Savage 6.5x55 project - Updates in Post

[save2Acali]

After much thought and research I am looking at buying a savage 30-06 with accustock and accutrigger with the intentions of immediately rebarreling it with a pre-fit and down the road setting it in a nicer stock. i'm thinking 27 inch Shilen barrel sounds about right.

I am thinking this route just because it will get me shooting for a decent price and there is plenty of room for upgrades down the road. It will mostly be a target style but should end up being hunting weight so it will be an all around rifle.

Anything I need to know about this process? 6.5x55 should fit in 30-06 mags and use the same bolt face right? Anything else I may not be considering?

Thanks for any guidance,

***UPDATE: Did paperwork for rifle, ordering parts and barrel today.

*** Barrel, precision nut and lug are on the way. Things are all coming together!

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW YA

I went with the Criterion Varmint 26 inch. Pray for me!

[MongooseV8]

Good plan but id go with something other than a shilen.

[ElvenSoul]

6.5x55 is a little wider diameter than 06' cases.

A gun smith can easily true it up.

However a lot of American Made Ammo for 6.5x55 use the 06' as a parent case. Reloading or forming of those should work very well.

[ElvenSoul]

Why not just buy a Tikka or if you can get one. Browning sells 6.5x55 rifles in Europe. Every once in a blue moon some get relased in the USA.

[save2Acali]

Tikka and howa both have 6.5 swedes but i like the ability to quickly and cheaply change barrels and parts by myself.

[save2Acali]

Whats wrong with Shilen

[Horrendo Revolver]

6.5x55 is a little wider diameter than 06' cases.

A gun smith can easily true it up.

However a lot of American Made Ammo for 6.5x55 use the 06' as a parent case. Reloading or forming of those should work very well.

True.

[MongooseV8]

Shilen doesnt have the same quality control they used to. Call Jim at Northland Shooter Supply and order a Critereon prefit along with a precision ground recoil lug and barrel nut. He also has a really nice barrel nut wrench if you dont already have one.
Pac-Nor and McGowen are also great options for prefit savage barrels.

[Sutcliffe]

Not sure if your goals are clearly thought out

Target rifles need heavy barrels and target stocks are designed around bench shooting.

I really don't think this will make a rifle you want to carry while deer hunting. A good deer rifle makes a poor target rifle and vice versa.
Don't try to do dissimilar activities with one rifle.

Not saying that you can't or shouldn't do it. Just keep that in mind.
The beauty of the Savage is you can swap barrels and stock between them easily enough so you could do both functions with the same action, but maybe different barrels and stocks.

[save2Acali]

Shilen doesnt have the same quality control they used to. Call Jim at Northland Shooter Supply and order a Critereon prefit along with a precision ground recoil lug and barrel nut. He also has a really nice barrel nut wrench if you dont already have one.
Pac-Nor and McGowen are also great options for prefit savage barrels.

Thanks for the heads up. I was looking at Criterion before but Shilen has the name and the legacy. Things change I have no problem going that route.

So I need the barrel, recoil lug, nut, go/no go gauges and savage wrench? I have a couple armorers wrenches but for some reason I dont think any of them have the savage attachment I'll check. But otherwise That's it?

Target rifles need heavy barrels and target stocks are designed around bench shooting.

I really don't think this will make a rifle you want to carry while deer hunting. A good deer rifle makes a poor target rifle and vice versa.
Don't try to do dissimilar activities with one rifle.

Not saying that you can't or shouldn't do it. Just keep that in mind.
The beauty of the Savage is you can swap barrels and stock between them easily enough so you could do both functions with the same action, but maybe different barrels and stocks.

Great advice. I was going to do a 27 inch Varmint barrel though so it won't be TERRIBLY heavy.

Action - 2.5lbs
Barrel - 4.75lbs
Stock - 2.65lbs
So 10lbs before mount, rings and scope...

I guess that is a little high lol i didnt realize how heavy the barrel is. I am used to looking at 20 inchers. That 7 inches really adds up (that's what she said)

Also I do have a 6.5x55 deer rifle already thats how i fell in love with this caliber in the first place

[Sutcliffe]

The caliber is a beauty

It's perfect for target or hunting. It's accurate because it's easy to shoot well(probably the mild recoil).
I have a 6.5 Swede project in my future. Just need to find the time.

If you have the freedom, could you do a photo collage of your work as it progresses?

[Danodog]

Don't forget the Howa Barreled actions in 6.5 Swede. This is how I got started with my build 6.5 x 55 build.

[save2Acali]

Dano thats what i have right now. I just csnt justify spending $600+ to rebarrel it one time to get what i want

[Flouncer]

6.5x55 is a little wider diameter than 06' cases.

A gun smith can easily true it up.

However a lot of American Made Ammo for 6.5x55 use the 06' as a parent case. Reloading or forming of those should work very well.

Never been a problem. Show me a blown case or primer, even a stretched case. Internet **** keeps spreading.

[Varg Vikernes]

Also I do have a 6.5x55 deer rifle already thats how i fell in love with this caliber in the first place

Just keep both rifles seperate then. The Savage for bench work, and the other one for hunting.