Custom model 70

[ldg397]

I am finally going to do it and put together a custom rifle. Every time I save the money I end up taking another rifle home instead. Not this time I am going to see it through.

I have an fn stainless featherweight in 270 that I am going to use as a donor. I am really looking for my dedicated deer rifle and possibly a rifle that could be shot easily by my daughter when she gets a little older. I think I have settled on 6.5x55 since I have the long action. I looked at the 6.5x284 and 6.5-06 but I think if I need that much juice I might as well go to one of my 30's. I really like the idea of having the extra room to seat the bullets out the only down fall in my opinion of the short action 6.5's.

I was thinking of trying a kreiger 23" with the new 5r rifling they are offering in maybe an 8.5 twist?? My preference is for the 120 to 140 grains in this caliber. I think I might make the short drive down to hill country rifles to get them to put it together for me. However I would be driving by shilen on the way and could stop there as well.

Any thoughts

 

[gerry]

Sounds like a great build, the small 6.5's are really good cartridges. The 129 gr Hornady Spire point is one of my favorites but there are a lot of good bullets in the 120-140 gr range for you to try. Make sure you post some pictures

 

[Reconnoiter]

Why would you go Swede on a long action? Why a Swede on any platform? A Winny short action will grant 3"+ COAL and you can more than have your way with all the bullets you've thus far mentioned. With the 260 you net a .135" shorter hull and only give up a grain or two of case capacity,with excellent sources of brass being readily available and for less money.

No reason to go long action.

23" will do it and 8.5" will allow opportunity.

 

[nvbroncrider]

If you don't go a long action you handcuff yourself. No different that a Roberts on a short action. Any of those 6.5 will work. You can always load that 6.5-284 down a touch. If your set on the 6.5X55 nosler.com has brass on sale right now. I don't think you can go wrong with any of those.

 

[Reconnoiter]

If you don't go a long action you handcuff yourself. No different that a Roberts on a short action. Any of those 6.5 will work. You can always load that 6.5-284 down a touch. If your set on the 6.5X55 nosler.com has brass on sale right now. I don't think you can go wrong with any of those.

Please feel free to cite which bullets are precluded in the fray,given a 3" COAL and a 2.65" case length? Hardly a daunting feat to throat in accords,sling nice BC's and do it all.

MUCH difference between say as 2.8" short action and one 3"+. I'm no 7x57 Mauser fan in any form,including 257 and 6mm and would greedily take a 7-08AI or 284Win over the Mouser in .284,the 25-284 in .257" and the 243AI in .243". The Swede does yield a .070" case length advantage over the Mouser spawn and there's but .005" difference between the Swede and the 284Win.

Just sayin'.

 

[ldg397]

No reason to go long action.

Other than that is what I have?

I want a 6.5 with flexibility and longer barrel life. 6.5x55 loaded to proper pressures in modern actions per Norma loads can equal 6.5-284 and not cramp the powder space or seat bullet ogives inside the neck on the heavier bullets. I have a 260 that this will be replacing so I am familiar with capabilities and limitations of short 6.5's. To be honest I really can't tell much difference in the field on 3/4" longer action.

 

[Reconnoiter]

No reason to go long action.

Other than that is what I have?

I want a 6.5 with flexibility and longer barrel life. 6.5x55 loaded to proper pressures in modern actions per Norma loads can equal 6.5-284 and not cramp the powder space or seat bullet ogives inside the neck on the heavier bullets. I have a 260 that this will be replacing so I am familiar with capabilities and limitations of short 6.5's. To be honest I really can't tell much difference in the field on 3/4" longer action.

Like you couldn't swap your long action,for a short? Don't be in a hurry,to make a bad decision.

The Swede is NO equal to the 6.5-284 at like pressures.

Describe your existing 260,including twist rate,throat geometry and load particulars.

 

[ldg397]

My current 260 is a remington 700 mountain rifle with a 22" barrel, 1 in 9 twist all factory specs.

The longterm plan is a battery of four rifles.

1. 260 or 6.5x55.

2. 280AI

3. 300 H&H

4. 375 H&H


I don't need more than the 6.5x55 or 260 in that class. In my opinion if you are trying to squeeze more out of 6.5 you might as well jump to the 270 or 280ai. If I don't do a 6.5x55 on this donor I am going to go ahead and get the 280ai taken care of.

