re barrel a 243 in 6.5x55 ,opinions/experience

[rem700]

Hi all

bit of a long story,i bought my first stalking rifle 8years ago secondhand [remi 700 sendero heavy barrel 243] WITH A LONG ACTION

and have now got all the kit [not components] to start reloading. i checked with remington about age of it and they said when it left there factory in 1996 IT WAS A 25.06 HENCE THE LONG ACTION ,so i went to see Neil Mckilop to check the head space before i started reloading in case the 243 barrel had not been fitted right ,he said the head space was out BUT my barrel is more or less had it

and doent recomend a 243 on a long action ,i can see his point SO MY OPTIONS

 

re barrel 243 on a long action ?

re barrel in 6.5x55 ?

sell 243 as project and buy another rifle ?

 

i only use this rifle for muntjac ,roe and the odd fallow and the odd fox if i see one while out stalking [when ime lamping i use my 22.250]

ive done some oline research on the 6.5x55 and it does seem to cover what i want [advice on recoil,meat damage and accuracy please compared to the 243 ] with my 243 i take head shots out to 80/100yds and never take a shot more than 200yds i used winchester silvertips 95g and meat damage is ok but they are now £43 for 20 at my local shops

thanks for your time looking forward to what youve got to say

rem700

[Ronin]

You could make a 6.5x55 out of it as although the case head is slightly larger at .480" (SAAMI spec) but most factory ammo ive seen measures at .476" to .479" - You will probably find the bolt face is around .480" anyway and will accept the "55" brass anyway.

 

 

What to make...

 

The Swedish Mauser has accounted for millions of deer (and humans) in its life and is an excellent choice for any species.

 

You could make 25-06 - which is probably what the Sendero started out as - excellent cartridge but hard on smaller species - I had one for years then started having issues on Reds and meat damage, so it went..

 

30-06 is another good choice

 

6.5x284 another - this is what I use mainly for my own stalking and with monolith bullets meat damage is minimal if non existent.

 

If your staying close and want a smooth shooting accurate caliber then the Swede would be high on my list.

 

My own choice would be a 284 variant...the 7x57 or .275 Rigby

[MJR]

I use a swede (sauer 202)for most of my deer stalking and find it excellent. I use Hornady 129 sst reloads in it. I have no idea what velocity it makes as I've never chronyd the load but it is very accurate and I find it excellent. It also likes the 140 gn weight of bullet and is throated suitably long to accomadate them. I have shot the round at different ranges and know my drops for the ranges I shoot at. I don't find carcass damage problems and i find it less than .243 but as always shot placement is key. I don't think you'd be disappointed with the swede its a solid, reliable round.

[gbal]

Hi all

bit of a long story,i bought my first stalking rifle 8years ago secondhand [remi 700 sendero heavy barrel 243] WITH A LONG ACTION

and have now got all the kit [not components] to start reloading. i checked with remington about age of it and they said when it left there factory in 1996 IT WAS A 25.06 HENCE THE LONG ACTION ,so i went to see Neil Mckilop to check the head space before i started reloading in case the 243 barrel had not been fitted right ,he said the head space was out BUT my barrel is more or less had it

and doent recomend a 243 on a long action ,i can see his point SO MY OPTIONS

 

re barrel 243 on a long action ?

re barrel in 6.5x55 ?

sell 243 as project and buy another rifle ?

 

i only use this rifle for muntjac ,roe and the odd fallow and the odd fox if i see one while out stalking [when ime lamping i use my 22.250]

ive done some oline research on the 6.5x55 and it does seem to cover what i want [advice on recoil,meat damage and accuracy please compared to the 243 ] with my 243 i take head shots out to 80/100yds and never take a shot more than 200yds i used winchester silvertips 95g and meat damage is ok but they are now £43 for 20 at my local shops

thanks for your time looking forward to what youve got to say

rem700

 

For what you are shooting,243 is more than adequate and has less recoil,especially moderated.And well done on the 200 yard limit-you don't need an expensive (heavy) custom made and exotically chambered rifle.There isn't really a lot of difference in factory ammunition casts between calibres,so cost should not be a consideration,but 243 eg will be competitive anyhow.That's why it is so popular.Don't be seduced by the fancy stuff for your stated use-by all means get some exotica as well, later on if you want the potential for 1/2 inch groups at 300 yards)-I'd be looking at whether you carry the rifle much and such actual 'your use' considerations-you don't need eg heavy or long barrel!

Don't buy until you try,if possible-plenty second hand stalking rifles won't cost very much-and you need not feel inferior with a rem 7 or 700,or TikkaT3,or cz /brno etc etc- check too the detail-a detachable box mag short carbine in a 4x4 cab can be far more useable than a prestige name on a heavy long barrel overkill stick,and is just fine off the bonnet too,or especially,carried!

Sorry there isn't a direct answer as to what to do-the sendero would be a reasonable donor for s decent long range rig etc-but it doesn't sound like the place to start for your current uses.

Ask yourself objectively,just what you need here-I'd be thinking of less than £1k for the complete packge ( new rifle,scope,mod and 100 cartridges), a lot less for good used but suitable kit.

george

[rem700]

90% off the shots i take are off sticks ,very rarely will i use a bipod and the rest are from high seats i must admit with my current set up 23in heavy barrel [7/8ths of an inch thick at mod end] pluss a T8 overall barrel lenth [27 1/2 in] it does tend to want to slip back over my sholder all the time ,so any advice on barrel thength 243 and 6.5x55 would also be good

Thanks all for your replys

KEEP EM COOMING

THANKS AGAIN

REM700

[rabbit fingers]

i must admit with my current set up 23in heavy barrel [7/8ths of an inch thick at mod end] pluss a T8 overall barrel lenth [27 1/2 in] it does tend to want to slip back over my sholder all the time

I found that even a 20" barrel with a mod will tip back when slug over the shoulder One way to stop the problem is fit sling swivels on the side of the stock instead of the bottom. The rifle will sit flat against your back regardless how long or heavy the barrel. Alternatively you could carry it muzzle down if rifle is short enough and you're tall enough. being a short arse even a 20" barrel was too the close to the ground for me.

