Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Which 6.5 on pre-64 featherweight model 70?

You know, if I was to build my 280 again, it might just end up a fast twist 270.

The price of Wby brass may be a turn off. Also a new proprietary Wby round. Is it gonna stick around?

We’ll see how it goes. If it stands the test of time.....

IMO, jury’s still out on that one.

DF

Man, thanks gents. All good points and experience here. If the rifle is a bit more than 7 pounds that’s fine. I’m not hung up on 7 pounds; I’m just trying to avoid building a pig. My standard 30/06 and 270 pre-64 are hefty when compared with today’s mountain rifles and such, but I love them.

Right now I think I’m leaning 6.5-06 (maybe AI) or maybe the Swede. What do y’all think about a 6.5x55AI? My goal is not so much a lightweight rifle, but something I can carry yet get a steady shot at medium to longish range, like up to 500 yards if the need arises. Thinking a 6.5x55AI is sounding pretty sexy right now.

Jeffrey, Have you thought about flipping the rifle for a Westerner in 264 win mag?

This rifle isn’t much of a flipper. It’s in rough shape. As best I can tell, the barrel is shot out. I bought it at a pawn shop for $325 dollars. The stock was chopped, so I found a second hand McMillan that is no prize winner to put it in. I scrubbed the barrel for what seemed like an eternity trying to get it to come clean. Never really got there, but got it close I guess. I then went to loading for it, but the only bullet I could get to shoot reasonably well out of it was the 125 Sierra ProHunter.

I suppose I could hold out for a magnum pre-64 in similar condition, but... who knows how long that could be or what I might end up with. I’ve owned the rifle for over 5 years at this point and I haven’t killed anything with it; mostly just thought about what I would do with it. I’ve been around and around but I’n ready to pull the trigger on rebarreling and putting it in a nice stock, and putting some nice glass on it.

I’ve got a rental home with some nice equity that I’m selling. The wife and I are kicking butt on our mortgage and are otherwise debt free. I have more deer rifles than I’ll ever need, but no 6.5s. The idea of an efficient, long range, economical (reloading components) and easy shooting killer is what I’m after. I’ve looked at a new EW SS in 264WM, and it was nice, but I’m thinking what I want is a rifle that will take advantage of these wonderful bullets we have. It will be nice to take a pinch off the proceeds from this house sale to build the rifle how I want it.

I appreciate all the input. Talking about it is getting me excited.

If you wantto utilize the present magazine and bolt stop, a Creedmoor would be fine. If you want to go with a '06 magazine, the 256 Newton. I have built a couple on pre-64's and my own is on a Model 54 Winchester. To be honest, it doesn't do much others won't except be a cool classic. That's enough for me. GD

Any of the aforementioned chambers will do handily to 500.

How much are you into loading? It’s nice to be able to buy quality inexpensive ammo off the shelf that will do all you need ( 500yds up to elk) if you haven’t cranked out another batch of rounds. At least in my world it is.

That’s what I thought when I read the OP.

I have a custom Mauser in 7x57AI, very impressive. I think a 6.5x55AI would be equally impressive. Go for it.

I’m happy to hear the few of you who have mentioned this. I can’t remember whee I heard or read this, maybe here, but the concern that I heard was that the mag box of the model 70 won’t allow the heavier, longer bullets to be seated as far as we would like. I understand that Mag length and overall cartridge length will be a determining factor in how far to set the throat of the rifling, but I don’t want to eat up too much case volume setting bullets deeply in the case to make room in the magazine. I have no firsthand knowledge in this case, so I’m happy to go off of this groups’ collective wisdom and experience. A 6.5-06AI would be great, throwing 140ish grain bullets close to 3000fps. That would make me happy. Doable?

I don’t reload as much as I used to as work and family do their thing, but I still load for all of my hunting rifles. I tend to go in waves with loading. I develop my loads, make up a good batch of ammo, usually around 100 rounds, and do my thing. Some rifles, 100 rounds can last a while. Just depends on what rifles I’m hunting with that year. I’ve got enough rifles that I probably have around 1000 rounds of ammo ready to go at any time, in various cartridges for various rifles. I’m a gun slut. My grandfather who killed nearly everything with a model 12 and a Remington 700 243 looked at me funny growing up. It is what it is.

I am on my 3rd 6.5-06 and initially I started with H4350 with a 140 gr. bullet, with 49 grains I got 2950 fps , but brass life was short. Switched to 49 gr RL 17 and also got 2950 fps but brass life was much better. Now I run RL26 and same fps but pressure seems mild. All with 22" barrels. I need to try lapua brass as Hig suggest, I bet that would be the best combo.

Very much so. Especially if you run a 3.6” magazine box.

The 6.5x06AI will get you 3150fps with a 26" barrel and 140's. I necked down 30-06 Lspua brass and necked turned to a loaded round of .293 for a .297 neck chamber.
This thing is a hammer.

Mag box length will not be an issue on the 6.5x06AI.
If it ever did wyatts makes an extended mag box for the model 70

Winner winner chicken dinner. That just made my pants tight.

Another vote for the 6.5 X 55 SE.

Another vote for the 6.5x55. If you were building a long range DBM wonder stick, the 6.5 PRC makes sense. On a P-64 action, my only decision would be 6.5x55 vs 7x57. It’s very easy to buy an off the rack rifle chambered for the new cartridge of the week.

here's my .02: If you want an IA then go with the .280AI, this version doesn't require fire forming. If you go with a 6.5x06, consider throating it so you can use .270 cases which neck down easy. The 6.5x284 is a great round, but you will need to deal with feeding issues which means that action will only be suited for the .284 case. I personally like the idea of going with a creed or a swede. Good luck.

Not interested in DBM, but very much looking for something with some long legs that will cleanly take animals up to elk at longish distances. As of right now, rifles chambered in the PRC are not appealing to me. We’ll see what other rifles become available, but for now I want to get this project rolling on an old Model 70 that deserves a new crack at life.