Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Want to rebarrel to a 6.5x55

But he wouldn't be sporting a factory tube when he got done building one either.

Tony - call me cheap or frugal. I've never really been into custom rifles and their cost. I consider myself darn fortunate that I've had regular ole rifles shooting factory ammo into MOA without any problems. I'm a hunter that limits shots to 400yds or less. Just really infatuated with the 6.5x55 and want another. If I could find a good one that was priced right and not somebody thinking they had the crown jewels I'd buy it.
Now - you guys want to recommend a barrel maker for that 700 or 70 action and tell me why them please. I've found a Rem700 BDL that looks like I can start with and still not ruling out a new barrel for the FN Mod 70. Planning on 22" 1 in 8 twist, blued.

I gave three choices here. I'd go with Pac-Nor myself.
There are many others in the PN price range too.

Just use a Rem 700 in 30-06 or 270 and barrel with a Number three contour from any barrel manufacture that give a good deal on their barrel , PacNor , Shilen, Hart , Lilja. If i was building for myself i would use a Hart SS # 3 1&8 twist and this is because i already have the Hart barrel .

Here's another option...buy the Howa barreled action in 6.5X55 Swede and purchase a Mcmillan edge.
Here's the link to one.
Howa Stainless 6.5 Swede

That's not a bad option. You can get a stock for under $100. Here's one from Boyd's just as an example:

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/FT-WBY-VG-HOWA-LA-FBC-RJL-F-p/600-691.htm

The McMillans must be good. The name is mentioned ad nauseum here on the 'fire. But they cost a lot more than $100.

The 6.5x55 seems to be all the rage these days, and rightly so. It is an excellent hunting cartridge. They are not common in American sporting rifles, so they tend to command a premium. I had a Win M70 Classic Featherweight with killer wood, but traded it away at a gunshow. The dealer that got it sold it on Gunbroker for $1053! I gave $550 for it.

I just had a pre-64 model 70 rebarreled in 6.5x55 by Mark Chanlynn. I put it in a McMillan A3. It shipped last week, can't wait to get her back

I'd call Brux barrels and have have them make me a barrel in the factory contour. No reason to go messing around with non-factory contours and having to change the inletting in the stock if you're happy with the factory contour. When my barrel came in I'd box it up and send it to someone like Redneck here on the campfire and have him do the work. You'll likely end up coming out cheaper than sending it to Pac-Nor and have a better job done.

I currently have 10 6.5x55 rifles built on Krag, Mauser, Remington, and Winchester actions, so there are lots of options available.

If considering the Howa 1500, be advised that they have a reputation for having a deep throat, such that shorter/lighter bullets may have some freebore jump to the rifling.

Jeff

That rifle will work easily for your project..

Not to mention faster too..

Just send the thing to Pac-Nor Barreling. They'll do the whole job for you. You can have them duplicate the original barrel's contour exactly so it'll fit back into the original stock with no inletting, or ask for what you want. You can choose from a long list of choices. Every Super Match barrel I have from them has been outstanding in accuracy. They are friendly and will answer any questions about your project.

http://www.pac-nor.com/

7mm08fan,

I've been down the same path. I became a fan of the 6.5x55 a few years ago and it started with a Tikka T3. I wanted a second Swede and sent a mediocre shooting NH Win 70 FWT classic to Lee (Redneck) who rebarreled it with a FWT contour 23" 8 twist Pac-Nor . I'm very pleased with it.



I acquired a nice custom stock a few months ago inletted for a LA Win 70 XTR FWT that I've found a 25-06 donor for. If it doesn't shoot, I would seriously consider sending it to Redneck for another 6.5x55 rebarrel....prolly use Pac-Nor again since the first one worked out so well. BTW, GB has 3 NIB Win 70 XTR long actions for sale made in the early to mid 80's.

OK - if any of you guys are still looking - what's your opinion of Douglas Premium barrels? Local smith who has done some things for me in the past uses them and does the final threading, chambering, and finishing himself. The price he's offerd me is darn reasonable in my opinion but I'd like to hear from some people about the quality of the Douglas barrels.

Thanks for all the input. It's definitely helped me make some decisions.

My 'smith uses Douglas premium barrels and they make very accurate rifles. I think that I have three of them still in my safe and three more with my daughter and grandsons. Probably have sold traded away four or five more. Never had a bad one, but my sample size is small compared to most folks on this site.