6.5×55mm Swedish

6.5×55mm Swedish
6.5×55mm Swedish
Type	Military Rifle
Place of origin	Sweden-Norway /  Sweden /  Norway
Service history
In service	1894–1995
Used by	United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway Sweden Norway
Production history
Designed	1891
Produced	1894–present
Specifications
Bullet diameter	6.71 mm (0.264 in)
Neck diameter	7.60 mm (0.299 in)
Shoulder diameter	11.04 mm (0.435 in)
Base diameter	12.20 mm (0.480 in)
Rim diameter	12.20 mm (0.480 in)
Rim thickness	1.50 mm (0.059 in)
Case length	55.00 mm (2.165 in)
Overall length	80.00 mm (3.150 in)
Case capacity	3.75 cm3 (57.9 gr H2O)
Rifling twist	220 mm (1-8.66 in)
Primer type	large rifle
Maximum pressure (C.I.P.)	380.0 MPa (55,110 psi)
Maximum pressure (SAAMI)	351.6 MPa (51,000 psi)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 100 gr (6 g) HP 3,183 ft/s (970 m/s) 2,250 ft⋅lbf (3,050 J) 120 gr (8 g) BT 2,812 ft/s (857 m/s) 2,108 ft⋅lbf (2,858 J) 140 gr (9 g) SP 2,651 ft/s (808 m/s) 2,185 ft⋅lbf (2,962 J) 140.4 gr (9 g) DK 2,854 ft/s (870 m/s) 2,540 ft⋅lbf (3,440 J) 160 gr (10 g) EVO 2,559 ft/s (780 m/s) 2,266 ft⋅lbf (3,072 J)
Source(s): Hodgdon RWS/RUAG Ammotec

The 6.5×55mm Swedish (designated as the 6.5×55 Swedish by the SAAMI and 6,5 × 55 SE by the C.I.P.) is a first-generation smokeless powder rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge. Other common names for this cartridge include 6.5×55mm and 6.5×55mm Swedish Mauser and less commonly 6.5×55mm Mauser and 6.5×55mm Krag. It was developed in 1891 for use in the new service rifles then under consideration by the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. 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 rifle, while Sweden adopted a Mauser rifle design.

The 6.5×55mm Swedish cartridge has a smaller bullet diameter and lower free recoil than other full-power service rifle cartridges like the .30-06 Springfield and 7.92×57mm Mauser, but thanks in part to its relatively roomy case with an uncommon 12.2 mm (0.480 in) diameter bolt face which was designed for loading long, heavy 6.5 mm bullets, has proven more successful than other first-generation smokeless-powder military cartridges of similar caliber 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.

The Swedish-Norwegian Rifle Commission started its work in 1891. 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. 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 (diameter at base, diameter at neck, angle of case, angle of shoulder etc.) was decided upon. The corresponding dimensions of the cartridge chamber to be used in a future service rifle was also determined.