Gone and done it again!

[ElmerThud]

Ho hum, I haven’t seen it yet as it just arrived at my dealers store yesterday, but I just bought what looks like a real nice Steyr Mannlicher Classic stutzen in 6.5x55 SE (Swede).
Looks like this smoothie has been really well maintained and I understand it’s from the early 2000’s era, under-used with a clean & crisp bore.
I hope it’s all it’s cracked up to be .. I’ll know tomorrow! - then I’m gonna have to scope it, thinking S&B 8x56 maybe a Swaro if I can find one at right money. Both excellent glass though.

Should be a nice addition to the gun cabinet especially while my 6.5x54 MSch is away getting it’s new Krieger barrel...won’t see that one now until the end of this year!

 

[DrMike]

Sounds as if you've found a gem. Hope it is in good condition and doesn't require the loving care of a good smith as did the 6.5X54. Either company's glass you named will be superb.

 

[Blkram]

Look forward to pics of your new rifle!

A Swarovski Z3 3-9x36 would look great on that rifle and keep the weight and balance in line.

 

[SJB358]

Very nice ET! I do enjoy my little Swede!

 

[FOTIS]

That sounds like a glorious acquisition!

 

[ElmerThud]

Thanks boys. I went over to my dealer this morning to unwrap it and was very satisfied with what I’ve bought.
The wood is pretty tidy and not knocked about, but with just a little ‘history’ showing.
The trigger is a ‘single/set’ type and seems just fine. The blueing is all intact and the bore is indeed ‘clean and crisp’.
Altogether very nice without being spectacular.
It has fixed scope mounts & 1” rings on right now but I may well change these for the quick detachable type with 30mm rings. A Schmitd und Bender Klassik (Hungarian made) 8x56 with 30mm tube has just popped up at $450 new and I’ll likely call the dealer on Monday.

Anyway, whichever way the scope goes, it’s all looking good :grin:

 

[Gun nut]

Congratulations ET on a great find. Gotta love the Swede!
Duane

 

[SJB358]

Thanks boys. I went over to my dealer this morning to unwrap it and was very satisfied with what I’ve bought.
The wood is pretty tidy and not knocked about, but with just a little ‘history’ showing.
The trigger is a ‘single/set’ type and seems just fine. The blueing is all intact and the bore is indeed ‘clean and crisp’.
Altogether very nice without being spectacular.
It has fixed scope mounts & 1” rings on right now but I may well change these for the quick detachable type with 30mm rings. A Schmitd und Bender Klassik (Hungarian made) 8x56 with 30mm tube has just popped up at $450 new and I’ll likely call the dealer on Monday.

Anyway, whichever way the scope goes, it’s all looking good :grin:

Congrats on that rifle. I’m not sure if you can get RL26 or not ET, but if you can I’ve got some good data to push to you. I think you’d smile with a 140 AccuBond at nearly 2900. I bet it’d seem like a howitzer compared to your 06/110 combo. :mrgreen:

 

[ElmerThud]

Thanks Scotty, yes we can get R26 here, - I’ve just been an old stick in the mud with my .25-06.
The load I have for it works a treat so I haven’t changed it.

The Swede is completely new to me tho’, even though I have done some loads for friends, really it’s been with propellants they had like Vit.N160 & H4350, so no great shakes.

I understand we’re going to have some issues getting the Hodgdon/IMR stuff soon tho’ ... because they’re not EU regs. compliant, so will no longer be imported.
Now that could be a real bugger if it happens, ... even tho’ there are alternatives.

So, R26 has got to be worth a go.

 

[DrMike]

Nothing wrong with staying with what works. Scotty (and me, when I'm honest) are infected with a grave disease that impels us to tinker all the time. He does have some fine loads, though.

 

[SJB358]

Nothing wrong with staying with what works. Scotty (and me, when I'm honest) are infected with a grave disease that impels us to tinker all the time. He does have some fine loads, though.

Amen to that! Ha. 26 works in places I’d never have guessed in the past. I’m half amazed when you can get plenty of the stuff in a 6.5 Creed case with a 147 to get excellent speeds, on up to a 270 with 130’s. I kinda think of it fitting in a case like RL22 but giving speeds like RL25. It’s a really neat propellant.

 

[ElmerThud]

Nothing wrong with staying with what works. Scotty (and me, when I'm honest) are infected with a grave disease that impels us to tinker all the time. He does have some fine loads, though.

Amen to that! Ha. 26 works in places I’d never have guessed in the past. I’m half amazed when you can get plenty of the stuff in a 6.5 Creed case with a 147 to get excellent speeds, on up to a 270 with 130’s. I kinda think of it fitting in a case like RL22 but giving speeds like RL25. It’s a really neat propellant.

Alliant don’t appear to list R26 with data for 6.5x55SE on their website though?

