Rechamber 6.5 x 55 SE

[harry.hacking@kiewit.com]

I have a 6.5x55 SE that I have shot for a while so what do you do with a gun when you haven't shot it for a while you build a new one. I was thinking of rechambering to a 6.5 x 284 norma. Can this be done? I looked at the diagrams of the two and I should be cutting a new chamber. I will be using this gun as a long range hunting rig for mule deer I am not too worried about barrel life so thats not an issue. Any other advice on the 6.5x284 would be greatly appreciated, like where can I find 284 win brass?

thanks,

 

[Preacher]

No reason at all it can't be done... Keep checking all the suppliers that advertise on this forum and you'll eventually find some .284 Winchester brass for your project...
If when you have the chamber cut and still no brass for it I might be talked into parting with a new bag of 50......

 

[Kenny474]

I have found .284 brass in several places, like Midway and such. I believe Winchester only does a seasonal run, so you had better buy plenty when you find it. Or you can use Lapua 6.5-284 brass, though it does cost a bit more.

 

[harry.hacking@kiewit.com]

Thanks for the response guys. I still have some time before I will be ready to fire so I will keep looking for that seasonal run of 284 win brass to come around. I know the lapua brass is great stuff but I don't know yet if I will like the 6.5x284 enough to justify buying it, and then if my barrel only last 400 rounds I don't want to have bunch of 4x fired lapua brass on the shelf. I guess I could always sell it. Thanks again guys.

 

[Kenny474]

6.5-284 brass doesn't last very long anyway, maybe 5-8 firings depending on how hot you load them. Just something to think about.

 

[watercam]

I have been using Norma factory brass and getting ten to twelve firings of max loads no problem. Bit cheaper than Lapua and ready to go. Hornady has factory 6.5/284 brass as well.

 

[acloco]

Might I suggest you rechamber to 6.5x55 AI? Plenty of GOOD brass available.

 

[harry.hacking@kiewit.com]

I did put some thought into that alternative. Some of the disadvantages were that I would have to remove the barrel and set it back in order to get a good crush to fit chamber. The other negative was the cost of the dies, and lets not forget fireforming. In my research I felt like the 6.5x284 really fit the niche that I was looking to fill with this rifle.

Thanks,

 

[cfvickers]

I have a husquvarna Crown grade that was rechambered from 6.5x55 to 6.5-284 and it worked great. That is one of the more accurate rifles that I have. Great for hunting and target shooting. the 23 inch tube doesn't really allow me to maximize the velocity but my velocities are good none the less I can still get right at 3,000 fps from it with relative ease and not pushing the pressures. The chamber was re-cut by Shane Elder at Elder Custom Rifles in Carlisle Arkansas. I think he is on here but not sure of his user name.

 

[Tikkatoy]

Go AI as mentioned if you just have to "improve". Your brass won't stretch as much and the extra velocity might matter occaisonally if you get really competitive. 6.5 - 284 costs a lot more to feed and burns out much faster.

 

[tbeasley]

Lapua brass will last you up to 10 firings. Yea reannealing will help with the ES, but for a hunting rifle it's plenty good. My 6.5-284 is going on 900 rounds and still groups 3/4 at 400yds (bench-gun). As for ur gun lasting 400 rounds later, well you only know the shape of the current barrel and how often it was shot. I would suspect that even 800 rounds later, the barrel is gonna shoot way better than any factory and still shoot minute of Deer or Elk. There is so much load data out there for this caliber too.
6.5-284 is what I'm gonna barrel up next for my hunting rig.