Converting 300 WIN MAG to 6.5x55
- Thread starter newsomew
- Start date
The Swede is something I would like to build myself in the future. I think the lighter recoil combined with the great BC's of the 6.5's will make for a great shooting experience. I have no idea what type of rifle your converting, but I'd make sure you get a throat that will let you seat the 140's where you want them.
dansig
changing from .300 win mag to a 6.5x55 isn't very practical, it would probably be cheaper to buy a used 6.5x55
the .300 magnum has a much bigger boltface than the 6.5x55, the case is much longer in the .300 and the action is much longer than needed for the 6.5x55.
changing the boltface or buying a new bolt, buying a new barrel and chambering it.. the cost is close to the price of a used 6.5x55
the .300 magnum has a much bigger boltface than the 6.5x55, the case is much longer in the .300 and the action is much longer than needed for the 6.5x55.
changing the boltface or buying a new bolt, buying a new barrel and chambering it.. the cost is close to the price of a used 6.5x55
what kinda gun is it?
koger
Silver $$ Contributor
I have built a bunch over the last 25 years, my favorite all around hunting caliber. If you had a savage long action, 30/06, all you would have to do is loosen the nut, screw out the old barrel, screw in a new one and headspace, tighten the nut!I have built several on new savage actions, sporter and bull barrels, using Douglas and Shilen barrels. prefer the Shilen. Last sporter I built with a Shilen, 8 twist, would shoot 3 shot groups in the low.3's, with my deer hunting load. If you decide to build one, give me a holler, can give you some great shooting loads that have been worked up, tried and true over 25 years of shooting this caliber.
I just put together a 6.5x47 lapua on a savage action. .75 groups at 265 yards and 1" groups at 340. also 4 inch group at 806 yards. Very little effort really.
I have a inherited Sako L61R 300 win mag collecting dust in the safe that I am considering converting to 26 Nosler or a 6.5x55SE. My smith says he can swap out the bolt for the 6.5x55SE or just convert to 26 Nosler. Obviously new barrels on both conversions are necessary. My main reason though is I don't want to sale the L61R and the 300 win mag felt recoil is unbearable for me. I would love to buy an older Sako A series 6.5x55SE , but I have not found any for sale. If wondering why not just by the model 85, I'm a die hard fan of the older A series actions. I checked out the 85, but it doesn't feel like an A series gun at all to me. Very nice rifles the 85 is, I just like the A series more...personal thing I guess. Hard to explain!
Yeah, my first Sako was an AV and I instantly fell in love with its common sense ergonomics. The fact that Sako made changes to recoil lug, leaves more questions in my mind too. I guess its the old if its not broke why fix it mentallity.
I have yet to findo a Sako that does not shoot good if I do my homework when reloading. Aside from replacing a few barrels after being shot out, nothing really stumps my memory. The only reason I am consider customizing the 300 Win Mag is because the action is the only thing left that's Sako. So I figured now is my opportunity to go wild and the 6.5x55 SE is the only caliber I have no experience with, as far as non wildcat cartridges go.
I have yet to findo a Sako that does not shoot good if I do my homework when reloading. Aside from replacing a few barrels after being shot out, nothing really stumps my memory. The only reason I am consider customizing the 300 Win Mag is because the action is the only thing left that's Sako. So I figured now is my opportunity to go wild and the 6.5x55 SE is the only caliber I have no experience with, as far as non wildcat cartridges go.
No!
I now know more about the 26 Nosler. I would not be happy with it. I want something that would be all blessings to shoot and reload for. This is all in the brainstorming stages right now.
I have a Sako AII Varmint in 243 Winchester that I just bought few weeks ago. I'm going to be focusing on finding a load for it, but will be researching different paths for the L61R in the meantime. Thinking of a nice shoulder friendly non competitive medium range bench rifle. I have a 300 yard and if I qualify, a 600 yard range within driving distance of me.
