96 swede reciever strength
Gentlemen, I have a carl gustav 96 mauser and was told that I should not load to the potential of the 6.5x55 round. Till now I've been using factory ammo but would like to reload for this amazing round and get about 2750 fps with a 140 grain boat tail. The factory ammo I'm using flies at just 2400 fps and seems mediocre compared to some of the scandinavian loads across the pond. Will this rifle take a non neutered load safely?
Go by the book - the right book!
Dear lamarpye, I am worried by the desire to reach 2750 fps. Why that? Because it's a nice round number? Forgive me, but you must do what the rifle can, not what you would like. You can get more than 2400 fps with the 140 gn HPBT, certainly, but chasing after maximum velocity is the wrong aim. In fact, if you want maximum accuracy up to 100 yards, then you would be better served by the 123 gn Lapua Siver Jacket.
I recommend that you purchase the Vihtavuori reloading manual and make up loads EXACTLY as they describe. Years of experimentation have confirmed again and again that, following all good practice and working up the loads gradually - I just end up with the "accuracy load" in the Vihtavuori manual. There really is no point in trying to re-invent the ballistic wheel for the M96.
You will note that the loads in the book (for 139/140gn) use fairly slow powders. That is because the case is large (for the caliber) and the barrel is very long (for the caliber). So, ballistically speaking, the load has plenty of time to push the bullet up to speed, rather than giving it an almighty whack. That is good for the action, good for your shoulder, and good for accuracy.
The only variable you will need to establish for your particular rifle is the optimum seating depth, as the M96 chambers were NOT (got that? NOT) made to SAAMI standards. So don't let any wise guy stick a modern gauge in your chamber and tell you the rifle has excessive headspace. Those rifles were made long before SAAMI or even CIP, and the Swedes had their own gauges - see this reference:
http://dutchman.rebooty.com/headspace.html
After the first firing in your rifle, make sure that you only use neck-sizing, on cases that have been formed in your rifle. That way, your rifle will perform quite happily for another shooter's lifetime. The cases will not last so long, but they will last well.
In practice, you will probably find that the magazine well limits the maximum OAL you can use.
Stick to the Vihtavuori book. It works. Excellently.
Patrick