Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Load Advice?

Was just reading the classifieds for entertainment and stumbled into a Swede 94/14 being offered for sale. It's been altered, with the upper handguard removed, the stock slimmed, and an aperture sight installed.
It called to me, and i couldn't not. Hope to have it in my hands in maybe a few days

I figure on using it as a general walking around rifle for targets of opportunity. I'll use the aperture as long as I can. Been lucky that way for a guy who spent a fair share of his life under a welding hood.

An old friend, now passed, shot the 100 gr ballistic tip from his M38, and was perfectly happy with it. He did tend to use modern pressure loads. Is there any real advantage, given how I'll use it, in a rifle like this to use loads beyond SAAMI for the cartridge?

Plans are plans, and I may actually have trouble finding any of the 100 BT available. I do have a few Hornadys in 123, 129, and 140gr...

Pics the seller provided

The original Swede loading was with a heavy 150 grain bullet. The barrel twist is perfect for a 140 gr.

The Swede 94/14 action is not as strong as a Mauser 98 so I would not push the loads beyond Sammi specs.

Just some of what I load in my m96:






Consulting my "pet loads" book, my rifle actually likes 39gr's of H4350 better. Groups are more like 1.2" for 5 shots.

Same 143 ELDX load, but more recently. 39gr H4350 load:

That load shoots from 1" to 1.5" pretty consistently. My old rifle likes it.

Now, for the most recent load development:




I also have load data for the 129gr Hornady interlock and 140gr SGK and SMK, that shoot around the 1" mark. Good luck with your new rifle. She looks like a beauty!!

I see no reason whatsoever to push it. Not only have Swedes been doing great stuff for what, 130 years, but others using the 6.5 MS have taken all manner of game with even less power. These days thousands also have found the little 6.5 Grendel perfectly fine as well. Enjoy that nifty little old cannon.

Not really a question of power. Most of my rifles deliver their best accuracy performance when pushed.

OTOH I'm not sure of how much precision I can utilize given the sights, and the expectation of shooting primarily in the field.

John, I didn't know you are a welder. I can relate buddy. That is why I don't shoot left handed with irons. Too many years behind the hood. 30 in fact. Not a lot, considering my grandfather did it for a solid 40. I shoot my iron sighted rifles, right handed though, as my right eye is not as bad as my dominant eye (left). I look forward to hearing how your rifle shoots.

Here are a couple more loads my rifle likes:

129gr SP Interlock
42gr RL22
CCI 200 or BR2
Lapua case
3.085" OAL

Note: Good shooting load. Use for hunting or target practice. Accuracy at 1"- 1.5" for 5 shots (iron sights). Great load.


140gr SGK
38gr IMR 4064
Lapua brass
BR2 primer
3.035" OAL

Note: good mild shooting load. 1-1.5" 5 shot groups. 1.5" 10 shot groups on target for military rifle shoots. Great load.

As you know, always work up. Also, we know not to push these to the max. Those guys saying don't push them over max, are beating a dead horse. I load for accuracy, and always consult the load manuals.

Good looking old rifle. Not a gun writer but my 96 Swede, 1902 mfg, does ok with 140 Hornadys and a little better with the 156 PPUs using pretty close to Lyman manual IMR 4895 starting loads. For the use you describe why not start within SAMI specs. It will be safer and might be all you need.

He can consult load manuals as well. That is where I get my info from. If I remember right, you are shooting 1.6" groups, at best. That is your words, but no pics to prove it.

Just out of curiosity, what is "SAMMI" specs for loads? Also, did you ever get your front sight figured out or regulated for 100 yards??? It's been a good 3 years now bud..

never heard of AA3100, had to find a chart from 2013. it's around 4831 burn rate.

Exactly. I've been using AA3100 for almost 30 years now. It is a discontinued powder, so it will be hard to find. Great powder though.


There are guys that make due and do very well. Other guys kind of fumble around.

You want me to work up another load tomorrow, with a different powder? ha ha..

I think that largely depends on the powder. I’ve gotten really good accuracy with starting or middling loads of powders like H4895, H4831, RL15, and Varget. Haven’t played with a Swede as yet, but am a big admirer of the quality and workmanship of the rifles. Maybe someday opportunity, resources, and interest will come together. Yours is a very interesting example of a semi-sporterized one; well thought out I think. Might well outshoot you!

Congrats on a nice score.

There are other guys shooting these old rifles. Who else is laying down sub moa 5 shot groups with irons? Would be cool to see your loads. JB??

SAMI, LOL, Sorry about that I spelled it wrong. Should have been SAAMI, Sporting Arms & Ammunition Mamufacturors Institute. I only shot one group at 1.6 with the Swede as I recall, best I've done with it so can't say I thought that was photo worthy. Still using the #2 front sight. Haven't been shooting it a lot but shooting metal plates at varying distances when I do.

I've been handloading for the 6.5x55 for decades. There's a chapter on it in my most recent Gun Gack book, The Little Book of Rifle Loads That Work, which includes the results from 6 rifles, one using iron sights. (The book includes handloads for 50 reasonably popular centerfire rifle rounds, from the .17 Hornet to .45-70, and happens to be on sale right now at www.riflesandrecipes.com)

The iron-sighted rifle is a an all-original Krag-Jorgenson Model 12, and it grouped best with IMR4895, using both the 140-grain Hornady Interlock Spire Point and the 156-grain Norma Oryx.

Family has been bugging me for a Christmas list. Just sent out the link to "The Little Book"

Meanwhile, I've got some factory loads coming in from Midway to get me started in brass.
Gonna have some fun with this.