I now know more about the 26 Nosler. I would not be happy with it. I want something that would be all blessings to shoot and reload for. This is all in the brainstorming stages right now.
I have a Sako AII Varmint in 243 Winchester that I just bought few weeks ago. I'm going to be focusing on finding a load for it, but will be researching different paths for the L61R in the meantime. Thinking of a nice shoulder friendly non competitive medium range bench rifle. I have a 300 yard and if I qualify, a 600 yard range within driving distance of me.
I collect and predominantly shoot 6.5x55 rifles, both modern and military. I now own 3 R700 - all stock in 6.5x55, two are BDL classics (1994) and one is ADL (not as accurate as my Classics but I had to have it). Bolt face is .473 on all of em, obviously a LA. One Classic I opted to bed (myself) another is a 1/2 MOA off sandbags with my handloads all stock. I have spend a fair amount of money and time playing with all sorts of swedes, however, when it comes to R700 - I would simply recommend selling what you have as is and just look for a nice Classic (made in 1994 only as far as 6.5x55) and forget about it. you will have a perfect balanced rifle (I use my for hunting more so than target, simply because its hard to compete with something like a Tikka T3 Sporter or my FSR rigs) and a terrific shooter (2X more accurate than most of your button rifled rifles, that includes Winchester 70) with minimal work/fine tuning.
When I say balanced - yes, I tried to slap a Krieger barrel on a .270Win donor - ended up waiting 7mo for a barrel, made it heavy and UNBALANCED and while a formidable shooter, it was basically a bench/sandbags rifle vs. any kind of versatility. So for the money ($345 barrel, $175 cut chamber and finish, $500 Stock, trigger and bottom metal + $250 donor receiver/bolt) - I wish I did not do it. Ended up trading for a loss of almost $300, the only saving grace was that it did shoot well)...
More food for thought - CZ550 (either American (slightly more accurate) or FS) of older vintage with a set trigger, will give R700 run for its money on a range with no clear winner. Key phrase here - 'one with a set trigger'. I am basically talking sub $1K rifles (as R700 is), there are tons of VERY interesting and fine shooters in a $2K+ territory.
When I say balanced - yes, I tried to slap a Krieger barrel on a .270Win donor - ended up waiting 7mo for a barrel, made it heavy and UNBALANCED and while a formidable shooter, it was basically a bench/sandbags rifle vs. any kind of versatility. So for the money ($345 barrel, $175 cut chamber and finish, $500 Stock, trigger and bottom metal + $250 donor receiver/bolt) - I wish I did not do it. Ended up trading for a loss of almost $300, the only saving grace was that it did shoot well)...
More food for thought - CZ550 (either American (slightly more accurate) or FS) of older vintage with a set trigger, will give R700 run for its money on a range with no clear winner. Key phrase here - 'one with a set trigger'. I am basically talking sub $1K rifles (as R700 is), there are tons of VERY interesting and fine shooters in a $2K+ territory.
Webphut, you might go the direction I did when my shoulder injury re-appeared and I had to do something with my heavy-kickers. I re-barreled a 300 WM Mod. 70 into a 264 WM. GREAT B.C.'s and recoil about that of a 30-06.
If you want a 6.5x55 of some flavor (and you should, ya know?) check out the Tikka's for a stock rifle or, find a donor rifle in a pawn shop (mod 700, Sako, Mod 70 etc) and have it re-barreled into the Swede. You'll spend a lot more time shooting and that's not a bad thing, ever.
If you want a 6.5x55 of some flavor (and you should, ya know?) check out the Tikka's for a stock rifle or, find a donor rifle in a pawn shop (mod 700, Sako, Mod 70 etc) and have it re-barreled into the Swede. You'll spend a lot more time shooting and that's not a bad thing, ever.
I would love to add a 264 Winchester Mag to my collection, that was my original idea, but the Mag part scared me away. So the 264 felt recoil is pretty close to a 30-06? If so, then I found my L61R action a new bed to sleep in. I know it would be easier conversion, if I am correct, only needs new barrel since bolt face is same. The more I am researching, the more apparent it becoming that it is not such a convenient conversion.
