6.5x55 in a .473" bolt?

[Dave in WI]

Any problems chambering a Rem 700 in 6.5x55 with the standard 0.473" bolt face? Will the bolt face need to be opened up a couple thousands?

 

[LHSmith]

No. But where you might have problems is the width of the extraction groove and rim thickness. These vary with brass of different manufactures. I heard that WW brass worked no problem. I built a Swede AI and in both Lapua and Norma, my smith had to modify these dimensions on the brass itself. My action is also Rem 700, so for others YMMV depending on your actions extraction design.

 

[swd]

Some do some don't, you'll have to check. I have seen both..

 

[butchlambert]

I used to own a 6.5x55 Remington Classic and had no problems. I didn't know enough at the time to check anything.
I just looked at my Lapua brass and it had a wider extractor groove and the rim measured .475. My FC brass had the old 6.5x55 extractor groove with a .473 rim. The other brass that I have is stamped NNY I believe. It has .4755 rim diameter and the small extractor groove. All of these worked in my Classic.

 

[butchlambert]

Any problems chambering a Rem 700 in 6.5x55 with the standard 0.473" bolt face? Will the bolt face need to be opened up a couple thousands?

If you have a problem I don't think a .002" in rim diameter will hurt you.

 

[swd]

If you have a problem I don't think a .002" in rim diameter will hurt you.

Butch I have a 700 bolt that Lapua 6.5x55SE brass won't fit in.

 

[butchlambert]

Butch I have a 700 bolt that Lapua 6.5x55SE brass won't fit in.

I sure do not have a good answer for you. I sold my Classic many years ago. Since it was a factory 6.5x55 maybe the bolt was a few thou oversize. I really don't know.

 

[WayneShaw]

The Lapua brass I have has a very narrow extraction groove and it's a bit bigger in diameter, American brand brass seems to either have the normal .473 case dimensions or a modified version that will work.

 

[Shawnba67]

Butch I have a 700 bolt that Lapua 6.5x55SE brass won't fit in.

Factory bolt?

 

[DaveTooley]

Butch I have a 700 bolt that Lapua 6.5x55SE brass won't fit in.

Riveted extractor?

 

[butchlambert]

Factory bolt?

Yes sir, as I said it was a Remington Classic in 6.5x55. I bought it around 1994.

 

[swd]

Riveted extractor?

Obviously I never looked it over too hard. YES riveted and that's the issue.

Shawn, yes factory

 

[wwbrown]

Lapua 6.5 x 55 brass works great in my Stiller preadtor action with the standard .473 bolt but is very tight in my defiance action.

 

[johara1]

I think all Bat and Borden's are .480..... jim

 

[JavmanSTX]

Swede brass vary a bit from different manufacturers. So it's a matter of which one works with your bolt and exractor.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I think all Bat and Borden's are .480..... jim

My Bat M is chambered in 7mm Geramo, which is a 6.5x55 necked up to 7mm and Ackley Improved.
I had to open up the bolt about .005. The problem was the case head would physically go in, but would hang up on ejection.

 

[johara1]

Isn't your bolt face .480 ? I would guess you were using Lapua brass and how big was it ? I found most problems were the thickness of the rim and the extractor was tight and needed relieved a little ..... jim

 

[Uncle Grinch]

Most USA made 6.5x55 brass uses the standard .473 rim/head size. European brass uses the Swede standard. I’ve got some of each and never had any problems with either.

 

[SBS]

Bolt faces must vary a little also. I wanted a 6.5x55 match rifle and none of my bare actions I had on hand would work with any brass I had; most wouldn't even fit into the bolt face. I had Win., Rem., Fed. and Lapua brass to try. Actions I had were RPA 2000, older Panda, Shilen DGA and a Wichita. Built a sporter on a Rem. action once and while the cases would snap in over the extractor when chambering, ejection was iffy because the rim needs a little more diameter to allow it to pivot out of the countersunk boltface. EDIT: I built the 6.5x55 on a FN single shot BR action which had a standard bolt face, which was large enough to accommodate any brand of brass. Enough people have trouble getting them to work, so maybe just the machining tolerances alone may be causing the problem, particularly sporter actions and older BR actions before CNC and EDM were common.

 

[johara1]

Winchester chambered the model 70 post 64 in 6.5x55 with a standard bolt face..... jim