Rebarreling question, 6.5x55 or 65.x47 lapua

[w123driver]

Hello folks,

Newbie hunter and first time poster here, so forgive my ignorance. I am sort of fascinated by 6.5mm caliber. Partially from what I read, and my own experience. I have two M95 Chileano mausers in 7x57, and i want to re-barrel one in 6.5mm for long range deer hunt,I have another Chileano in 7x57 carbine, with 18.5" barrel and it is great gun to carry in brush). This season I hunted with two friends,both are long range bench rest shooters and big time 6.5x47Lapua fans) from a benchrest on a hill top overlooking cornfield. The deer were coming from a brush opposite to our bench and would conveniently stop to allow us for clean shoot. The distance was approx. 500 yards. The 6.5x47 with hornady Amax did wonders. In fact one of my friends also has 22-6.5x47 he uses on ground hogs and deer as well with 75gr Hornadys. So going back to my question, I was initially considering to re barrel my M95 with 6.5x55 Swede; I have a lilja blank that i bought couple of years ago. But now I am thinking of 6.5x47. My concern is whether the gun with handle the high pressure of 6.5x47? Or should I stick to the original plan and chamber it in 6.5x55? Will it be able to handle 500+ yard shoots?. Thank you

 

[2506]

Your 95 Mauser action will not handle the higher presser rounds. I would go with the 6.5X55 Swede round and make the barrel on your rifle as long as you can. I have a sporter 96 Swede Mauser in 6.5X55 with the 29 inch barrel left on it. With safe, under 45,000 cup loads of 46 grs AA 4350 with a 120 Nosler ballistic tip I get 3000 fps, and with 45 grs AA 4350 and 140 Sierra or Hornadys I get 2850 fps with great accuracy. Your 95 Mauser action will do for a hunting rifle but it is not an action for a real tight shooter. It has a lock time that you measure with a calendar, sloooooow. You can speed things up a bit with a new light firing pin and stronger spring. If it was me I would find me a used Savage 110 someplace and have that barrel put on it in 6.5-06 and have a real longrange deer smoker. I just picked up a Rem. 700 with a Shilen 27 3/4" barrel in 264 Win mag. for some long range deer smoking.

 

[Obtunded]

The Swede is truly an an unsung hero. That amazing cartridge will do everything extremely well, including 1000M F-Class shooting and hunting any North American Game. Lapua brass is available and of course, the components are second to none in 6.5. I have always wondered why Americans have never flocked to that cartridge more; it is popular here in Canada and in Europe. Swedish Meatballs, jets, cars and cartridges... they have always made them well had their small but utterly devoted following

Just be aware that the cartridge base is a hair larger than the standard 308 bolt face and if you are using a BR type action,obviously you aren't and I am certain this won't affect you) the brass will often be too snug to eject properly. I've seen Remington actions that were snug,XP100) and those that weren't,M700).