I know the conveniences of a practical hunting rifles all too well and that is my 7mm Rem Mag I have had since I was 12 years old. My other rifles only see sandbags and targets in all reality. If I ever get the time to focus on it, I would love to go prairie dog hunting with my newly found & loved Sako AII Varmint 243 Winchester. It is so nice to shoot! To shoot on a Saturday all day and not be miserable from the recoil is so sweet...LOL!
I know the conveniences of a practical hunting rifles all too well and that is my 7mm Rem Mag I have had since I was 12 years old. My other rifles only see sandbags and targets in all reality. If I ever get the time to focus on it, I would love to go prairie dog hunting with my newly found & loved Sako AII Varmint 243 Winchester. It is so nice to shoot! To shoot on a Saturday all day and not be miserable from the recoil is so sweet...LOL!
A 6.5 Saum will hit the accuracy velocities desired with high bc 140-147 gr projectiles, with considerably less recoil than a 264, and better bbl life. What's not to like ?
For some years ago, i found a old Eddystone P17, with a milled-down reciever top and i added a cheap scope and it was used for hunting, for a couple of seasons, before i realized the barrel was worn out.
So, it was either the scrapheap or a project and since scrapping is against my religious belief, it turned into a project:
Off with the old barrel, in with a new Lothar Walther 6,5x55 21 inch Sporter Barrel. A fixed picatinny rail was mounted.
Triggergroup and bolt got a serious makeover and the magazine well and follower got adaptet to fit the x55.
Since it was the intent, that the rifle should be used for hunting, i made a classic sporter stock for it, from a block of walnut timber.
A Schmidt&Bender Classic was put on top and it was ready for the next six years of service, were countless number of game fell for it.
But, i got to realize, that a 21 inch barrel, is a bit to the short side for a x55, when you need to use heavy bullets and get some reasonable velocity for them.
But the time were the barrel met the end of it's servicelife, came, and i had to make a new decision about the future for the rifle and by this time i had taken interrest in long range shooting and was now in the need for a rifle, dedicated for this.
So, off to the gunsmith and we took a new 25 inch LW barrel ( again in 6,5x55 ) in heavy contour and had it fluted and threaded, before installation.
The stock was modified for the new barrel and then pillar-bedded.
I had the intention, to make a budget rifle for LR and i placed a Hawke Sidewinder 30 scope in Warne QD mounts on top of it and it works really well.
This group was shot at 300 meters and the ten ring is 100 mm
So, it was either the scrapheap or a project and since scrapping is against my religious belief, it turned into a project:
Off with the old barrel, in with a new Lothar Walther 6,5x55 21 inch Sporter Barrel. A fixed picatinny rail was mounted.
Triggergroup and bolt got a serious makeover and the magazine well and follower got adaptet to fit the x55.
Since it was the intent, that the rifle should be used for hunting, i made a classic sporter stock for it, from a block of walnut timber.
A Schmidt&Bender Classic was put on top and it was ready for the next six years of service, were countless number of game fell for it.
But, i got to realize, that a 21 inch barrel, is a bit to the short side for a x55, when you need to use heavy bullets and get some reasonable velocity for them.
But the time were the barrel met the end of it's servicelife, came, and i had to make a new decision about the future for the rifle and by this time i had taken interrest in long range shooting and was now in the need for a rifle, dedicated for this.
So, off to the gunsmith and we took a new 25 inch LW barrel ( again in 6,5x55 ) in heavy contour and had it fluted and threaded, before installation.
The stock was modified for the new barrel and then pillar-bedded.
I had the intention, to make a budget rifle for LR and i placed a Hawke Sidewinder 30 scope in Warne QD mounts on top of it and it works really well.
This group was shot at 300 meters and the ten ring is 100 mm
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