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So, I've got a 6.5x55 Howa Hogue that is a neat little rifle and with all this reboring and such going on, for some reason I don't think I can leave well enough alone. I've thought of a few different options, and others have done the same.

So I thought I'd throw it out there....what say you?

6.5-06
6.5-06AI
6.5-280AI

I think I want to keep it 6.5, but which would you choose and if there are any others you can think of.....thanks!

I'd leave the chamber alone and get a better stock.

Yeah, it ain't broke, so don't fix it. Never much cared for Hogue stocks, though. Maybe add a Timney trigger, but otherwise, Howas are excellent "as is".

everyone seems to have the hot's for the 6.5 SAUM. Look on SnipersHide.com, they are all a giggle over it. G.A. Precision chambers it, you can google both.

Good luck with your new adventure

None of hose chamberings are a big enough pain in the butt...6.5 Gibbs.

The biggest thing that you would have to overcome, would be the difference in base diameters. The Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversions lists the base diameter of the 6.5x55 as .476 and the 6.5/06 as .470 which means you'd likely have to set the bbl back or suffer with an unsightly bulge at the base of the case.

I believe that one CAN rechamber a 6.5x55 to 6.5x.284 Win. but then you'd have a short case on a long action. Only you can decide if you want to accept those challenges... Not to mention that feeding MAY be an issue. It may not - I don't know for sure... And likely you wouldn't know until you did it.

According to the Nosler Manual #6, there is only about 100 f.p.s. difference between the 6.5/06 and the .264 Win. Mag. with 140 gr. bullets. (both with 24" bbls)

At the risk of arousing the ire of the .264 Win Mag fans, If I could get that close to a .264, I don't think I'd worry about the last 100 f.p.s. However, you're mileage may vary...

GH

The only 6.5 cartridge that interests me in the least is the 264 WinMag. Fits into any 30/06 length action one might have on hand, so I see no reason for the other 6.5's to exist. If one was going to build a short action 65., I could see a 6.5/284 but for a full sized action? The old Winchester round is it.

The only thing better than a high BC, high sectional density bullet at moderate speed, is a high BC high SD bullet at HIGH speed! Why not have them both, or to put it another way have it all?

I love the way Mark thinks..

Yeah I feel the same way when it comes to all these blown out, necked down improved 06 cases. Beyond them are these belted cases that easily give the velocities the AI/Improved cases might get on their best days, higher pressures, and longer tubes or whatever.

I like 06 cases the way they came...if more is needed, buy some capacity.

Set it back a thread and re-chamber to Improved and get some Lapua brass....

When I built a 6.5 it was a 6.5-06AI. My reasoning was I wanted to use .250-06 brass necked up and fire-formed so I would end up with loaded rounds that could not be chambered in a .25-06 should I ever get one.

You could do the same with .280 brass.

I found fire-form loads using 140g bullets and Hornady's max H4831SC load for a standard 6.5-06 were awesome accurate.