I need a fifties era chamber conversion solution and wonder if anyone still does it. Picked up an '03 Mannlicher Schoenauer (originally 6.5 x 54) at a gun show that had been converted to 6.5x57. Got it home and the usual slick action won't handle the 6.5x57's at all - three rounds jam it up and two feed like an industrial project. 6.5x54's on the other hand feed like butter, so who ever rechambered the rifle didn't screw up the action.
Rebarrelling would be complicated because the full length stock would demand the exact barrel contours, and a Schoenauer also has unique sight shaping. Soooo does anyone today reline chambers to create a smaller caliber? In this case - a very slightly smaller one. Going to anything other than 6.5x54 is not feasible because of the tight dimensions of that rotary magazine (witness the 6.5x57s). Any ideas?
I am half way tempted to fire off a 6.5x54 and see how dramatic the "fireforming" result will be. To date, the thought of digging out a jammed split case has kept me from doing that.
Rebarrelling would be complicated because the full length stock would demand the exact barrel contours, and a Schoenauer also has unique sight shaping. Soooo does anyone today reline chambers to create a smaller caliber? In this case - a very slightly smaller one. Going to anything other than 6.5x54 is not feasible because of the tight dimensions of that rotary magazine (witness the 6.5x57s). Any ideas?
I am half way tempted to fire off a 6.5x54 and see how dramatic the "fireforming" result will be. To date, the thought of digging out a jammed split case has kept me from doing that.