Excess headspace...and then there's this!
- Thread starter Irons78
- Start date
Did some research, the case head on the 6.5 x 55 is aproximately 1/100 inch bigger than the '06. The 6.5 A-Square (6.5 - 06) is about .3" longer.
No commertial ammo available; A-Square is defunct. The bolt would work, but be a tad sloppy with the 06 case.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I had read that some combinations "lodge" on the body tapers - I read that 7.62 NATO lodges in a 30-06 chamber - headspace is totally irrelevant in that case - the case is "held" for the firing pin to strike that primer and set off the charge - some have said that the external extractor on various rifles (like Mauser 98) can do the same thing - hold the cartridge enough for the firing pin to strike the primer and set it off. Versus examples like 280 Rem - it will NOT chamber into a 30-06 chamber because the "headspace" dimension is different, but some will run a 30-06 case into a 280 Rem die and claim that to be their 280 Rem. In the past, I had a notion to re-chamber a 7x57 into 280 Rem - except 280 Rem chamber reamer will NOT clean up the very rear of the 7x57 chamber - even though the barrels (bores) can be the same internal size. I suspect that is what the OP has - someone has reamed an original 6.5x55 rifle to accept a larger 6.5 cartridge, and has NOT re-marked that barrel with the "new" chambering. Chances are good that bolt face is still properly sized for 6.5x55 which is a bit larger than 30-06, but likely "works".
- Location
- Western Manitoba
To clarify my last post - based on some emails that I received about it - yes, the bore would have to also be reamed out and re-rifled if that was to take a 30-06 round - however, OP stated it was "definitely" a 6.5 mm bore - so NOT reamed out - however, a "wildcat" chamber can/was easily made by necking down 30-06 cases - (plentiful and cheap) to accept 6.5 mm bullets - that then required a chamber reamer to elongate the chamber - no doubt variations existed about whether the result was neck turned or not - could stay with "thick neck" or go with "thin neck" when chamber reamer was ground. Then submitted to SAAMI, which would likely have played with headspace dimensions to ensure the result would NOT UNSAFELY fire in another cartridge's chamber - I think A-Square may have submitted the previous "wildcat" 6.5-06 to SAAMI for approval.
right. Plus a quick visual clue = 6.5/284 has a rebated rim. Not sure where anyone could find 'similar numbers'
this post just keep getting stranger
That really makes me think the 6.5-06 idea is correct.
Or even 30-06. OP is certain it's a 6.5cal bore but I'm still skeptical.
So far the OP didn't manage to post a pics of the rifle, or the muzzle with a bullet inserted for size comparison.
Strange
It does not matter if it’s matching. As many have pointed out..this rifle was rechambered for another 6.5 caliber. Whatever did it - was not a pro - or it will be marked properly.
A chamber cast will give the answer for who want the gun. As it is - it does not mean it is a dud..it can be a good gun when proper ammo will be used.
Is is clear to me the poster dies not know about what excess headspace is…
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You guys are all wrong. This is clearly an unmarked re-chamber to the experimental 6.5-06 Urkley Expanded Non-Improved. It's a wildcat that utilizes a "reverse-gain-bore" design, where the bore starts out at .308-diameter at the chamber and then gradually reduces to 6.5mm at the muzzle. The idea was to allow the buyer to decide what diameter of bullets he wanted to use, and then cut the barrel back to the point where the muzzle was at that bore size. Way ahead of its time...in both design and "subtility"...
Gotta love fire-forming.
New Camper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lurking in the woods near SFRC.
The head/rim of the 6.5x55 is .480" diameter while the 30-06 etc. is .470": in such a short distance that ~.007-.100" deviation would just bind in the chamber effectively "headspacing" on that friction with the head tight against the bolt face. It would fire and eject pretty well, resulting in the useless fireformed cases OP has.
I don't know how anyone can eject that, after seeing what was put in and concluding all was normal: I'd call it deceitful to that extent, even though the seller was also very ignorant in general gun knowledge. Back in the post war era, reaming out 6.5x55 to 6.5-06 was a very common thing done with surplus rifles: the european brass was not common in NA, but 30-06 brass was everywhere and neck sizing brass was a cheap way to get some decent hunting rifles out of otherwise unusable surplus.
On my last jobsite in Ontario, I got into a spirited discussion with a lunch room expert who was explaining to a new shooter that he should buy a .30-06 instead of a .308...because the larger chamber of the '06 would allow him to still use the shorter .308 ammo in it, and even 7.62x39 if he got a really good deal on that.
I innocently asked him why he wouldn't simply recommend a .300WinMag for even greater versatility. He snorted and archly informed me that the WM was a belted magnum, which prevented his interchangeable-ammo idea from including it.
Nowadays...nothing surprises me...
Could you pass my name to the seller, please? I might be interested.
I have a Husqvarna M-38 that I got at a gun show, that after firing it, I had brass similar to that shown in the photo. My shooting buddy and I figured that someone was playing "midnight" gunsmith and tried messing with the chamber. I solved the problem by buying a brand new barrel from Tradex when they were still in business. Took it to Gunco for the barrel swap and I now have an excellent 6.5x55. Still haven't figured out what they previous owner was trying to accomplish.Bought a used rifle recently. Asked my usual 36 questions, all seemed good. Seller had fired the rifle, reported no issues. Seller included some 1xf brass.
Got the rifle and saw the 1xf brass and...yeah. Glad I asked for the brass, otherwise I'd have taken it out for a test shoot and been unpleasantly surprised (or worse). The rifle is going back to the original owner. Be careful gunnies, you never know what you're going to get.
Anyone want to take a guess at what the h-e-double hockey sticks happened here? The case on left is new, case on right is 1xf in this rifle. Looks like someone was trying to change calibres and said "eff it" halfway through reaming. Every brass case was blown out like this one, and all had multiple cracks around the mouth and shoulder area. Yikes!
