6.5×55mm

6.5×55mm

Type

Military Rifle

Place of origin

Sweden /

Norway

Service history

In service

1894–1995

Used by

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 (designated as the 6.5×55 Swedish by the SAAMI and 6,5 × 55 SE by the C.I.P.) is a rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge. Other, less common names are 6.5×55mm Swedish Mauser, 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 cartridge has a smaller bullet diameter and lower 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 6.5×55mm has 3.75 ml (57.9 grains H₂O) cartridge case capacity. The exterior shape of the case was designed to promote reliable case feeding and extraction in bolt action rifles and machine guns alike, under extreme conditions.

...
Wikipedia