6.5x55 swede bolt face clarification

[smallbutfierce]

Just did a search and got two answers. One said, found on here and other sites, that it will fit in the .473? bolt face, but another place said that lapua brass will not fit due to it actually measuring .480. Can anyone clarify this? Part of the reason to go with this cartridge is the lapua brass. Thanks

 

[Sully2]

MY reloading manual says the head of the 6.5x55 Swede is .469 diameter..???

I stand corrected...its ".479"...

 

[smallbutfierce]

Nosler manuals says .479, wikipedia says .480. Glad I asked now. Anyone else build on a .308 bolt face and use lapua brass?

 

[FEENIX]

Nosler manuals says .479, wikipedia says .480. Glad I asked now. Anyone else build on a .308 bolt face and use lapua brass?

It's .480 +/- .XXX(?), so .479 should be within tolerance. My Carl Gustav measured .479 +/-.

 

[westcliffe01]

Whatever the correct answer is, you are anyway going to need a .473 bolt head to begin with, then you could directly test how your sample works with your brass. If it is too tight (everything has a "tolerance"), then the ejector and extractor would have to be removed and the face opened up a few thousandths. It doesn't sound like a big issue. The face if corrected would be done prior to head spacing...

 

[benchracer]

I've had two 6.5 Swedes built on Mauser '98 actions, one commercial, one military. Neither required bolt face mods. Both function very well. I use Lapua brass exclusively. IMO, the folks who say mods to the bolt face or extractor are required for the Swede are engaging in desktop troubleshooting.

If there was ever going to be a problem with this, the problem would manifest itself in a controlled feed action. It hasn't done so in either of mine. If you are using a push feed action, I would expect a push feed to be much less susceptible to any problems related to a case rim that is .007" oversized. If you are using a push feed action, try measuring your bolt face diameter. I bet it is quite a bit bigger than .473".

 

[smallbutfierce]

I'm at work right now, but once I got thinking about all the variances I figured measuring mine would be a great place to start. Will report back. Thanks

 

[Sully2]

corrected

 

[diriel]

Win brass has the larger Swede type measurement like Lapua does. Remington 6.5x55 has .473 head. I have Norma, Lapua, Win, and Rem brass with 6.5x55 headstamp and all of it will run through my Savage 111 without any issues what so ever.

No need to over think this.

 

[smallbutfierce]

Cool, that's what I wanted to know.

 

[north of 53]

I have two 6.5x55 rifles one has had the bold face opened up and one has not. Both are built on a rem 700 270 actions. The F-class rifle has had the bolt face opened up and I use Lapua brass with that rifle. The other rifle has not had any work on the bolt face and if I use lapua bass with it the brass will stick on the bolt and I need to pull it of with my hand. If I use Winchester brass it works just fine.
I will be getting my bolt face opened up on my rile and would not build a 6.5 x 55 again without having this done. It is not a big deal to have done and everything just works better. I know lots on people say there is no need to have t is done but my experience tells me otherwise.