6.5x55Swede or 260 Rem on a R700 Long Action?

[HTSmith]

I'm wanting to build a 6.5 mm hunting rifle on a Remington 700 Long Action (that was a 270Win) I have on hand. I'll be using Lapua brass. Will the larger case head on the Swede cause me problems with the extractor? Alternatively will there be feeding issues using the 260 Rem in a long action? Thank you for your input.

 

[George Az]

One could always do a 6.5 x 06 - if you have .270 brass it needs a little trimming. I also like the .260 and you can use .260 brass or .308 or .243.

Rifle Magazine recently had a whole article on 6.5's and speaks highly of the 6.5 x 55. I use a .260 and recoil is very manageble out of a lightweight gun say 7.5 lbs or so for hunting. My 6.5 x 06 weighs about 13 lbs with scope and there is no issue for me with that. Some people are really into the 6.5 Creedmore, I have never shot it. They are very close between the four 6.5 cal mid length rounds, 6.5 Creedmore, 6.5 x 47, .260 and 6.5 x 55. All can benefit from the longer magazine/floor plate of the longer action as you can seat the bullet out further. Consider barrel length and your rate of twist for the cartrige you want.

 

[Pappy42]

I use two Rem long actions one is a switch barrel .308/6.5x47 Lapua; no feeding problems with feeding from AI type magazines.

The second is a 6.5 Swede/6.5x.284 switch barrel; no bolt or feeding problem from BDL magazine.

The 6.5x55, with premium brass (Norma or Lapua) loaded to modern pressures is a great cartridge for hunting or targets.

 

[LHSmith]

I built a Swede Improved on a 700 LA . The Lapua brass had to be modified to eject 100% reliably. The problem is not with the larger case head (.479 vs. .473) but with the narrow extractor groove on Lapua (and Norma) cases. My smith ground a tool to open the groove and it works fine now.

 

[JRS]

I built a Swede Improved on a 700 LA . The Lapua brass had to be modified to eject 100% reliably. The problem is not with the larger case head (.479 vs. .473) but with the narrow extractor groove on Lapua (and Norma) cases. My smith ground a tool to open the groove and it works fine now.

Precisely why I use RWS brass with my 6.5x55 BJAI.

 

[HTSmith]

Good input. Thank you. I'd not thought of a 6.5/06, but I'm wanting to stick with Lapua brass and not neck up or down. Sounds like the 260 Rem would be the safest route.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Good input. Thank you. I'd not thought of a 6.5/06, but I'm wanting to stick with Lapua brass and not neck up or down. Sounds like the 260 Rem would be the safest route.

6.5 creedmoor, 6.5x47