Swedish Women

[Jeff Higgins]

Drop dead beautiful. Pretty much every one of them I've ever met. Quiet, reserved, even "bashful", but painfully aware of the allure they hold over us mere mortal men. They just know we are willing to put up with more simply because we crave their company. Don't get me wrong - unlike many, they are never conceited, full of themselves, or in any way "bi-tchy". Not by a long shot. They love us (men) as much as we love them, and crave our attention every bit as much as we crave theirs. Yet... well, they can be, to put it politely, "difficult"...

Here are the two Swedish women in my life. Similar in oh so many ways, but as different as night and day. Jealous of one another? Is that what drives their behavior? Is that why each demands to be treated differently, to be respected as an individual, as her "own woman"?

The one has had a 20+ year long affair with my oldest son. The other, over ten years with me. One would hope they could get along with one another but, alas, such is not the case. Both demand to be treated as individuals, with nothing more in common than the fact that they are both Swedes.

The upper is my son's, a mid '80's vintage Model 70 Featherweight. The lower is mine, a mid 2000's era #1 Light Sporter. Both chambered in 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser, of course. We were hoping we could share ammo, work up one load that would suffice for both. Or at least be close...





Alas, such was not meant to be. Any load worked up for my son's rifle is massively, excessively, dangerous over pressure in mine. Thank God the #1 is the strongest commercial action ever made. A lesser action would have failed the first time I pulled the trigger on what is entirely a safe load in my son's rifle.

Today, some ten years after having discovered this "inconvenient truth", I find myself once again faced with working up loads for these things. We have, you see, shot our way through our stash of Sierra 160 grain semi-pointed bullets, and they quit making them over ten years ago. The "new" bullet of choice is the Lapua 155 grain (which we have actually played with in the past, it's just that now we need to get "serious"). Loads with the same bullet, same case, same primer, same seating depth are a full ten grains of powder different. Yet, in their respective rifles, velocities are similar.

Lesson here is to always, always, start with that "starting load". In our case, his rifle has a generous chamber, long lead, and generous throat. My rifle has a very tight chamber, very short leade, and almost no throat. All factors that add up to increased pressures.

Which, well, sucks. We cannot share ammo. His is too hot for my rifle, mine are darn near "squib" loads from his. So, yeah, be careful out there, kids - "it's all good fun until someone loses and eye"...

[Geneman]

They are gorgeous organisms. sturdy, yet sublime, amazing curves, likely highly responsive if caressed properly.... any suggestions on proper oiling?

[A930Rocket]

What type of wood is that, (Swedish) blonde?

Edit: change to green font for clarification.

[John Rogers]

Hummmm looks like a walnut variant with a French rubbed oil finish?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

What type of wood is that, (Swedish) blonde?

Edit: clarification on nationality of wood. lol

Both are "as issued" by their respective manufacturers. I assume some form of American walnut. Winchester have always been known for the reddish hue applied to their stocks, where Ruger have always been known for their absolutely lack-luster "canoe paddles". It appears I got lucky on this particular #1. Although, to be fair, they do put a little more attention into the selection of wood for #1's than for their other rifles.

[flatbutt]

Like their namesake in the thread title, they are sleek, shiny and can be detrimental to your long-term well-being if not handled properly.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Like their namesake in the thread title, they are sleek, shiny and can be detrimental to your long-term well-being if not handled properly.

Yet if properly fed, cared for, caressed, and pampered, they add immeasurably to our happiness. They have been doing what they do for a long, long time, and have become quite good at it. Many, many young upstarts have come and gone, all claiming to have displaced them, to have taken their place, to "out perform" them, having come and gone for 122 years and counting. But they soon tire... while, in the background, these Swedish "wall flowers" patiently await their next dance. And they know, once some young man takes their hand, that young man will be instantly smitten, soon forgetting his currently trendier, racier, flashier, more "modern" belles. These old girls know a trick or two that the current "Creedmoor", or "PRC", or what have you flavor of the day have yet to learn...

[john70t]

That long bullet looks bent to the cartridge in the second pic.
Perhaps they need to be treated right and gentle.

[Jeff Higgins]

I would never treat these ladies with such disrespect. Concentricy at less than +/-.001", the limits of accuracy on my tried and true Forster concentricity gauge. Must be your eyes.

[john70t]

Yes. My eyes and trick of shadow at second glace.
It is still something to consider with any round.

[Jeff Higgins]

Oh, absolutely. That's why I have the gauge. It's amazing how bad some factory ammo can be, and how bad even some reloaded ammo can be. Even when assembled with reputable, name brand equipment. Everything matters in this game... it all adds up...

[ted]