6.5x55 Swedish Mauser

Norway's most popular hunting caliber. Versatile for everything from roe deer to moose.

6.5x55 (also called 6.5x55 SE or Swedish Mauser) is the most widely used hunting caliber in Scandinavia. It was developed in 1891 for the Swedish and Norwegian military, and has since become a hunting favorite.

The caliber is versatile. With light bullets (120 grain / 7.8 g) it works for roe deer and small game. With heavy bullets (140 to 156 grain / 9 to 10 g) it is fully capable for moose and red deer.

The advantages: moderate recoil (comfortable to shoot), flat trajectory, good accuracy, and sufficient energy for all Norwegian game with the right bullet choice. Many hunters use this single caliber for all their hunting.

Typical hunting loads: Roe deer/small game: 120 gr / 7.8 g at approx. 850 m/s Red deer: 140 gr / 9.1 g at approx. 800 m/s Moose: 156 gr / 10.1 g at approx. 770 m/s (Norma Oryx, Lapua Mega)

Requirements: For moose, Norwegian law requires a minimum of 2200 joules (E100) for bullet weights under 9 g, or 1800 joules for bullets over 9 g. 6.5x55 meets this requirement with heavy bullets.

Zeroing: Most hunters zero at 100 m with the point of impact 4 to 5 cm high, which gives a flat hit out to approximately 200 m.

6.5 Creedmoor has taken over much of the market internationally, but 6.5x55 remains dominant in Scandinavia thanks to tradition and availability.