[Rapier]

Here we are again..... mate. I have built over a dozen Swedes. If your military barrel is OK, you do not need a 6.5 anything rechamber job. The 6.5x55 will get you near the performance of the 6.5x06 and the 6.5x284.

You should seperate the BS from the facts regarding the 94, 96 and 38. PO Ackley in his books rated the Swede as the very best 95 style action for conversion. Many Swedes have been converted to 22-250s without ill effect. As a matter of fact there was a smith in Canada in the 1960s that specalized in the 22-250 conversion. Not that I reccomend the conversion, but you should be aware of the 65K potential.

In the old Hogdon reloading manual it lists loads with a stock 96 that produce 3,000 fps with a 140, using H-4831. The business about the folks not knowing pressures 40 years ago is hog wash. Thruth is politics had not entered SAMI at the time. Today SAMI reduces a spec so a new cartridge can be introduced to out perform an old case. I have used to old manuals for years and never had a blow up or felt my life was in danger, hell, I am old too, we grew old together.

The Swedes said their rifles were made with a special steel and would take high pressures, hype or no, they did furnish the steel for the mfg of their guns outside the country, most notably by German factories.

With an 85 grain bullet you can easily attain 3,500 fps. The bullet weights between 85 and 140 will do a very good job as well. The accuracy you should be looking for is right at .5 inches with the military barrel after it is recrowned and free floated. Replace the trigger with a decent drop in, like a Timney.

The rifle pictured is my personal 96 that has a re-shaped military barrel. It shoots sub .5 inch groups, with the loads as noted and has done so for about 20 years. The Swede is a fine little rifle.

If you could get it, and need it, I would send you one of the three mdl 38 barrels I have, brand new in the white.
Ed