6.5×55mm Swedish

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 (8 mm, 7.5 mm, 7 mm, 6.5 mm etc.), the optimal caliber was determined to be 6.5 mm (0.256 in). Following this decision, a joint Norwegian-Swedish commission was established in December 1893. 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 (minimum and maximum dimensions) 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 cartridges 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 based on the .308 Winchester cartridge) 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 (55,000 CUP psi). The book Norske Militærgeværer etter 1867 cites each Norwegian military Krag–Jørgensen rifles in the beginning was fired at the factory (either Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk or Steyr) with proofing rounds rated at , and copper units of pressure. After a while, use of the proofing rounds was dropped, as they were viewed as "unnecessarily powerful". Proofing with and rounds was continued, as they were viewed as necessary to get the action threads "set" and thereby "strengthening the barrel". During this process, the chamber tended to lengthen by and a maximum of was accepted. Swedish and Norwegian chamber differences rumor 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 rumor 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. As Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are not C.I.P. member states, neither their civilian users nor their shooting associations DDS, DFS and FSR have to oblige to the C.I.P. rulings in force. SAAMI specifications The SAAMI maximum average pressure (MAP) for this cartridge is piezo pressure measured with modern piezoelectric pressure gauges that more accurately measure chamber pressures or alternatively 46,000 CUP psi measured by the (outdated) deformation of a copper cylinder. 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 (6,5 × 55 SE) was banned from competitions in the Scandinavian shooting associations on the grounds of competitive equity and safety. The SKAN chambering is sometimes erroneously referred to as SCAN, however SKAN is the correct designation. == Military ammunition ==

Nomenclature In the militaries of Sweden and Norway the 6.5×55mm cartridge is designated as 6.5 mm patron m/94 (6.5 mm ptr m/94), initially spelled with complete year (m/1894), meaning 6.5 mm cartridge model 1894. The core designation is usually expanded on depending on what type of design the cartridge has: • Skarp patron (sk ptr) – 'sharp cartridge' (literal), 'live cartridge' (formal) – live ammunition for combat or practice shooting. • Kammarpatron (kptr) – 'chamber cartridge' (literal), 'gallery cartridge' (formal) – gallery ammunition for short range indoor shooting. The projectile weighed and reached a muzzle velocity of with muzzle energy when fired from a long barrel. This cartridge was initially just designated as 6.5 mm skarp patron m/94 (6.5 mm sk ptr m/94) Spitzer boat tail service ball (1941) Later service ball version of the 6.5 mm m/94 cartridge, adopted in 1941. • 1941 designation: 6.5 mm skarp patron m/94-41 (6.5 mm sk ptr m/94-41) To improve accuracy and ballistics the new projectile was designed as a spitzer bullet, a design which had previously not been used in service for the 6.5 mm/94 cartridge. The new cartridge was loaded with a boat-tail spitzer bullet (D-projectile) fired at a muzzle velocity of with muzzle energy from a long barrel. The new spitzer cartridge was adopted from around 1941 onwards. As the original round-nosed m/94 projectile was obsolete in comparison, the new spitzer projectile came to replace the old m/94 projectile as the new service ball cartridge almost immediately upon being adopted. Blanks with red wooden projectile 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 (BFA). 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. A wooden blank designed to fire rifle grenades was also designed. It was used in a dedicated rifle grenade launcher based on the Remington m/67-89 (originally chambered for 8x58RD) called Krevadkarbin m/16 (blast carbine m/16). The Krevadkarbin m/16 was outfitted with a "rifle grenade cup" at the end of a very short barrel for the wooden blank. The book Norske Militærgeværer etter 1867 cites the standard ammunition as having a standard working pressure of measured with a copper crusher. == Table of military 6.5×55mm cartridges ==

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 (Model 1894) carbine, m/96 (Model 1896) long rifle, m/38 (Model 1938) short rifle and m/41 (Model 1941) sniper rifle and the Ag m/42 semi-automatic rifle. The Swedish Mauser arms had a relatively tight 200 mm (1 in 7.87 in) 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 Swedish FN MAG's were rechambered to 7.62×51mm NATO during the early 1970s when the Swedish armed forces switched to that cartridge as its standard rifle cartridge for commonality reasons, following the adoption of the Ak 4 battle rifle variant of the Heckler & Koch G3 in the mid 1960s. Danish service In 1946 Denmark made a standard cartridge with two different bullets. The 6.5 mm skarppatroner m/46-ru had a rundspids (round tip) bullet (like the Swedish projektil m/94) for use with Danish Krag rifles by the Home Guard. The 6.5 mm skarppatroner m/46-sp had a spidsskarp (pointed tip) bullet (like the projektil m/41) for use in more modern firearms like the Swedish Mauser. Luxembourgish service In 1900, Luxembourg adopted a nearly identical Mauser to that of the Swedish model. == Sporting use ==

The 6.5×55mm cartridge is highly esteemed as a hunting round in Europe (particularly in Scandinavia), and North America. It is used for hunting most kind of game including moose in Scandinavia, while in most other countries it is used to hunt 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 (Fieldcraft), Remington (Model 700), 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 (historic) military service rifles and the SIG Sauer 200 STR rifle. (Scandinavian target rifle) mostly used as a target/competition rifle for national competitions by Norwegian, Swedish and Danish sport shooters Because 6.5 mm (.264 in) 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 competitions until 1975 (when it was replaced by the .22 Long Rifle (.22 LR) rimfire cartridge), 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 (Scandinavian target rifle) 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. Wildcats The 6.5×55mm case is also used as the parent case for modified variants that are not officially registered with or sanctioned by C.I.P. or SAAMI. Such cartridges which use commercial factory cases are generally known as wildcats. By changing the shape of standard factory cases (decreasing case taper or changing the shoulder geometry) wildcatters generally increase the case capacities of the factory parent cartridge case, allowing more propellant to be used to generate higher velocities. Besides changing the shape and internal volume of the parent cartridge cases, wildcatters also change the original calibers. A reason to change the original caliber can be to comply with a minimal permitted caliber or bullet weight for the legal hunting of certain species of game. Because the 6.5×55mm offers a wide short cartridge case that can be easily reloaded, and hence be reused several times, it has been used by wildcatters. With the 6.5×55mm as the parent case wildcatters have created the 6.5×55mm Ackley Improved. In the 6.5×55mm Ackley Improved the cartridge case capacity is raised to approximately 4.03 ml (62.2 g H2O). The Ackley Improved family of wildcat cartridges is designed to be easily made by rechambering existing firearms, and fireforming the ammunition to decrease body taper and increase shoulder angle, resulting in a higher case capacity. == See also ==