If you wanted a 6.5x55 deer rifle that could shoot 1.25" at 100 yards, could handle light magnum loads (like the Hornady), which action and barrel would you choose? I don't reload, but I do have the dies and could consider having the fella who reloads my pistol ammo reload for me. But for now, let's assume factory loads, probably 140s.

I've thought about a Charles Daly commercial action with an ER Shaw barrel (I'm in PA). Or, perhaps a Remington 700 converted. Or a Muaser 98. I want to drop it all in a nice wooden stock and keep the weight at 7 pounds, 8 with the scope. So a medium weight barrel is out. Perhaps a #2?

Any advice on parts, smiths, etc., is greatly appreciated.

Why don't you buy the JC Higgins I've got for sale in the classifieds. The perfect platform, FN 98 action, and has a stock, re-barrel and your almost there.



What a shameless plug...

I would go quickly down to the classifieds and jump on that JC higgins before it is gone.

Weagle

Winchester mod 70 stainless or blued featherweight comes in 6.5x55. Might save a bit of money and time using this as a start - sell the stock (although its quite nice) and get yourself another drop in.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/catalog/detail.a...type_id=966&cat=001C

I have just got one in 7mm-08 and its fit and finish is very good. The is action very smooth and it does 1.25" off the bench at 100 with PMC factory ammo.

I actually have a Win 70 Featherweight in 6.5xx55. It's my second. The first was very incosistent. To be fair, the scope was a used Leupold 8X and it's entirely possible it was the scope. I was short on time and patience and sold it.

I haven't fired this one and since I dislike the wood on it, if it's a shooter, I would consider dropping it in another stock.

Now about that JC...

Whatever action you decide to use, I'd suggest that you have your 'smith cut the throat for the longest bullet that you plan to use. Most 6.5x55s are throated to handle the long 160 grain bullets and that gives a bit of freebore with bullets of 120 grains and less. I have a Remington 700 Classic, a couple of Mausers, a Krag, and a Winchester 70 Fwt in 6.5x55. The Winchester is the best looking and it shoot pretty well too.

Jeff

260remguy, I doubt I'd take it out for elk, so I figured 140 to be the largest. I have a 7mm-08, 7mm, or even a 30-06 for elk, if I'm ever that lucky to go. So I'm planning on this being a fun deer gun. Do you feel the 140 will do the job? Perhaps the 120 will suffice?

quote:

Originally posted by JBabcock:
Why don't you buy the JC Higgins I've got for sale in the classifieds. The perfect platform, FN 98 action, and has a stock, re-barrel and your almost there.



What a shameless plug...

So what...it worked...

Sure did. Only I still don't have mine : )

See: https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6711043/m/175105413

JBabcock,

Your FN would be a nice 6.5x55.

Another couple of rifles that would work well is an older SAKO, if you look you might even find an 6.5x55, or at worst get a 270-30-06 and rebarrel it. Another place to look is a Parker Hale ( check your models **** ) and rebarrel it. Another place to go and you might check SARCO out on this, is look for one in a Husky or an original Swede. The Swedes made the Model 96's longer than anybody I know of and one of these in a 1950's vintage is certainly safe to fire with all modern ammo. Some of these such as a CG-63 are phenomally accurate, but I wouldn't fiddle with one of these, and they are pricey, but with the right ammo these are sub .5 MOA five shot rifles, a full match grade rifle, just the Swedish version (http://www.sarcoinc.com/guns12-14.html)

There is also a 6.5x55 in a Husky on their web sight for $375.00.

quote:

Originally posted by schromf:
There is also a 6.5x55 in a Husky on their web sight for $375.00.

My bust it is a Carl Gustaff not a Husky for $375.00 in the 6.5x55. There are a couple 8x57's on the sight that could make that transaction pretty easily though.

I am a fan of the older Sakos and have an AIII in 7mm. I'll look for a 270 or 30-06. How much work besides swapping barrel? Does the action need to be resized? One fella wrote that the chamber should only be as long as bsolutely needed for the longets round I would use. Say 140 grain. Otherwise there's room for movement.

