I've got an old Kimber sporter M96 6.5X55 that doesn't shoot too well. I have a line on a decent unchambered .277 barrel blank that is real affordable. Just thinking this might be a pretty easy to build wildcat.

I figure it will run pretty close to the same loads the 6.5 runs without spiking pressure too much for the action. Of course with the custom dies, I'm looking at as much money to just rebarrel it back to 6.5X55. But where is the fun in that!

I though about a 270 on the 6.5x55 case a while back. Just need an 8 to stamp over the 5 for a 6.8x55 on the barrel and cases. 6.8 being the metric for .277 an improved case can get you close to the 270 Win in a short action and have all the new 6.8SPC bullets to play with from 85 to 120 grains. I could find references to the 277 on the 57 mm case but not the 55 mm case.

Time to go with a 6.8 X .284. standard .284 dies, no expander and a butch's type bushing or something similar. roger

You can go several ways.

Don't let a nickel wag the dollar ... your "cheap" barrel might be worse than you present barrel...find out WHY your present shooter doesn't shoot well, and WHY the .277 barrel is cheap.

You are going with a new barrel that requires a new chamber...you have your pick...

Nothing wrong with your thinking...go for it...

Ch4D will make you dies and Redding has Type S bushing dies in 6.5x55, so what Roger suggests is very workable...

Or...check out all the .277 cals and wildcats and pick one.

Sell or trade it and get something you want.

If it is a Kimber...send it to Kimber for evaluation...it might be nothing but a dirty, copper encrusted bore.

I would go with sending it to Kimber first...who knows what you might end up with.

BUT...sounds to me like you just want to wildcat it and do something "new". I like that idea too.

Luck

The spare barrel is just a Douglas blank, that I picked up when I thought about building my 8mm-06 into a .270 Gibbs. I did some trading so I don't have a whole lot of cash tied up into it. The barrel will probably finish around 24" or shorter so not the ideal barrel if I want a true Gibbs rifle.

IIRC these old M96 Swede sporters were done by Kimber of Oregon which has since gone away. They might have been bought or became the current Kimber of today. I'm pretty sure that they will not touch the rifle since it is a military sporter with re-profiled military barrel.

I've scrubbed the bore and cleaned the copper solvent and JB bore paste, checked the mounts, bedded the action, free floated, and then shimmed pressure points to the barrel. I've tried several different powders and bullets to now avail. I'm pretty sure it isn't going to shoot any better.

It is either time to re-barrel or to sell it off as parts. Either way I loose my butt on the deal, except one way I get usable rifle. I'd rather have the 6.5X55, so I may just sell off the .277 barrel and order up a new barrel.

I'm not in a hurry either way, the rifle isn't costing me any money by sitting in the safe. I'd just never heard of anyone running a .277 Wildcat off of the Swede case, and I thought it wouln't be to much of a problem since I can run similar weight bullets. Plus since the .277 cal bullets have less bearing surface I could do it with less pressure working with existing Swede data.

Just trying to validate my theroy.

put a 257 roberts barrel on it...
or a 6.5x55 ..
sorry, wouldn't even BEGIN to try and save a 96 for a wildcat

One thing you didn't mention. Whack about 3/4" off the barrel and do a proper crown. I've seen this help.

.270x57. May as well get a little more in the boiler room while you're at it. 270 Redding and .270x257 Roberts are listed in the Redding special die sets.

quote:

Originally posted by Art S.:
One thing you didn't mention. Whack about 3/4" off the barrel and do a proper crown. I've seen this help.

I can't find anything wrong with the crown, I'm not saying it wouldn't help. I've looked at it under a magnifying glass and ran a few q-tips around it. I can't see anything nor does the cotton catch on anything.

270-308??

Sounds like you've already eliminated a lot of choices.

It's hard to beat a 6.5 Swede with a good barrel...I have two, both military, one longtom and one carbine...they both do MOA with most reloads.

It's already a 96 so put a Lothar Walther prefit on it in 6.5 x 55 and call it good...at least you could probably sell/trade it easier.

We're in the same boat...I have way to many wildcats I can't sell, throw away and I would have to pay someone to haul them off...that is if I wanted to get rid of them, which I don't.

Luck

I've thought of a lot of .270 wild cats and I'm open to them all but I'm not stuck on any them. I'm worried about pressure of course since this is 96 action. Whatever it is I just want to be safe first and foremost.

Oh rats -- for a moment there I thought you were talking about a .270 wildcat on the 7.5x55 Swiss cartridge, and thought that would be pretty interesting...sort of a .270/.284 Win. clone. But, apparently not......

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
Oh rats -- for a moment there I thought you were talking about a .270 wildcat on the 7.5x55 Swiss cartridge, and thought that would be pretty interesting...sort of a .270/.284 Win. clone. But, apparently not......

A 6.8x55 Swede would be cool IMHO