[Ronin]

Simple answer is dont use a mod,,,,

[jcampbellsmith]

 

re barrel 243 on a long action ?

re barrel in 6.5x55 ?

sell 243 as project and buy another rifle ?

 

Re-barrel it as a 260 Rem, would be my biased choice. The long action will allow you to fully exploit the heavier and longer 6.5 mm bullets. I've had a Wyatt's Box fitted on the attached rifle to allow me to load rounds up to 3 inches long.

http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/gallery/member-galleries/p2948-remington-700-sa-in-260-rem.html

Good luck. JCS

[tackb]

Re-barrel it as a 260 Rem, would be my biased choice. The long action will allow you to fully exploit the heavier and longer 6.5 mm bullets. I've had a Wyatt's Box fitted on the attached rifle to allow me to load rounds up to 3 inches long.

http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/gallery/member-galleries/p2948-remington-700-sa-in-260-rem.html

Good luck. JCS

 

Plus 1

[tony]

I have been using the 6.5x55 for years now and find it an excellent calibre, its great for any species of deer and this is what I mainly use it for, I have also used it many times when out lamping for foxes to good effect, its a lovely calibre and you would not be disappointed with its performance.

 

Good luck on your choice,

 

Tony.

[rem700]

I have been using the 6.5x55 for years now and find it an excellent calibre, its great for any species of deer and this is what I mainly use it for, I have also used it many times when out lamping for foxes to good effect, its a lovely calibre and you would not be disappointed with its performance.

 

Good luck on your choice,

 

Tony.

thanks Tony i am leaning more towards the sweede

[MJR]

Ha, all this talk of the 260 makes me smile. Take a look in the Berger Bulllets reloading manual and you will see their data for both the 260 and the swede. They used 24" test barrels for both so a fairly like for like comparison and low and behold there are virtually identical in performance.

The swede is seen as old fashioned where as the 260 is the new kid on the block even though it was a wild cat ( necked down 308) years before Remington decided to commercialise it.

[rabbit fingers]

Ha, all this talk of the 260 makes me smile. Take a look in the Berger Bulllets reloading manual and you will see their data for both the 260 and the swede. They used 24" test barrels for both so a fairly like for like comparison and low and behold there are virtually identical in performance.

The swede is seen as old fashioned where as the 260 is the new kid on the block even though it was a wild cat ( necked down 308) years before Remington decided to commercialise it.

+1 the swede has been handcaped by all the anemic load data out there in deference to the weak mauser actions. loaded to a decent pressure in a modern action its a great cartridge. imo its only real drawbacks are the odd bolt face size ( not a huge problem) and the need for a long action( in this case an advantage)

[Christian]

Hi Rem700

 

I can't comment on the technical side of the conversion, but will say +1 for the Swede.

 

I've used it on the same species as you, plus red, with great success for the past 15 years or so. I don't think it does a much better job than any other medium size cartridge, but it's pleasant to shoot and works well for this game and the mentioned ranges. It's not a bad choice when you have a long action.

 

I don't have any experience with .243, but know that a lot of game is successfully taken with the calibre here in the UK. Personally I would prefer something with a little more power for fallow. A 6.5x55 would be that little more power and with an insignificant recoil penalty.

 

My 6.5x55 has a 22" barrel which is a fine length with a moderator. It's obviously even handier when I use it without moderator. I think you could easily go an inch or two shorter without any major impact on muzzle velocity.

 

In the right rifle I think the Swede can be made to shoot very accurately. Not that you necessarily needs it in a stalking rifle, but it gives confidence in your gun.

 

Hope that helps and good luck with the project.

 

 

Regards,

 

Christian

[rem700]

Hi Rem700

 

I can't comment on the technical side of the conversion, but will say +1 for the Swede.

 

I've used it on the same species as you, plus red, with great success for the past 15 years or so. I don't think it does a much better job than any other medium size cartridge, but it's pleasant to shoot and works well for this game and the mentioned ranges. It's not a bad choice when you have a long action.

 

I don't have any experience with .243, but know that a lot of game is successfully taken with the calibre here in the UK. Personally I would prefer something with a little more power for fallow. A 6.5x55 would be that little more power and with an insignificant recoil penalty.

 

My 6.5x55 has a 22" barrel which is a fine length with a moderator. It's obviously even handier when I use it without moderator. I think you could easily go an inch or two shorter without any major impact on muzzle velocity.

 

In the right rifle I think the Swede can be made to shoot very accurately. Not that you necessarily needs it in a stalking rifle, but it gives confidence in your gun.

 

Hope that helps and good luck with the project.

 

 

Regards,

 

Christian

Thanks Christian ,sounds like it ticks all the boxes [meat damage ,accuracy ,and pleasant to shoot.

[Andrew]

I rebarreled my commercial FN Mauser from 30-06 to 6.5x55. The bolt face was fine but the extractor needed trimming for European brass. US domestic brass all fit fine. The rifle is a real pleasure. Remarkably accurate with several bullets and powders.

 

Four deer with four shots in four weeks. That's it for me. All my tags are filled...as well as my freezer!~Andrew

[rem700]

Thanks all for your info

6.5 barrel on order

here we go