On a 270 or a 30-06 in Sako I would be suprised if you needed any mag work, at absolute worst it would be a spacer, but I would have it chambered long. The having your 6.5x55 seated long as suggested above is the way to go. This a real straight forward conversion, pretty much screw a new barrel on, headspace it, shoot it.

Look at the CG's at Sarco, these are pretty good rifles, if you get one a new stock and some fiddling and clean up these really nice. These 96 actions are pretty slick. On your 1917 its too old pre war, that is not the generation of these actions I am talking about, same action type post war, better heat treating, and the swedes fiddled with this action for years. The 6.5x55 is already chambered, just clean up or replace the stock.

JW: If you want to shoot higher velocity loads, it's gonna be hard to do any better than the CZ 550 American, or if you want a Mannlicher, the FS.

CZ uses the slowest twist in production rifles at 1 in 8.6". If you check http://www.czforum.com you'll find many owners that feel it is the finest 6.5 X 55 they could have found. They are tackdrivers and come standard with a single set trigger that will give you a 14 oz. option for precision shooting. It is a Mauser action with a square bridge receiver. The barrels are about as good as it gets on a factory rifle hammer forged @ 23.6". They will easily handle the 60,000 PSI handload data that is available from some sources like Accurate and Ramshot.

I was going to get one with the chance that I might convert it to 6.5 X .284, but I recently found out that the 6.5 X .284 is an offering from their custom shop. The barreled action only is also available from CZ.

quote:

6.5 X .284

WHERE ???????? details please...........


Yeah the CZ's are nice, best part is they are reasonably priced, for being so nice.

schromf, I couldn't find the $375 rifles you mentioned, but I'm pretty tired. I'll look again tomorrow.

KLN357, schromf mentioned the CZ as well and I've read nothing but good things about them. I didn't know their barrel was that close to a 1 in 8. I read the 1 in 8 twist stabilizes the 140 grain bullet better. My only complaint then would be the stock. Not my taste really, but then again my favorite Sako wasn't either. And aside from the way it handles and shoots, it's now actually one of the nicest looking guns I won. It just grew on me.

I just seem to like unique guns and monte carlo stocks shoulder better for me and absorb recoil better. I know! It's only a 6.5, but with tendonitis in the shoulder, and the refusal to give up archey, the 6.5 can wear me down a bit just like a 7mm. I want a gun to shoot often at the range and become extremely proficient in the field with.

You guys have been a huge help, so keep it coming.

look here: http://www.sarcoinc.com/guns12-12a.html

Two words: Mexican Mauser. If you can't find one 24/47s are plentiful right now. No need for a scope for 1.5" @ 100 yds. Schweet.

OK, the CZ 500 is already growing on me. $429 seems to be the best I've found. I'd really like to handle one first, but that's rarely and option. I'll see if my local dealer can match that (considering shipping and what not). I'd prefer the LUX if I can get them to do it in 6.5x55.

quote:

Mexican Mauser

Very nice actions, really pretty when done right. Not a begineers mauser action. I just sold one of these, simply said parts are a bitch. Anything to do with these bolts is a big problem. The story goes that the Mexican gov't when they worked on disposing of these seperated the bolts from the rifles. Then sold the lot and supossidly ship both rifles and bolts to the US, bad news the bolts never got here. I have heard there are more Mexicans missing bolts than there are with bolts, the only odd ball ones got imported and the majority on the big gov't sale of these rifles the bolts are lost forever.

Anyway, these are not a action that would be one of my first action builds, they have heat treating issues, these are really left for someone experienced, just my $.02

I concur with the Mexican Mauser. A friend just finished a 6.5 on a Mexican, one of the sweetest rifles I've ever seen.

KLN357, I did not know that CZ had a custom shop, do you have a website or email address for them? For a while CZ was importing the Lux in 6.5 with 25.6" barrel but I have not been able to find one, perhaps their custom shop can manage this.

JW: you can just buy the barrelled action from CZ, if you don't like their stocks. I like 'em very much myself, but can appreciate that custom touch. Where that slower twist will really come into play is when you want to not only stabilize that 140, but push it as fast as you want to!

