Difference between 6.5x54 and 6.5x55?

Bill Costik

I have a Carl Gustaf M96 action, that I am going to do a custom build on. Which caliber between these two do I want? Wha is the difference between them anyways?Please enlighten me.

Pearyw

I would go with the 6.5 x 55 as it is the round that the 96 action was made for. It is a little more powerful. The ammo and brass is much easier to come by as almost all ammo companies make it.

nononsense

Bill,

Personally, I would use the 6.5 x 55 Swede for a couple of good reasons.

First as stated, the receiver is already set up to feed and function with this cartridge. Note especially that the boltface is ground for the 0.480" diameter rim of the Swede and that the 6.5 x 54 MS has a 0.454" diameter rim. Not a big deal really but there will have to be a modification made to the extractor and possibly the boltface. Second is the fact that the 6.5 x 55 Swede is an extremely accurate and powderful cartridge useful in target shooting as well as hunting. The ammunition and components are readily available at reasonable prices whereas the 6.5 x 54 MS will take some work.

There was also a 6.5 x 54 Mauser but it is obsolete and was made so by the 6.5 x 54 MS. It shouldn't even be considered. Both cartridges are very similar though, so it's no loss.

Work with the Swede and enjoy it! It is a terrific cartridge.

6,5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer

The 6,5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer cartridge is a civil version of an old military round. Greece decided in 1903 to use this rimless version of the rimmed 6,5x53R Mannlicher round, used since 1892 with the armies of Netherlands and Romania. The round was used in a bolt-action rifle, constructed by Ritter von Mannlicher, called "Mod. 1903".

The civil version of this rifle was the "Mannlicher-Schoenauer GK", which was produced until the 1970s by Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG in Austria. The Mannlicher Schoenauer GK and the famous Mannlicher-Schoenauer GK carbine with it's 46 cm (18") barrel, often used by hunters in the Alpen mountains in southern Germany (Bavaria) and Austria, were the only civil rifles chambered for the 6,5x54 M.-Sch.

The small but effective round was used by the european hunters even for big game like the european red deer. Karamojo Bell used a 6,5x54 carbine for brain shots on hundrets of elephants.

The traditional bullet for the 6,5 is the 10,3g (160 gr.) round nose soft point. Effective range is approx 160 m with this bullet. All 6,5mm/.264" bullets could be used.

Factory ammunition is still produced by Hirtenberger of Austria.

This text is based on information from "Cartridges of the World", Hodgdon reloading manual, the cartridge designer and/or own resources.

Loads:

http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=251



6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser

Thousands of Swedish Mausers imported into the U.S. After World War II introduced American hunters to what many consider to be the finest medium capacity 6.5mm cartridge developed during the tail end of the 19th century. And of all the war surplus rifles that invaded American soil during the fifties and sixties, the little Sweede carbine was the one we all wanted. It has class. Workmanship and accuracy were second to none. Even today the 6.5 x 55mm is an extremely popular cartridge among American hunters. And many Scandinavian hunters consider the little 6.5 to be potent medicine for all big game up to the size of moose. Normaoffers several factory loads; one a 139 grain spitzer at 2800 fps, another a 156 grain round nose at 2500 fps. For all around hunting of deer size game with the little 6.5, the Nosler125 grain and Hornady129 grain bullets are excellent choices. For Whitetails and Pronghorn in open country, the 120 grain Speerand 120 grain Noslershoot flat and hit hard. For woods hunting, trying the Hornady160 grain round nose. When it comes to powders there is no best choice. Feed the 6.5 x 55mm anything that burns at a slow to medium rate and it will sing a pretty song.

This text is based on information from "Cartridges of the World", Hodgdon reloading manual, the cartridge designer and/or own resources.
Loads:

http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=120