 

[SJB358]

My current 260 is a remington 700 mountain rifle with a 22" barrel, 1 in 9 twist all factory specs.

The longterm plan is a battery of four rifles.

1. 260 or 6.5x55.

2. 280AI

3. 300 H&H

4. 375 H&H


I don't need more than the 6.5x55 or 260 in that class. In my opinion if you are trying to squeeze more out of 6.5 you might as well jump to the 270 or 280ai. If I don't do a 6.5x55 on this donor I am going to go ahead and get the 280ai taken care of.

That 6.5 Swede on the M70 should be really classy and you should be able to eak anything it has out of it with the long action as well. I would love to have one of the M70 6.5's they made for a few years. I have a M70 7x57 Featherweight on a LA and it works excellent.

 

[vodekzz]

I have 6.5x55 swede and my barrel 22.5 has 1-8 twist. It shoots group of 3 in the same hole.
I use 100 gr Sierra Varmint for coyote @ 3050 fps( H4350) and 140 AB @ 2700 ( N560) for deer in Wisconsin. Easy to shoot and Lapua brass lasts forever. I have 20 + reloads on mine.
6.5 x55 in long action like 27o win is butter smooth.

Vodekz

 

[DrMike]

I had a friend who carried a 6.5X55 afield for moose; it worked quite well. If the Finns and Swedes have made it work for so many years, there is no doubt that it will work equally well for you. It is a great cartridge. I'm with Scotty in thinking that if I stumbled across a Model 70 chambered in the 6.5, I'd sure be tempted to pick it up.

 

[FOTIS]

I have a very special place in my heart for the swede. It is one of my favorites. I had a model 70 XTR and is was a tackdriver.

 

[SJB358]

I have a very special place in my heart for the swede. It is one of my favorites. I had a model 70 XTR and is was a tackdriver.

Man, I missed out on that firesale!

I would really like a Featherweight in the 6.5 as I have gotten to like the 264's quite alot and the Featherweight my boy has is a very sweet rifle.

 

[HTDUCK]

I have a very special place in my heart for the swede. It is one of my favorites. I had a model 70 XTR and is was a tackdriver.

Man, I missed out on that firesale!

I would really like a Featherweight in the 6.5 as I have gotten to like the 264's quite alot and the Featherweight my boy has is a very sweet rifle.

I know where a 6.5x55 Featherweight is sitting in a consignment rack. They are asking $850.00 for it. :mrgreen:

 

[IdahoCTD]

You could always do a 6.5x55AI too. It would knock on the bigger 6.5-06's door. Or buy the featherweight and save the custom build for one of the other calibers you want if it shoots good.

 

[joelkdouglas]

Krieger says they won't make a stainless barrel in a smaller contour than a #4 for a 6.5. That's got a .670 muzzle at 26 inches, about .700 probably at 24 inches.

I suspect 0.700 at 24 inches because I have a Bartlein that is a strikingly similar contour and that's what it measures to.

Some barrel makers will make you a smaller contour in stainless, but mostly button rifled barrels, like Lilja, Pac Nor, Broughton, Hart, Shilen, etc.

For a cut rifled 5R barrel of "smallish, lightish" contour, I believe you're limited to Mike Rock and his Rock Creek barrels. I just ordered a Rock today also.

Brux might also, not sure about them. I also don't know Bartlein's minimum contour in stainless.

Hope that helps, maybe more complicated than good.

 

[joelkdouglas]

Of course, you could always go chrome moly Krieger and get it Cerakoted to look like stainless.

 

[6mm Remington]

You sure have lots of good choices out there. The 6.5-06 and the Swede both are great I believe. No matter which one you choose, I think you will have a winner!

 

[nvbroncrider]

Heck with a 6.5-06 might as well go with a 6.5-280AI Pac-nor has the reamer I got a #6 SS arriving tomorrow I'll post pictures. It's in 280AI.

 

[6mm Remington]

Heck with a 6.5-06 might as well go with a 6.5-280AI Pac-nor has the reamer I got a #6 SS arriving tomorrow I'll post pictures. It's in 280AI.

I was thinking that same thing bronc rider, but just using the plain Jane 280 case necked down to 6.5-06, but the AI would be cool and unique, and smoking fast! Great minds must think alike!
David