6.5X55 BJAI

Sorry for the noob questions. I'm a big fan of the swede and therefore have a few rifles in that caliber. Rifles include a tc encore, m96 sporter, and a mil trim m96. I also have a 111 in 30-06 that is collecting dust. Just the other day i ordered a swede barrel for it. The chamber is standard but if push comes to shove I'd like to make it an AI. The first question comes in regards of who to send it to for the AI job? I know shilen and douglas do not have the reamer. PTG makes it if I decide to go this route but I'd rather send it to someone that already has it versus buy the reamer. The second is for ammo. I have been loading for about ten years starting with the 6.5x55. I've never seen AI dies for this caliber. What are guys using? Are they custom ground? Necksize only from another caliber? As I am not familiar with AI cartridges, do the headspace gauges for the parent case work to headspace the AI chamber?

Thanks for the info in advance.

Steve

Steve - Redding sells the 6.5x55 AI dies.

You can rent a reamer from 4D Products - very reasonable too.

Rent the go gauge from them at the same time.

After my post I found a place to rent the reamer and go-nogo guages. While I have no problems headspacing the barrel, I'm not too sure about using a reamer. If the barrel wasn't at stake I would try it myself. I'd rather send it to someone who has done it before and comes recomended for the job. I looked for the dies but the companies I use don't carry them. Redding's internet catalog shows them as a custom die. They are proud of those! I didn't mention that this rig will be a hunting setup. It is a phenominal setup but just for bambi. I have a bench gun for trigger time at the range.

S.

For those that have done a barrel with this chamber......are they throated more for 120's or 140's. The plan is to shoot 140's.

Some people will use a reamer by hand, I will not. I have a lathe that can keep it 1,000 of times straighter than a hand. And the reamer specs will tell you what its throated to.

There is another way to get the same results.....with better feeding in repeaters, IMO.

Run a 6.5BR reamer deep enough to use 6.5x55 brass. You can then use BR dies with the correct bushings to size your brass.

I haven't done one in 6.5 yet but I have in .224 and 6mm.....fixing to do one in 25 caliber.

Since the Europeans have been using the 6.5 for everything on the planet as it was designed I would save the many $$ it would cost and buy more primers. Don't fix what ain't broke. Yes I have wildcats and more.

If your apprehensive about trying it, send the barrel to Sinman, he'll do an excellent job at a reasonable price.

The BJAI is throated for the 120's by default.

Good shooting,
Gary

120's will kill any deer you want in the 6.5X55 I only use 100's in mine.