Tikka t3 6.5x55 to 6.5'06 ai rechambering.

[unstableryan]

Hello,
I like to buy myself a new gun for my birthday every year but now that I have like 30 of them, I can't think of something missing other than a 30-30 or .357 lever.
Instead of buying a new gun I'd like to find someone that can rechamber my tikka t3 6.5x55 swede to 6.5'06 AI. I love the Swede but I want a bit more power and I dont like loading hot, so I can always load warm with a bigger one.

 

[Neilm]

The 6.5 x 55 is larger at the base than the 06 case and I would not do it for that reason. If you want a little more I would do a 6.5x55 AI and I believe the 6.5x284 is doable.
Neil

 

[guntech]

I would opt for a slight barrel set back and the 6.5x55 (BJ) Ackley Improved... The die set would cost about the same as the 6.5-06 Imp and you already have the brass...

I have a good reamer for that... I would also sell that reamer if some one wants it...

 

[Buckmastr]

Measure a fired case of your 6.5x55. It is specd larger in the base than the 06 family of cases but often times the modern 6.5x55 chamber isn't larger.

 

[dero338]

I am in a similar situation, and for now lots of stuff have set back my plans but I would rebarrel and keep the original as a back up
if I spend time on a barrel, I want a new one that does not spent half of its life already

 

[Slimbo]

Hog that thing out to 6.5 weatherby RPM!

 

[bearhunter]

OP, don't let me dissuade you from trying something new. That's where the fun is.

However, there are some very serious loads out there that will easily give you 2800+ fps, with 140 grain bullets out of your Tikka, SAFELY.

These loads aren't safe for weaker actions such as surplus M94/96/38 Swede Mausers or different Krag rifles.

The Europeans have been using these hot loads for years. They also do it with the venerable 7x57 and 6.5x57, in STRONG MODERN BOLT ACTION RIFLES.

In Europe, the shooter is expected to know the difference in the strengths of their rifles.

guntech is right that the PO Ackley improvement would be your cheapest bet.

Now, something else to consider. Just how much performance do you expect to gain from this conversion???? From personal experience, you might gain 50fps with the Ackley Improved case if only the chamber is reamed and the original barrel retained. The 6.5-06 (a favorite of mine) also doesn't give you anything the 270 Winchester gives you at recommended pressures.

When you start calculating how much powder increase you need to get a very little gain in velocity it can quickly become a futile effort.

Still, if you just want to play and have an unusual cartridge, go for it.

 

[unstableryan]

I want something a little odder... So it's now stripped down and I'm looking for packing materials.

 

[remington jim]

Hog that thing out to 6.5 weatherby RPM!

I was gonna do that with my Tikka T3 BUT the mag is NOT long enought to seat Berger 156 gr bullets out where they need to be and also the tikka only has a 22.4 " barrel so i am looking for a Kimber 84L to build my RPM on . Brno284 is rechambering my 6.5 Swede to a AI . I got a die set from Clay at Prophet. RJ

 

[Andy]

A better way to go is to rechamber to 6.5-284.

 

[remington jim]

A better way to go is to rechamber to 6.5-284.

Not Much diff between a 6.5 x 55 Swede AI 40 DGree and a 6.5 -284 Norma ! RJ

 

[Fisherguy55]

I was gonna do that with my Tikka T3 BUT the mag is NOT long enought to seat Berger 156 gr bullets out where they need to be and also the tikka only has a 22.4 " barrel so i am looking for a Kimber 84L to build my RPM on . Brno284 is rechambering my 6.5 Swede to a AI . I got a die set from Clay at Prophet. RJ

Tikka has had a 24" barrel option on 6.5creedmoor lite ss models for a year or two now. Ive got an eye out still as I want to punch one out to the Norma, but when I brought it up many balked. To be fair, Berger's factory loaded 156 eol in the creedmoor lists 2680fps muzzle

 

[HeliMD]

I was gonna do that with my Tikka T3 BUT the mag is NOT long enought to seat Berger 156 gr bullets out where they need to be and also the tikka only has a 22.4 " barrel so i am looking for a Kimber 84L to build my RPM on . Brno284 is rechambering my 6.5 Swede to a AI . I got a die set from Clay at Prophet. RJ

Easy fix for A tika just us a bolt stop from a 30-06 along with the magazine from a 30-06. Then you have lots of room in the magazine and action. I had a 308 I did that too I had more than enough room for 185 gn Bergers in the mag . They are all the same if you go to your LGS and look at the mags side by side the short action mag just has a stop molded into it to stop the rounds from sliding back.