Thread: Shortening barrel on a 6.5x55

Hey guys, my dad has an older Winchester 6.5x55 that he was given. It currently has a 22" barrel and shots ok, not great just ok. But only ever used once a year to hunt in the bush at Haast. Range is usually 20-50mtrs so minute of shoulder is fine.
He wants to shorten the barrel and suppress it to make a compact bush gun but I wasn't sure if anyone had experience shortening this chambering and calibre?
Any help or advice would be great. I told him he would be better to just run a short 308 as I know they still shoot well short.

It'll be just fine,might even shoot better. If he likes the rifle there's nothing it won't do shorter that a 308 can.

just do it mate......at that range it will still leave the 6.5creampuff in its dust.....short suppressed rifles good to carry and a joy to shoot. the recrown when shortening and threading might even bring it back to life on target board....

Just do it.

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to put it in perspective as a bush gun.....running a 123-125grn projectile its going to be very similar to the 7.62x39mm EXCEPT he will be driving projectile faster and it will have a better SD being skinnier to begin with...now if he running something heavy and blunt like a 150-170grn well it will be shitting all over the x39 or a 30/30 for the same reasons....and nobody, but nobody with any brains, thinks either of those two arent perfectly fine n dandy at bush ranges.

Goddammit, Stop this

Do not cut or thread the Barrel on that Winchester rifle. I will buy it off you and that will help you into @mikee bergara https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....s-x-2-a-82201/
I'm trying to cut my 6.5's but this one I'll buy if it is original and in reasonable condition

If you cut it - it makes the remaining ones more valuable haha

I’m not convinced of the logic of cutting down a barrel only to add a suppressor. You’ll never be able to fire it without the suppressor or ear protection. Don’t do it.

^^^Farrk - you mean the heaps of short barrelled rifles I've hunted with over 40 years are no good??? There was something wrong with the "factory" 18" VZ-33 8x57?? My mate shouldnt have used (for years) a 16" 223?? The 16" Winny 30-30 I have is not usable?? Mate, dont think a suppressor is the answer to every question.

Originally Posted by 2post

I’m not convinced of the logic of cutting down a barrel only to add a suppressor. You’ll never be able to fire it without the suppressor or ear protection. Don’t do it.

You never should, so it doesn't matter


Chop it

Originally Posted by gimp

You never should, so it doesn't matter


Chop it

I can’t argue with that logic, you win.��

His Logic as usual, flawed
Don't chop it.
Chop something else
Sell this one to me.

Originally Posted by jakewire

His Logic as usual, flawed
Don't chop it.
Chop something else
Sell this one to me.

I agree. NEVER shorten the King of calibres.

I've a Ruger Swede with 18inch barrel. I use it bare mostly and doesn't seem awfully loud for the odd shot on game.

My Tikka T3 6.5x55 has a 18 inch barrel and DPT suppressor .
Kiwi Greg loaded me up 100 rounds and we settled on this load which gave average groups of 14mm .
There was a higher velocity node up above 2800fps , but it was bordering on over pressure .
The 6.5x55 can still push out reasonable speeds from a shorter 18 inch barrel .