243>>>>6.5x55 conversion?

[woodguy]

Anyone know if a Mark V 243 can be easily rebarreled to 6.5x55?Suggestions on a cost effective switch also appreciated.It's a ss action.would Pac Nor be a good choice?Thanks,woodguy

[Mikey]

Woodguy - if you are talking about an Interarms Mark V, I think they are Mauser actions and should rebarrel fairly easily.  The 243 has the same case head diameter as the 308/06, etc., and that may be close enough to the 6.5 Swede's case head size to allow the bolt to work.  The 243 could also be called a 6x51/52mm and if the magazine is long enough to hold the 6.5x55 Swede, it should work. 

I believe the Interarms actions are the same as those produced for the M48/48A Mausers and they chamber the 8x57mm round, so if it is the same action and magazine well it should handle the 6.5x55 Swede without a problem. 

You may wish to run this question past the gunnut down in the Gunsmithing forum.  I think he can clarify this for you.  HTH.  Mikey.

[dodd3]

the .243 head size is .473 and the 6.5by55 is .476.
bernie

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

   My pal and I must have had 20 rifles rebarreled. Mostly 700's. If the head sizes match and I believe they do, a rebarrel job is fairly simple. But get a good gunsmith to do it. I favor Douglas barrels, my pal likes Shilen. I have several lilja's but they are more expensive. I doubt you can do much better than Douglas air gauge or Shilen of the same quality.

[Drue]

You may want to consider a .260 which is a .308 necked down to 6.5 (or a .243 necked up). It delivers performance nearly identical to the 6.5x55 but has the the .473 case head size of the existing .243. There would not be any possible magazine length issues either. All of the barrels mentioned above are excellent. I have had very good results with barrels and mounting by E. R. Shaw and they are relatively inexpensive as well.

Drue

[Mikey]

Drue:  Good idea.  I shoulda, hadda, oughta thought of that myself.  Mikey.

[gunnut69]

The 260 suggestion is excellant if reloading is not on the agenda..if it is the 6.5x55 has greater case capacity than the 260 and will reach the same velocities with lower pressures. The 6.5x55 is one of those rounds loaded to lower pressure levels by US makers.. Note--some foreign made ammo IS NOT loaded light..

[GeoW]

Anyone know if a Mark V 243 can be easily rebarreled to 6.5x55?Suggestions on a cost effective switch also appreciated.It's a ss action.would Pac Nor be a good choice?Thanks,woodguy

Could this be the Howa, Vangard type Mark V? I seem to recall the Interarms mauser as the Mark X.

May make a difference in barrel thread and action length. Some of the short actions do not allow the heavy longer 6.5 bullets to fit but may be OK with the 120-140 gr bullets.

Pac-Nor barrels have a very good reputation among Savage shooters that switch to the 6.5x55 round.

Regards,
GeoW

[gunnut69]

The bolt face will likely do just fine. Plus most American made brass is supposedly using a standard size casehead.. The MKV action is NOT a mauser. It is a short lift manum sized action and I've never seen one chambered in 243. Still it will easily swallow a 6.5x55 swede with room to spare. Remember the actions handle the really big stuff and there is NO short action MKV. If what you have is a Vanguard it is a mauser styled rifle but is still not a mauser..but will easily handle the swede..