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Throat length for my 6.5x55 Swede barrel

JWV

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 18, 2009
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Mich State Univ, East Lansing
I am having a McGowan barrel made for this caliber. I am also ordering a reamer with a floating pilot from Pacific Tool and Gauge. My only question is, how long to throat the barrel. I will be shooting 139-142 grain Scenars,VLDS, and SMK's. Any suggestions on overall length?
 
Re: Throat length for my 6.5x55 Swede barrel

For the same bullets on my 6.5 x 55 AI I went with a freebore of 0.160 the same FB I have on my 6.5 x 47 L for the heavier 6.5 bullets.

wade
 
Re: Throat length for my 6.5x55 Swede barrel

I have not had a chance to fire the improved swede yet I just got the barreled action back from my gunsmith and will be putting it into a new stock which is not done yet. On other 6.5's I usually put Berger VLDs 0.005-0.015" into the lands.
 
Re: Throat length for my 6.5x55 Swede barrel

The original 6.5 x 55 was loaded with heavy long bullets and they always did fine even when loaded to lower pressures as was necessary given the age of some of guns chambered for this round on racks. Loading to modern pressures there is no problem getting enough powder capacity to effectively shoot the 140's.

I went with the AI as it gives me a little more capacity for more muzzle velocity as this is on my F-class rig.
 
Seems you'd make dummy rounds with different bullets seated to allow moving .rearward for setback and forward for n future throat erosion. Then you'd measure ogive to base and compare to the reamer? I was "told" Pacific AI reamer has 0 freebore by Jay at Pacnor
So a throating reamer for the difference?
Magazine length is relative...
Haven't calculated mine as yet as I can't find bullets..😠
 
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