6.5x55 M96 and M98 questions

[RT2506]

To find the twist rate of your barrel is easy. Place a tight fitting patch on a loop attached to your cleaning rod. Remove the bolt and insert the patch on the rod down the bore a couple feet or so. At the point where the very back of your action is mark a dot on your cleaning rod with a Sharpie type marking pin. Now pull the cleaning road back our of the bore slowly watch for that dot you made on the rod to rotate back around to the same position it was at when you marked it. Measure between the dot and the point on the back of the action where you originally made the dot. This is your twist rate. One turn in what ever the distance between the dot and action. It takes at least an 8 twist to use the 140gr and longer bullets.

On the use of the Mauser 98 rifle for long range. Don't worry about it. Find an accurate load and go have fun. I have shot better groups with a stock M96 Swede military rifle with open sights at 600 yards than some can with there scope sighted target rifles. As another poster found out when it comes to long range what separates the "men from the boys" is doping the wind. This only comes from lots of experience. Go have fun.

 

[woodcr24]

Thank you, RT. I had meant to post more of a reply to BR's reply, but it was late and I was about to hit the sack. So much of what is written on the web is academic and posted by people theorizing about what approach or product is "superior" to another, though real world application does not mean that differences are significant. In this particular instance, I was already leaning towards using the M98 for the course, but I suppose that I wanted to get some warm fuzzy feelings about it before I dropped $250 on the B&C 2948. The action from this rifle dates to production in 1913, and I'm not sure when the barrel was replaced at Norma, so I suppose that factored into the question of appropriateness, also. The other sticking point was that I have it my head that a 26" barrel with an 8" ROT would offer superior long-range performance than the 24" on the rifle now. If I'm not happy, I can always have Shaw replace it with one of theirs, and hold on to the Norma. I will measure the ROT in the method you suggest, RT; thank you for that. I'll get back with that number shortly.

I would much rather use the M98 than a Rem 700, btw. All of my long guns are Swedish, Swiss, or Russian. I just prefer them.

 

[benchracer]

My Swede has a 9 twist 26" barrel and shoots Berger 140 VLD's VERY accurately. I have shot it down to altitudes between 900 and 1000 feet ASL at temps down to around 40*F or so. Where you are going to shoot and under what conditions will have an effect on how much twist you need.

Having said that, an 8 twist is a good idea if going with a custom barrel. It will give you an extra margin of stability to get all of the bc there is to be had from whatever bullet you are using.

If you find out you have a 9 twist, though, it may not be a showstopper. The only way to truly know is real world shooting.

 

[woodcr24]

I went ahead and ordered a 26" heavy barrel in 1:8 from ER Shaw; will take about 4 months to come in, then maybe another month to have it installed by a local gunsmith. That will give me ample time to practice at 300-yds before the course commences. Will retain the Norma barrel for the future.