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Perhaps the easiest way would be to pull the barrel , shorten the breech end by 5mm and rechamber it to 6.5 x 51 , otherwise known as .260 rem .-- simples ! The rounds will now fit the mag and you can use those lovely 142gr smks or lapua 139 scenars. . I chambered my Rem inan aics in .260 --it's stonking accurate and it's aka 6.5 x 51 .

Have reamer -- will rechamber - 3hrs max with a decent gunsmith - then proof and shoot .

:goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:

We've finally established that it WILL chamber a new, unfired case (see above) but please what is this 'tight chamber'? Explain please.

Dromia of course has the answer - the throat is the problem - it's a bit on the short side.

Phew! Five pages!

I knew it would chamber a new empty case from day one you are the one that kept insisting I chamber a new lapau case. My conern was that It won't chamber a round longer than 2.8/2.9" depending on the type of bullet. But it does not matter now I have sorted it.

Perhaps the easiest way would be to pull the barrel , shorten the breech end by 5mm and rechamber it to 6.5 x 51 , otherwise known as .260 rem .-- simples ! The rounds will now fit the mag and you can use those lovely 142gr smks or lapua 139 scenars. . I chambered my Rem inan aics in .260 --it's stonking accurate and it's aka 6.5 x 51 .

Have reamer -- will rechamber - 3hrs max with a decent gunsmith - then proof and shoot .

I might just do that but I will shoot it first and see how it goes I would like to be able to shoot 139grain bullets through it because the khales scope I put on it the turrets are calibrated for 139grain jobby. But we will see.

Alpha1 wrote:So if its on the short side can it be altered would a finishing reamer make any difference.
I am not really bothered how many pages it ran. Its all a learning curve.

If you have a rifle that you've acquired in the 'normal' way, it will have passed proof. Therefore it will have fired proof rounds and accepted/rejected go/no-go gauges. The chamber will not be 'on the short side'.

If it will chamber a new, unfired case then the only variable is the bullet - and how far out you can seat it - before it hits the rifling/throat.

It is possible to 'throat' it longer? - Yes - if you can find a gunsmith with a 6.5 throating reamer.

If you have a rifle that you've acquired in the 'normal' way, it will have passed proof. Therefore it will have fired proof rounds and accepted/rejected go/no-go gauges. The chamber will not be 'on the short side'.

If that is the case why can I not chamber a 6.5x55 120grain A max bullet seated in a new case full length sized and the case trimmed to minimum length longer than 2.859 with out it jamming. I bought the rifle from a dealer according to him he took it in part exchange. When it was proofed would they use factory ammo or ammo supplied by the builder.

Proof houses ain't what they used to be , A friend had a Carl Gustav 1916 Mauser in 6.5 x 55 which kept blackening and crushing cases when fired .The action was black with soot .I measured head space and it was an astonishing 23 thou , there was little or no rifling for the first inch of barrel and the rifle had been passed proof very recently. Further research on the rifle revealed that it had been effectively scrapped by the Swedish military , this was identified by a lack of the stock disc and the space filled with red sealing wax. --- Yet it passed proof .
the rifle was scrapped as the bolt was cooroded around the firing pin hole and the cost of a new barrel was too high .

Yes a finishing reamer for 6.5 55 se will lengthen the throat and permit the use of 140 gr bullets but it will always be a single loader .Better I think to shorten by 5 or 6mm and rechamber to 6.5 x 51 , modifying the chamber by any means will mean a re-proof as metal will have been removed , putting it back to it's intended use , magazine fed , will give you a very accurate rifle with the same potential as 6.5 x 55 and no more hassle.
:goodjob:

The reamer is not a problem its finding some one to do the work not some thing I want to tackle. YET.
But its to early for that option. I want to have a play on the range before I do any thing else.

A .260 Remington finishing reamer is actually cheaper than a 6.5x55 Swedish mauser reamer.

Alpha1 wrote:

If you have a rifle that you've acquired in the 'normal' way, it will have passed proof. Therefore it will have fired proof rounds and accepted/rejected go/no-go gauges. The chamber will not be 'on the short side'.

If that is the case why can I not chamber a 6.5x55 120grain A max bullet seated in a new case full length sized and the case trimmed to minimum length longer than 2.859 with out it jamming. I bought the rifle from a dealer according to him he took it in part exchange. When it was proofed would they use factory ammo or ammo supplied by the builder.

No, the Proof House make up their own rounds - are 'stiffer' than factory - i.e. more powerful.

Why can't you chamber a new case loaded with a 120gn A Max bullet? Because it's seated out too far for YOUR rifle's throating!

Gunsmiths will often order a reamer which is 'short throated' - then they can cut a chamber for any bullet - using a throating reamer to accommodate longer bullets. This saves buying lots of reamers.

If you buy a factory 308 Remington, you will struggle to touch the rifling with say a 150 gn bullet - they are very long-throated . The bullet will be almost hanging out of the case! Reason? Remington know that some idiot will complain if he can't shoot 230 gn bullets from his new rifle.

Alpha 1 - I know this has been a bit of a nightmare for you but honestly, it's just 'run of the mill' stuff.

If you're ever over my way (Diggle 10m NE of Manchester J22 M62 motorway) I'd love to take you through the whole process of chambering etc.

Maybe you are going to the Shooting Show at Stoneleigh in February? If so, I can bring some stuff along - reamers, sectioned barrels and the like. I'll be on the Target Shooter stand - we can have a good chat.

Diggle is within driving distance from were I live bringing the rifle to Diggle is not a problem as long as I am not working of course.