The Swede and the Savage?

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358 BLR

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And the quest continues.
My research into the 6.5x55 cartridge, particularly its case head dimensions, would seem to indicate that the 6.5x55 case will work with a standard Remington
bolt face occasionally, but mostly not. However, everything I've read to this point in time would seem to suggest that there is no such problem with Savage's
standard bolt face and the 6.5x55 cartridge, regardless who manufactures the case. I'm hoping someone familiar with the 6.5x55 and the Savage actions will
chime in and verify, or debunk, what I've been reading on the internet.

Thanks Guys/Gals.
 
My 12FV (in 22-250) bolt has a 0.485" recess in it, as measured by my cheapo calipers. A random selection of my Winchester 6.5x55 brass measures out around 0.471" and a selection of my PRVI 22-250 brass measures around 0.468". I doubt the extra 0.003" would make much difference as it sits now. At worst you would need to open the face of the bolt 0.008-0.010" to maintain the same clearances as for SAMMI spec 22-250 or any other nominal 0.473" base cartridge.

Make sure you use a long action, not a short one. The Swede likes to be loaded long with the heavier bullets and it will not perform as well if stuffed into a short action.

Mark
 
mmattockx said:
My 12FV (in 22-250) bolt has a 0.485" recess in it, as measured by my cheapo calipers. A random selection of my Winchester 6.5x55 brass measures out around 0.471" and a selection of my PRVI 22-250 brass measures around 0.468". I doubt the extra 0.003" would make much difference as it sits now. At worst you would need to open the face of the bolt 0.008-0.010" to maintain the same clearances as for SAMMI spec 22-250 or any other nominal 0.473" base cartridge.

Make sure you use a long action, not a short one. The Swede likes to be loaded long with the heavier bullets and it will not perform as well if stuffed into a short action.

Mark
Click to expand...
My Marlin's bolt face hand measures at about 0.477", while I've read that Lapua brass measured around 0.479" (0.480" being the SAMMI standard),
so 0.485" would do quite nicely. I'll be sure to bring my micrometer with me should I decide to buy one.;) Thanks Mark.
 
Get a Tikka make up 10 rounds on a gun you have never fired, just put the scope on and shoot this..that first 3 shot group is in the 2's
P1000174.jpg
 
358 BLR said:
OK, given Savages "Floating Bolt Head" design, if one chose to re-barrel a Savage with say a Shilen Select Match barrel, would truing the action still be required?
Click to expand...

Talk to Mysticplayer about Savages and what they need for work. I believe that the floating bolt head eliminates the need to true the action, but Jerry will know for sure. I know he can tune the lockwork to reduce lock time and smooth out the bolt lift (some rifles are good as they come, some are pretty rough).

Mark
 
I don't both touching the actions I use (and I have used a bunch) for my various builds and F class rigs. There has not been a need.

The Swede case will fit a standard Savage bolt head BUT the extractor might be a bit too long. This is a simple fix with a dremel to relieve the lip enough so it goes over the rim. But that means, that extractor will not work on a standard 308 head case.

If you are loading to 2.90 to 2.95", you can use the new center feed SA and it will work just fine. The mag internal length is a schnick under 3" so you want a bit of space to make sure you don't jam the tips.

They should stack the same as the 308 case.

Let me know if I can help with barrels, parts, accessories and tuning of this project rifle.

Jerry
 
mmattockx said:
Talk to Mysticplayer about Savages and what they need for work. I believe that the floating bolt head eliminates the need to true the action, but Jerry will know for sure. I know he can tune the lockwork to reduce lock time and smooth out the bolt lift (some rifles are good as they come, some are pretty rough).

Mark
Click to expand...

Appreciate the referal...:cheers:

Jerry
 
I've done a few in 6.5x55 on savage actions, never had to do anything to the bolt head. Extractor worked fine, no issues at all. Using one of Kiff's reamers for 140 grain bullets I could not seat them out to the lands on a short action and still use the mag.

I've done a bit of action truing on savages, just the bolt nut and the action faced off on a mandrel. Does it need it? Most likely not, doesn't hurt at all though and you will find some runout is there.
 
mysticplayer said:
I don't both touching the actions I use (and I have used a bunch) for my various builds and F class rigs. There has not been a need.

The Swede case will fit a standard Savage bolt head BUT the extractor might be a bit too long. This is a simple fix with a dremel to relieve the lip enough so it goes over the rim. But that means, that extractor will not work on a standard 308 head case.

If you are loading to 2.90 to 2.95", you can use the new center feed SA and it will work just fine. The mag internal length is a schnick under 3" so you want a bit of space to make sure you don't jam the tips.

They should stack the same as the 308 case.

Let me know if I can help with barrels, parts, accessories and tuning of this project rifle.

Jerry
Click to expand...
Thank's Jerry, you don't know how glad I am to hear that. If do decide to go the Savage Swede route, I think I'd leave it as a long action. There's no sense in
limiting my options where the loads are concerned and it would give it that little bit of an edge over the 260 Rem. About the only issue unresolved would be the
choice of stock. I imagine if I went with a barrel in a varmint contour, it would require a new stock. I'm thinking along the lines of a hunting/target rig where
most of the shooting will be off a bipod. Any suggestions would help.