Schromf and Vigillinus: 800 955-4486 or e-mail them http://www.custom@cz-usa.com
There are 3 custom categories and category 2 allows you to pick your caliber. The ones mentioned are the .25-06, .260 Rem, the 6.5 X .284 (Norma now) and the Rem. Ultra Mags. If you call 'em they'll send you a 2005 catalogue. I am also a member @ CZ Forum and unbelievable accuracy has been reported with this rifle and caliber. I can tell you, I really want a 6.5 X .284 in a CZ 550 with the standard length action. Short actions have removable magazines and I want to make sure I don't have to worry about seating issues with the longer bullets, even though I will use all weights and would really like to work-out the 129 gr. Hornady SSTs and Accubonds.

Why not buy a nice sporterized 96 Swede?

All factory ammo is safe in them and if you get one with a decent barrel, 1.5" should be no problem.

-Spencer

Nothing wrong with that, but 60,000 PSI load data is only for modern rifles with strong actions and the 96 doesn't qualify there. Some of the reports on the 550 are 1/2" MOA with the higher velocity loads.

Well, if factory ammo works well in it, then if he does get into handloading, then there is no reason to push the envelope with high pressure loads.

-Spencer

The MRC M1999 Short Action has the advantage of being JUST long enough to sensibly fit a 6.5x55. It is the only "short" action I'm aware of that is long enough for the purpose.

As far as I know the short M1999 has a box length of 3.125". You want to leave a few hundredths for feeding purpose and to allow you to chase the lands when they recede. So call that an OACL of 3.100". You can sensibly set up the chamber for 140 grs NPs, say, seated to that length and still have plenty of options for reaching the lands with shorter (e.g. 120 grs) bullets.

Winchester 140 grs factory ammo (I forget which bullet this was) measured out at OACL of 2.943" and Norma factory (sorry no bullet weight listed in my notes) measured 3.055". So either would also work with the above setup.

All of the above naturally only applies if your intent is to build a rifle, as opposed to using a barreled factory offering.

- mike

KLN357, are you saying the CZ from the factory has a short action for the 6.5x55? And you prefer the standard length?

Catalog. Why wait for snail mail: Here it is online: http://www.cz-usa.com/data/product/common/CZUSA%20Catalog%202005.pdf

I was thinking 6.5x55, upgrade the factory stock, and have it bedded.

What can the 6.5x284 do that factory 6.5s, or even the 270, not do?

OK. Spoke with CZ USA custom shop. Nice enough, not the best, but nice enough. On a 1 - 10, I give them a 7.5. They answered all of my questions.

The CZ 550 American 6.5x55 $555 dealer price to me. Tuning $100, bedding $50 (all or just the action).

I was thinking of bedding the action only and floating the barrel.

Any thoughts on that?

I really like that CZ 550 FN in the 6.5x55. Full length stock and about a 20 inch barrel.

It's a taste thing - either you love the full length stock or you hate it I think. I'v been contemplating picking one up for a while now.

I have only seen them in the catalogue though.

JW: I was talking about the 6.5 X .284. I haven't inquired yet as to detachable or non-detachable magazine, either way I believe it comes in Standard action.

The 6.5 X 55 is a standard action length. If you find a CZ dealer near by, buy the rifle, or barrelled action from them and you will save enough for some of the options, even if you ship it to CZ for custom work. The only way to get the 6.5 X .284 is to buy it from the custom shop or buy the 550 in 6.5 X 55 and have it reamed to 6.5 X .284 Norma.

Because this horse isn't dead enough... I found a CZ 550, jeweled bolt, slick trigger, lapped rings with Leupold M8 6x scope - Gunsamerica. I called the guy today. $700. SOLD last weekend : (

But I did chat with him a while. He loives the caliber and has a Win70 Featherweight and a Dakota in the same round. He never bedded the CZ, because it was extremely accurate, averaging 1/2" or slightly over. The down side? He said it was heavy and the wood was thick. I have to say, it does look a bit thick and that's what concerned me about the gun, as well as being a straight stock (no cheekpiece, etc.).

I think your advice of grabbing a barreled action and getting a stock would work. Straight stocks have a habit of slapping my shoulder. The Win70 did that. Any ideas on good stock suppliers?