge. The design of the joint Norwegian-Swedish commission was subsequently adopted by the Norwegian and Swedish governments, and entered service in the Norwegian and Swedish militaries. The cartridge was also adopted by the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish civilian shooting associations DDS, DFS and FSR.
In 1984, the C.I.P. independently standardized the cartridge as, and revisioned their standard in 2002 and 2007.
In 1990, a specification was introduced along with the Scandinavian target rifle by the Scandinavian shooting associations DDS, DFS and FSR with the designation which tightened up the original tolerances of the 1893 design standard, added a slightly longer chamber space for the neck for increased safety with untrimmed reloads, and increased the pressure rating. The SKAN chambering is approved for firing any 6.5×55mm cartidges satisfying the aforementioned C.I.P. and SAAMI standards.
In 1993, the SAAMI also independently standardized the cartridge as 6.5×55mm Swedish, with the official SAAMI abbreviation being 6.5×55.
The closest European and American ballistic twins of the 6.5×55mm are probably the German 6.5×57mm Mauser and the American.260 Remington cartridges. While the 6.5×57mm and 6.5×55mm both require a long action receiver, the shorter.260 Remington being can be fitted to a short bolt action format. Other 21st century cartridges like the 6.5×47mm Lapua and the 6.5mm Creedmoor that have entered the market also are able to provide similar performance to factory 6.5×55mm ammunition. However, the extra case volume of the 6.5×55mm promotes a longer lifespan of the cartridge case when reloading, and will provide higher velocities when handloaded to the same pressure as its more modern counterparts. However, the approved chamber pressure ratings for older rifles then may be exceeded.
Cartridge specifications
Original specifications
All Swedish Mauser bolt actions were proof tested with a single 6.5×55mm proof round developing approximately piezo pressure.Swedish and Norwegian chamber differences rumour
Some historians have assumed that there was a difference in cartridge blueprint measurements between Swedish and Norwegian 6.5×55mm ammunition, but this may be unintentional. Due to different interpretations of the blueprint standard, i.e. the standards of manufacturing using maximum chamber in the Krag vs. minimum chamber in the Swedish Mauser, a small percentage of the ammunition produced in Norway proved to be slightly oversize when chambered in the Swedish Mauser action, i.e. requiring a push on the bolt handle to chamber in the Swedish arm.. A rumour arose not long after the 6.5×55mm cartridge was adopted that one could use Swedish ammunition in Norwegian rifles, but not Norwegian ammunition in Swedish rifles. Some even alleged that this incompatibility was deliberate, to give Norway the tactical advantage of using captured ammunition in a war, while denying the same advantage to Sweden. However, after the rumour first surfaced in 1900, the issue was examined by the Swedish military. They declared the difference to be insignificant, and that both the Swedish and Norwegian ammunition were within the specified parameters laid down. Despite this finding, the Swedish weapon-historian Josef Alm repeated the rumour in a book in the 1930s, leading many to believe that there was a significant difference between the ammunition manufactured in Norway and Sweden.C.I.P. specifications
The 6.5×55mm has 3.75 ml cartridge case capacity. The exterior shape of the case was designed to promote reliable case feeding and extraction in bolt action rifles and machine guns alike, under extreme conditions.6.5×55mm maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters.
Americans would define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 ≈ 25.6 degrees. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 220 mm, 4 grooves, Ø lands =, Ø grooves =, land width =, and the primer type is large rifle.
According to the official C.I.P. rulings the 6.5×55mm can handle up to Pmax piezo pressure. In C.I.P. regulated countries every rifle cartridge combo has to be proofed at 125% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers. This means that 6.5×55mm chambered arms in C.I.P. regulated countries are currently proof tested at PE piezo pressure.
SAAMI specifications
The SAAMI maximum average pressure for this cartridge is piezo pressure.SKAN specifications
The SKAN specification was introduced to tighten up the original tolerances of the 1893 design standard. Otherwise its measurements is almost identical to the original standard except for a slightly longer chamber space for the neck by less than a millimeter. Complying barrels have usually been marked with "6,5 × 55 SKAN".In 2018, the tighter C.I.P. chamber was banned from competitions in the Scandinavian shooting associations on the grounds of competitive equity and safety. Since 2020, regulations changes in Germany resulted in new SKAN barrels manufactured by SIG Sauer being be marked "6,5 × 55 SE, approved for SKAN".
The SKAN chambering is sometimes erronously referred to as SCAN, however SKAN is the correct designation.