Thanks, Rob
 
You have it backwards. Most Remington .473 bolt faces WILL work with the 6.5X55 cartridge. Some do not.

If you use non Lapua brass, i can almost guarantee you will never have a problem because most factory 6.5X55 ammo is made to NA standards. The excellent Lapua brass is true 6.5X55 SE

As noneck says.... just get a tikka and shoot it. Throw a match barrel on one and you'll have a hummer for sure.
 
Obtunded said:
You have it backwards. Most Remington .473 bolt faces WILL work with the 6.5X55 cartridge. Some do not.

If you use non Lapua brass, i can almost guarantee you will never have a problem because most factory 6.5X55 ammo is made to NA standards. The excellent Lapua brass is true 6.5X55 SE

As noneck says.... just get a tikka and shoot it. Throw a match barrel on one and you'll have a hummer for sure.
Click to expand...
Ya, well it would help if the %$&^%*&*&^*^&$%@#%@%&%(*&^%# manufacturers of the (^&%(*&*6 brass didn't keep it a #&%^&%$ secret, now wouldn't it.
 
358 BLR said:
Thank's Jerry, you don't know how glad I am to hear that. If do decide to go the Savage Swede route, I think I'd leave it as a long action. There's no sense in
limiting my options where the loads are concerned and it would give it that little bit of an edge over the 260 Rem. About the only issue unresolved would be the
choice of stock. I imagine if I went with a barrel in a varmint contour, it would require a new stock. I'm thinking along the lines of a hunting/target rig where
most of the shooting will be off a bipod. Any suggestions would help.

Thanks, Rob
Click to expand...

why not just start with a Factory Savage in a heavy barrel with a stock you like. that is the easiest and the most cost effective at this time. Stock options are limited and access is worse.

Depending on your budget, you could look at the most excellent Robertson products. Great stuff at a price.

From there, you can also modify the factory stock to a shape that suits your fancy. It is not hard to do if you are handy with wood working tools.

have a look at the loads you want to use and that near 3" OAL. I bet most anything you want to use will fit.

The reason I hesitate with the long action is that well,.... it is a long action and the mags are designed to feed a case much longer then the Swede.

So if you are going with a long action, why not just step up to the 6.5-06 and you have everything, ease of feeding, tons of case capacity, all the speed this cal and bullet wants, plenty of brass, etc, etc, etc.

Jerry
 
Wouldn't a 6.5-06 be harder on barrels then the 6.5x284? If I were to go with a short action, it might as well be the 260 Rem.
There are no long actions available in a heavy barrel that interest me. I don't want to get into forming brass, or set up a wood working
shop. Most importantly, I think the 6.5x55 is an excellent cartridge for what I'm looking to do. Should I decide to go ahead, I might build it
in the 6.5x55, or the 260 Rem, or maybe even the 280 Rem, or I might buy something off the rake. At this point I'm really just exploring the possibilities and learning as I go.
 
mysticplayer said:
have a look at the loads you want to use and that near 3" OAL. I bet most anything you want to use will fit.

The reason I hesitate with the long action is that well,.... it is a long action and the mags are designed to feed a case much longer then the Swede.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree with this. I am currently loading my 6.5x55 with 140gr SST's at 3.100" and am nowhere near the lands. I could easily go to 3.150" with these long bullets and have the full length of the neck engaged in the brass, but my mag limits me to the 3.100" length. That isn't very far off the standard long action cartridge length of 3.340".

I can't say how a Swede cartridge will feed in a long action mag, though. Having the shoulder that far back compared to a typical 30-06 sized cartridge may cause issues.

Mark
 
mmattockx said:
I have to disagree with this. I am currently loading my 6.5x55 with 140gr SST's at 3.100" and am nowhere near the lands. I could easily go to 3.150" with these long bullets and have the full length of the neck engaged in the brass, but my mag limits me to the 3.100" length. That isn't very far off the standard long action cartridge length of 3.340".

I can't say how a Swede cartridge will feed in a long action mag, though. Having the shoulder that far back compared to a typical 30-06 sized cartridge may cause issues.

Mark
Click to expand...
As far as I can tell, there is no perfect solution. I have not found one rifle manufacturer that lists the dimensions of the chamber, or magazines of their
products. Undoubtedly, there are CYA (Cover Your A$$) issues to be considered, but too often, it would seem, the magazine length is inadequate
for the chamber on the factory offerings. Once again it's probably a CYA thing. Being that the shoulder length of the 6.5x55 is less then 1/4 of an inch
behind that of a 30-06 (and the OAL is less then 0.2" behind), I think it would be a manageable discrepancy if one wants to take full advantage of
the 6.5x55's potential. Would putting a spacer in the back of the magazine cause problems, or is that something the manufacturers do all the time?
 
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