Savage 6.5x55 Old School

[wbm]

Just finished this one. Wanted to build an "old school" "tactical type" rifle (Much like the Winchester Model 70 and M40 Remington's of Vietnam era) using American Walnut stock, older flat-back action, standard tuned trigger etc. etc. Barrel is 22" EABCO , 1-8 Twist, Varmint Contour.

[scooterf79]

Very nice....fits that bill nicely. Very well done. Sounds like its a shooter too! Its a shame all of these old out of date cartridges dont shoot as good as all the new ones 😉.
Scooter

[dougbug]

That thing is awesome!!!

[wbm]

Thanks man! Set the stock up with a Limbsaver pad and the bolt handle is a glades armory...great product. Trigger is smooth and breaks like glass.


Its a shame all of these old out of date cartridges dont shoot as good as all the new ones

Yeah but you know the line....newer is always better right?:tea:

[03mossy]

Very nicely done! I love being able to put together a rifle exactly the way you want it.

[drybean]

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Bolthead]

That is absolutely beautiful. That is the direction I am going with my old flat back 116, only in .308. Glad to hear you like the E.R. Shaw barrel. Have heard nothing bad about them and am planning on using one of theirs on mine. There is nothing that beats the look of the old style checkered walnut stock. Is that a Savage stock or aftermarket? Again, a very beautiful gun.

[wbm]

Thanks!
The walnut stock is an original Savage that was on a 110 flat-back I bought several years ago in a shop in North Carolina. Got lucky....some of the wood stocks are not walnut this one was. Took all the gloss finish off and refinished it in Danish Oil. Opened the barrel channel and skim bedded the action area.

[YDKDY]

It's a beaut! Love my 110 re-barreled in 6.5X55 too.

[wbm]

Saw a box of Hornady 100gr Amax BC=.390....new to me....at Sportsman's Warehouse a few days ago. Decided to give them a try. Had noticed over the years that some of the Military Vintage match guys shooting M96 Swede's were using IMR 3031 with light bullets. Loaded the 100gr Amax with 40.3gr IMR 3031, new Hornady Brass and a CCI LR primers OAL=3.085....about 3000fps in my barrel. Shot outstanding!

[sixonetonoffun]

Love the Swede! I want a nice 96 someday. Have a beautiful pre-war claw foot scope that has 96 written all over it.

[wbm]

Love the Swede! I want a nice 96 someday. Have a beautiful pre-war claw foot scope that has 96 written all over it.

The M96 I have was made in 1910. One of the best shooting rifles I have ever had. Have shot a few "screamer" groups with 120gr Sierra's and V-160.

[Bolthead]

You brought me good luck wbm. Right after I posted, I was finally able to get in touch with a guy that I knew had a beautiful old 114 walnut stock for a great price. Will be here next week.

[Steel Rain]

Very nice! Are you using hand loads or factory? If you are hand loading what brass are you using? Do you have any feeding issues? How easy does the barrel clean up? I have a flat back that needs a new tube like that screwed to it.

[wbm]

You brought me good luck wbm. Right after I posted, I was finally able to get in touch with a guy that I knew had a beautiful old 114 walnut stock for a great price. Will be here next week.


Sweet! The 114 Stocks are really nice. Pain in the a** to get the finish off them though if you are going with a different look.




Are you using hand loads or factory? If you are hand loading what brass are you using? Do you have any feeding issues? How easy does the barrel clean up?


I use hand loads....use both Lapua and Hornady brass. Lapua is the way to go for brass. Do not have any feed issues since the 6.5x55 is a long action caliber. All the Shaw barrels I have had clean up nicely.

[dragonfly]

Very nice

[phantom_geo]

Awesome!

[wbm]

The only down side to a shooter new to 6.5x55 Swede is very conservative load data and less than impressive velocities from factory ammunition. Because of antique rifles chambered in this caliber, load data and factory ammunition is always less than the 260 or the 6.5 Creedmoor. The Swede has a greater case capacity than both. Whatever the 260 or 6.5 Creedmoor can achieve the 6.5x55 can also. Between the 260, Creedmoor, and 6.5x55 it comes down to what you like....I just like the Swede.

[jsund3]

Beautiful rifle. I am working on one similar, late 80's 110 with a new 6.5-06 bull barrel. I fell into a lot of .270 brass so decided to build the rifle using that re-sized brass. Seeing yours came at the right time and let me see i'm heading in the right direction. I installed my barrel last week and am waiting for my walnut stock to arrive this week. Again, beautiful rifle, thanks for sharing. John