Military ammunition
The militaries of Sweden and Norway loaded their 6.5×55mm skarp patron m/94 projektil m/94 service ammunition with a long round-nosed m/94 bullet fired at a muzzle velocity of with muzzle energy from a long barrel up to the early phase of World War II and Norwegian occupation by Germany in 1940.From 1941 onwards, Sweden, which remained neutral during World War II, adopted skarp patron m/94 prickskytte m/41 ammunition loaded with a spitzer bullet fired at a muzzle velocity of with muzzle energy from a long barrel. Besides a pointed nose the m/41 D-projectile also had a boat tail. Originally developed for the m/41 sniper rifle, this new cartridge replaced the m/94 ammunition loaded with the M/94 projectile for general use.
Besides the two skarp patron variants various other military 6.5×55mm ammunition types like enhanced precision, armor piercing, tracer, blank, inert and training cartridges were available.
Swedish blanks or lös patron were loaded with bullet shaped wooden projectiles that were painted red. To fire these blanks the Swedish military used a Blank Firing Attachment. These adapters were mounted on the muzzle and designed to shred the wooden projectile as it exited the muzzle to prevent injuries to nearby people and to allow functioning of automatic weapons.
The Swedish 6.5×55mm military ammunition was loaded to piezo pressure. The maximum pressure for Swedish military ammunition was. That is significantly below the civilian standards.
Norwegian service
The 6.5×55mm cartridge was used by Norway in the Krag–Jørgensen bolt-action rifle and in the Madsen machine gun, as well as in several prototype self-loading rifles.Swedish service
In Swedish service, the 6.5×55mm cartridge was used in the Swedish Mauser family of bolt action arms comprising the m/94 carbine, m/96 long rifle, m/38 short rifle and m/41 sniper rifle and the Ag m/42 semi-automatic rifle. The Swedish Mauser arms had a relatively tight 200 mm twist rate optimized for stabilizing the relatively long heavy bullets used in the Swedish 6.5×55mm military service ammunition. It was also used in several light, medium and heavy machine guns such as the Schwarzlose, Browning BAR, Kg/1940 Light machine gun, Bren Gun, Browning M1917, Browning M1919 and FN MAG. The FN MAG was eventually returned to its original 7.62×51mm NATO chambering when the Swedish armed forces switched to that cartridge as its standard during the post-World War II era.Danish Service
In 1946 Denmark made a standard cartridge with two different bullets. The 6.5 mm skarppatroner m/46-ru had a rundspids bullet for use with Danish Krag rifles by the Home Guard. The 6.5 mm skarppatroner m/46-sp had a spidsskarp bullet for use in more modern firearms like the Swedish Mauser.Sporting use
The 6.5×55mm cartridge is highly esteemed as a hunting round in Europe, and North America. It is used for killing most kind of game including reindeer and moose in Scandinavia, while in most other countries it is used for killing deer and other medium-sized game. Sportsmen who favor the round laud the combination of low recoil coupled with the cartridge's inherent accuracy and superb penetrative qualities due to the high obtainable sectional density.Despite its enduring popularity amongst a devoted niche of American sportsmen, U.S. rifle manufacturers have, for the most part, ignored the cartridge. As of 2014 there were at least four mainstream American arms manufacturers, Thompson Center, Barrett Firearms, Remington, and Ruger producing a sporting rifle in chambered for the 6.5×55mm.
European rifle makers including Blaser, CZ, Sauer & Sohn, Steyr, and Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH offer sporting rifles chambered for this cartridge, as does the Finnish arms manufacturer SAKO/Tikka, and Japanese manufacturer Howa, while ammunition manufacturers such as Norma, Lapua, Prvi Partizan, RUAG Ammotec, Remington Arms, and Hornady offer loadings of the 6.5×55mm round that are designed for use only in modern hunting rifles that can tolerate higher chamber pressures. Finnish powder manufacturer Vihtavuori warns modern Pmax piezo pressure loadings should never be used in the Krag–Jørgensen or Swedish Mauser or similar older rifles. This warning is relevant as the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish national shooting organizations strive to keep the costs of participating in their shooting events reasonable. Their rulings restrict the use of very expensive highly specialized target rifles by allowing only the use of their respective military service rifles and the SIG Sauer 200 STR rifle.
Because 6.5 mm bullets have relatively high ballistic coefficients, the 6.5×55mm has seen success in long range target matches of. The 6.5×55mm cartridge was widely used in fullbore biathlon biathlon competitions until 1975, because of its inherent accuracy and historical popularity with the Scandinavian nations who have dominated this sport. The 6.5×55mm was and is used for target shooting disciplines like F-Class and benchrest. The cartridge is also used by Scandinavian target shooters that use the Sauer 200 STR as their competition rifle. Metallic silhouette shooters also use the 6.5×55mm. In North America the 6.5×55mm was the third most frequently mentioned caliber for hunter rifle at the 2003 Metallic silhouette Nationals.