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 142, Nosler AccuBond LR 58922 G7
Useable Case Capaci: 51.104 grain H2O = 3.318 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.150 inch = 80.01 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-26

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   89    45.00   2496    1964   37944  12096     97.9    1.423
-09.0   90    45.50   2527    2013   39297  12223     98.3    1.399
-08.0   91    46.00   2558    2063   40704  12342     98.6    1.376
-07.0   92    46.50   2589    2113   42167  12453     98.9    1.353
-06.0   93    47.00   2620    2164   43689  12557     99.2    1.330
-05.0   94    47.50   2650    2215   45273  12652     99.5    1.308
-04.0   95    48.00   2681    2266   46921  12740     99.7    1.286  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0   96    48.50   2712    2318   48625  12818     99.8    1.265  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   97    49.00   2742    2371   50425  12889     99.9    1.244  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   98    49.50   2773    2424   52287  12950    100.0    1.223  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   99    50.00   2803    2477   54231  13003    100.0    1.203  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0  100    50.50   2833    2531   56255  13049    100.0    1.183  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0  101    51.00   2863    2585   58363  13095    100.0    1.163  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0  102    51.50   2893    2639   60573  13139    100.0    1.144  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  103    52.00   2923    2694   62872  13182    100.0    1.125  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  104    52.50   2953    2749   65277  13224    100.0    1.107  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     99    50.00   2942    2728   68799  12404    100.0    1.096  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     99    50.00   2593    2119   42150  13069     95.8    1.343

 

[Polaris]

A fine rifle for sure. Hope to see a picture of it at some point.

Although R26 seems to be a fan favorite these days among the velocity obsessed, Norma and Vihtavouri make some fine powders for this cartridge. I tend to stick with the IMRs here on this side of the ocean. They punch X's and drop game just fine for me.

I'm a fan of IMR 4064 in the lighter weights, 129 and less, and IMR 4350 with 140 or heavier in the old Swedish round. Find the Norma, Viht or Alliant powder in these burning speeds, and you should be golden. If you're a velocity nut, I believe Viht. N560 was designed specifically for maximum speed in this cartridge with 140-156 grain bullets in modern actions. Their load data (Lapua) for 6.5x55 SE is impressive.

 

[ElmerThud]

Thanks for that QL data DrMike & yup, Polaris, I’ve seen the Viht. data, but not Norma. Norma propellants are difficult to find on shelves regularly in the UK.
Cheers.

 

[SJB358]

If you can find 26 I think you'll be impressed with it. Just seeing Mikes data he just posts makes it look excellent and that is book PSI which can be scooted just a touch in a modern rifle.

Honestly, with 6.5 Swede Lapua brass being so darned available and nearly the least expensive to buy, in a rifle that'll allow you to run the 140's out a bit you have an incredible hammer. I have monkeyed around a bit with the 6.5 Creed, but the Swede is nearly 270 Winchester like with todays powders. Not a bad spot to be.

I'll take free speed anyday of the week. Not saying it is needed, but with excellent hunting bullets I have never seen speed hurt a darned thing...

 

[ElmerThud]

In due time I’ll get stuck into some load testing and I’m really looking forward to doing it and will be checking out a few decent propellants & bullets.
I’ll likely be using Norma brass as it’s easily available here.

Right mow I’m hopping up and down wishing the police would get on and issue my authorisation to take possession of this wee gem I’ve bought :roll:
It’s such a drag having to wait maybe three/four weeks :|

 

[DrMike]

I suspect that few of us are familiar with the procedure for securing such a firearm in the UK. Could you give us a quick overview of the process? I would be most interested.

 

[ElmerThud]

I suspect that few of us are familiar with the procedure for securing such a firearm in the UK. Could you give us a quick overview of the process? I would be most interested.

Its a complicated procedure in which you have to apply giving personal many details, stae a ‘good reason’ for requiring each and every calibre required, having a person who either owns land or owns the shooting rights on a parcel of land declare in writing you have permission to shoot ‘any lawful quarry’, field test ammunition and use said land for the purpose of checking/zeroing firearms.

Each weapon acquired will be separately authorised for such purpose on land over which the firearm certificate holder is authorised to use those firearms on that land.

If one does not have access to ‘authorised’ land, the only way a firearm certificate will be issued is by the individual joining a shooting club. The weapons will then be authorised only for use on a properly licensed range and it would be illegal to use that/those weapons in any other place.

Part of the application process includes authorising police to access your doctor and personal medical files/history, for which report the applicant will be required to pay separately from the application fee. Not sure what the fac application fee is just now, probably around £70/$85 & the medical fee £40-60.

There are around fifty odd regional constabularies around the UK and each interprets the ‘Home Office Guidelines’ differently.
Before making an application the applicant must ensure he has a gunsafe securely attached to a solid wall/floor. One the application is filed with the police, an inspecting official will make a personal home visit and check a number of details including the gunsafe.

After that, an unusually long wait occurs until one day your newly acquired or renewed certficate arrives by mail. This wait can be anything from three to twelve months for a new application, or two - eight weeks for a renewal.

Ah, on the form, you have to declare how many rounds of ammunition you want a) to hold & b) to acquire. You can never buy more than you’re licensed to hold. So, the hold figure you declare needs to be higher than the acquire number.
These apply to each calibre you want to aqcuire or have in possession.

The remainder of the law is a rats nest that one has to learn when you have possession or are using firearms.

Incidentally, all of the above applies for any change or additional firearm one wants/makes.
Hope that gives you an insight Mike.
Cheers, ET

 

[DrMike]

Thank you for taking time to educate me. It would be difficult for me to surrender the freedom I enjoy for that sort of strict state oversight. It is restrictive enough, as it is.

I'm having difficulty understanding why crime shows (Inspector Morse, Lewis, Heartbeat, Grantchester, Midsomer Murders, Luther, A Touch of Frost, etc.) are so popular on British television. Since there is such strict control over firearms, there must never be any crimes using firearms in the UK. At least, that is the storyline fabricated by liberal politicians on this side of the pond.

I now understand why the UK is such a safe jurisdiction with far less violent crime than Canada or the US. (Unable to access my sarcasm font.) Politicians can really screw up a nation, all the while claiming "It's for the children!"