Here's my dilema, I have a Winchester Model 70 in 6.5x55. I love the rifle, but hate the factory barrel. The freebore is just plain excessive. I have to seat 140 grain bullets to 3.178 inches to be 0.010 off of the lands. This gun uses a long action Model 70.

My question is, would a short action Model 70 work with an OAL that is limited to 3.1 inches or shorter? I wonder if I should save the long action for a cartridge that can really make use of the extra length, and have a short action Model 70 rebarreled in 6.5x55. Thanks!

-- Scott

I made a 6.5x55 on a short M70 and it worked very well. I simply removed the block from the rear of the mag box and replaced the follower with an altered follower from a Turkish mauser. Regards, Bill.

Most 6.5x55 s are throated for the 160s but this doesn't seem to be detrimental when using 140s ,certainly not in my rifle. Does your rifle have an accuracy problem ?

Mete, I haven't gotten great accuracy out of the factory barrel. Mainly 2 or 3 inch groups. I guess what peaked my curiosity is that Winchester now makes the 6.5x55 on a short action. I guess for a while they weren't making the short action, so my 6.5x55 is on a long action.

Bill, what kind of problems could I expect if I just removed the magazine block, and used the factory follower. Would I have a myriad of feeding issues?

-- Scott

Probably not. I actually switched followers because another guy needed my follower! Feeding inmine has been just fine. It is a push feed by the way. Regards, Bill

Well I removed the magazine block, and it fed alright with the factory follower.

I think there are two things that need to be done to make it feed perfectly. One is to modify the ejector so that the rounds that are underneath it are able to come up closer to the bolt. The second is to fit a thin piece of sheetmetal to the back of the magazine so that rounds don't hang up against part of the action.

-- Scott