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6.5x55 (also known as 6.5x55 Krag, 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser, 6,5x55 Mauser and 6.5x55 Scan), was developed by a Norwegian-Swedish committee in 1891 for use in the new rifles then under consideration in the United kingdom of Sweden and Norway. Norway adopted the Krag-Jørgensen, while Sweden adopted a Mauser rifle.

Due to different interpretations of the standard, i.e. the standards of manufacturing using maximum chamber in the Krag vs. minimum chamber in the Swedish Mauser, a small percentage of the ammunition produced in Norway required a heavy push on the bolt handle to chamber in the Swedish gun. After the rumor of this difference first surfaced in 1900, it was examined by the Swedish military. They declared the difference to be insignificant, and that both the Swedish and Norwegian ammunition was within the specified parameters laid down. Despite this finding, the Swedish weapon-historian Josef Alm repeated the rumour in a book in the 1930s, leading many to believe that there was a significant difference between the two types of ammunition.

Early ammunition was loaded with a 10.1 grams (156 grains) long round nosed bullet (B-projectile) had a muzzle velocity of around 700 m/s (2300 ft/s), while later rounds had a 9 grams (139 grains) spitzer bullet (D-projectile) and offered a muzzle velocity up to 870 m/s (2854 ft/s).

In Norwegian service, the 6.5x55 Swedish cartridge was, in addition to be used in the Krag-Jørgensen rifles, used for the Madsen machine gun and several prototypes of self loading rifles.

In Swedish service the 6.5x55 Swedish cartridge was used in both the Mauser rifle and carbine, as well as a number of machine guns and the later AG-42 semi-automatic rifle.

6.5x55 Swedish before and after expanding. The long base and small expanded diameter show that this is a bullet designed for deep penetration on large game. The bullet in the photo traveled more than halfway through a moose before coming to rest, performing as designed.

The 6.5x55 Swedish cartridge is highly esteemed as a game hunting round in Europe, and enjoys a stable following of devotees in North America. It is used for harvesting game as large as moose in Sweden and Norway, while in Canada and the US it is used for taking deer and other medium sized game. Sportsmen who favor the round laud the combination of low recoil coupled with the cartidge's inherent accuracy and superb penetrative qualities. European rifle makers including CZ, Steyr and Mauser all continue to offer sporting rifles chambered for this potent cartridge, while ammunition companies such as Norma, Lapua and Hornady offer "hot" loadings of the 6.5x55 Swedish round that are designed for use only in modern hunting rifles that can tolerate higher chamber pressures. These "souped-up" loadings should never be used in older military rifles.

Biathlon: Before the .22LR rimfire became the standard rifle calibre for biathlon shooting under rules in 1975, the 6.5x55 Swedish was widely used in biathlon competitions, both on account of its great inherent accuracy and its historical popularity with the Scandinavian nations which have always tended to dominate this sport.

• List of rifle cartridges