Tikka t3 rechambered to 6.5-06 AI?

[Beauregard]

I have a 25-06 with lots of pitting from the prior owner leaving it in the wet basement! I'm thinking it would be fun to have the 6.5-06 AI as almost all of my brass is either 270 or 30-06. Any thoughts on where I might get the barrel? I would like to buy the wrenches just to have done it but also open to a smith that you all might recommend.

Best,

Cedar

 

[jeremy.b]

I had good luck with crown ridge. He uses xcaliber barrels and if he has the caliber you want on hand his turn around time is great. He does use a barrel nut on his barrels.

There are plenty of other options for prefits but they all have decent wait times.

As for doing the swap, I did mine with the SAG barrel vise and their tikka contour bushing, a wheeler #1 action wrench (flip the jaw to clamp on the flats of the receiver just behind the barrel threads & replaced the bolts with 4" grade 8s).

Mine came off super easy, many are not as lucky so be prepared with a breaker bar and a dead blow hammer!