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6.5/284 bolt face?

bigdaddyjunior
Instead of rebarreling a 308 or 30-06 action to this popular wildcat round, couldn't I just use a 6.5 Swede barreled action and open the bolt face up to accomodate the larger head and then finish ream the chamber for the increased diameter and slightly longer length of the round? Would the magazine hold the fatter cases?

040103cowboy_shooting_one_gun_md_clr_prv.gifBig Daddy my heros have always been cowboys,they still are it seems
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • mrbruce
    BDJ,
    As there is only a .003 difference in the head sizes between the two there is no need to open the bolt face. The 6.5 swede is the larger one.
    If the action is tested to take the strain of the 6.5-284 there would be no problem doing what you want. The magazine may require some tweaking but not dead certain of that part.

    Gun control is hitting what your aiming at.
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  • browser900
    The bolt size for the 6.5x284 is a standard 30-06,308 size. I have one of these on the 700Rem action. I am told the Swede action is a little weak and is one of the reasons it is never recommended to be converted to any thing. Head size of Swede is .480 and for 308 is.473, for a dif of .007.
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  • nononsense
    Once again, it comes down to a case of nomenclature.

    134440.jpg

    241935.jpg

    The rim is the last part of a case which sits on the boltface and is gripped by the extractor. It contains the opening for the primer pocket.

    The head is just above the extractor cut and is a solid portion of the case.

    If you look at the drawings, you will see that the head on the 6.5-284 is measured at 0.500" while the head of the 6.5 Swede is measured at 0.477".

    The rim of the 6.5-284 measures 0.473" while the 6.5 Swede measures 0.479".

    Now, what bdj should be referring to, is that the bolt recess (as in a Remington) should be chamfered to accommodate the larger head size of the 6.5-284.

    The other potential drawback with this particular re-chamber is with the length of the 6.5 Swede throat which is usually quite long if it was cut for the standard 6.5 Swedish military cartridge. I would cast the chamber and measure carefully. But generally, I would pull the barrel, indicate the bore in and set the chamber back at least one thread so as to get a better cut on a new throat for the new cartridge.

    This mis-information about the Swede receivers being weak needs to stop. It is only by comparison to the 98 style Mauser that people judge the Swede 96 as being weak. It is no weaker than any of the modern receivers that we work with on a daily basis and compared to some, it is definitely stronger. The Swedish craftsmen used nothing but the very finest steels and heat treat to create the Swede 96 receivers. The only thing that I don't like on the Swede is the cock-on-close feature, but that can be remedied.

    It is impossible to judge how it will work with the magazine since we haven't been told which rifle it comes with, and even then, some judicious playing with dummy cartridges would be useful.

    Best.
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  • browser900
    NONONSENS
    I looked in three different reloading books and found the following rim and head sizes listed for the 6.5 Swede,.480-.480, .480-.477, & .479-.477. If this cartridge was improved it would be close to the 6.5x284 in capacity. Since you inform us that the 96 Swede mauser is as strong as most present day actions used, Can we safely improve the chamber or use it like it is and ignore the pressure loading data set for this cartridge of about 45,000CUP or 50,000psi, and could raise it to 50,000CUP or 60,000psi? BDJ asked if he could use it for a 6.5x284. Well if he can why bother to change the chamber, except maby to improve it.
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  • bigdaddyjunior
    Good info guys. Looking at the case dimensions it seems that the small amount of extra case room for powder provided by the 6.5/284 could be just as easily equaled by powder choice that was not available when the 6.5 was designed and used commonly in military rifles. So the question now is ...why the 284 wildcat? Seems like an answer to a problem that no longer exists. The gun I was thinking of re working is a minty Swede 96 by the way, and I have no qualms about the strength of the design.

    040103cowboy_shooting_one_gun_md_clr_prv.gifBig Daddy my heros have always been cowboys,they still are it seems
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  • nononsense
    bdj,

    Congratulations! The 6.5 x 55 is an excellent cartridge all on its own, proven on both the field of battle and the hunting fields. I would hesitate to modify a 'minty' 96 these days considering what the prices have escalated to. My original Mauser 96's shoot extremely well for their age but their condition is by far near perfect.

    Best of luck!


    browser900,

    6.5x55 AI = ~61.5 grains of H2O (depending on manufacturer)

    6.5x284 = ~66.5 grains of H2O (depending on manufacturer)

    The weakest part of any firearm system is the brass case. It doesn't matter how the receiver is rated, because the brass will fail first. That's why working up loads safely is so important to this process. I use extreme care when working up new loads for a particular firearm and I pay close attention the brass case. Chambers vary, rifles vary and of course, the brass varies, so it is paramount to examine each and every case, each time. I also use a chronograph all of the time.

    Best of luck!
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