6.5x55 is Here!!

[quickdtoo]

I finally got the 6.5x55 back from Wayne, he couldn't weld the underlug on, just too much work making a jig to align it, so he stubbed it and a fine job he did! The Shilen match barrel is 26¼" long, with an almost impercepible mating of the two pieces, I'm real happy with his work even tho it took 15 months. He said it would have been less, but he put it in a drawer and forgot about it, he told me it would be a back burner project, but if I had called and asked about it, he would have had it done much sooner!!

Tim

[krod47nw]

Very nice Tim.   If you don't mind me asking, can you tell us what the final cost was to get it done?  Does this mean that he will now do stub jobs, or was this a one time thing?

Kevin

[quickdtoo]

He spent more time on mine cuz it was the first he had done, but said he'd charge $300 for future work with a donor stub supplied by the customer and blank cost on top of that. He may reduce the cost once he refines his techniques, but that's what it would be for now anyway.

Tim

[krod47nw]

Sounds like a fair price to me.
I see you recycled the 300 WSM project barrel for yours.

[quickdtoo]

Yeah, it was worth the $17 I paid for it!!

Tim

[kgarner]

I'm jealous.

[Fred M]

Tim
That ought to make a fine shooter 6.5x55 is a fine caliber. I had thought about that caliber for my 6.5 Ruger#1 but like some others it would not clean up the 243 chamber. So I am getting it chambered to 6.5x284. It too has a a 26" octagon barrel.

Just got 50 empty Lapua cases at a $1.20 a piece. I would have rather had the 6.5-06 but this too would not clean up.

I am wondering why the 6.5x284 is rated below 60ksi and the 6.5-06 is rated at 63+ksi. Both have nearly the same H20 and the
284 case is a stronger case.

Don't know of any one making a commercial rifle for this 6.5x284
caliber, only custom rifles?  I am not worried, because the #1 can handle any pressure of all commercial cartridges including all the big Wby numbers.

[dk17hmr]

Fred,
Savage makes a 6.5x284, called a F-Class, 30" barrel single shot bolt action.

6.5x55 would be a good one to have in a Handi, should make a fine varmint/deer rifle.

[quickdtoo]

Fred,

I was gonna do a 260 Remington, considered the 6.5-284 too, but with it's .500" case head, figured it would be too much for the SB2 frame, so settled on the 6.5 Swede, a bit more capable than the 260 in a little longer case which is a moot point in a single shot. I'm still considering having it improved, I talked with Wayne about it, he said he could ream my sizing die so I wouldn't have to spend $90+ for the die.  I have a box of Lapua brass to load up with Lapua 139gr Sliver Scenars with a BC of .615, the 1:8" barrel should do well!

Tim

[Singleshotsam]

Sweet! Looks good Tim!

[dw06]

Very nice, bet you can't wait to work up loads for it. What ya got planned to try in it?

[quickdtoo]

Lapua 139gr Silver Scenars over a case full of H4350 or Supreme 780 should be good for about 2800-2900fps for fun, and the same with the Hornady 129gr Interlock at about 3000-3100fps for hunting, these are preliminary QuickLoad predictions using default case capacity and a pressure limit of 62kpsi which is higher than the SAAMI limit, I won't know for sure until I get a fired case to measure, but that's what I'll be working on.

Tim

[PHATINJUN]

Tim congrats!!!! Your patience is admirable and the last person you want to push is your smith who's got your gun. I really like the blend of the pieces very nice work and now that he is doing stubs I will have to keep my eyes open for likley canidates. Thanks for the report can't wait for the range report. Kurt