6.5 Creedmoor action

[StarrPrecision]

Hey guys, im pretty new so forgive this stupid question. Im curious about what caliber barrels i can use with my action? I have a rifle chambered in 6.5 creedmoor. I notice my action was purchased as a 308 bolt face i believe and send to a gunsmith to chamber it in 6.5mm, does this mean my bolt face is still a .308? Im just confused how it would work because the diameter of the bullets should be different from caliber to caliber right?
Im asking because, if in the future id like to go to a 6MM cartridge, will i need a new action? in what case would i need a new action?

Thanks guys for helping me understand, i appreciate it.

 

[mtnhunter22]

You’re going to have a few different bolt faces. Typically, 223, standard (or 308), and magnum. Standard or 308 is what you will need for a 6.5 creed and the 6mm. So you’re good. A quick search of “cartridges with a standard bolt face” will show you what you can run. Same with “cartridges with a magnum bolt face”. This should give you a good idea of what you need to know.

 

[StarrPrecision]

Thank you. So to be clear, no modification the the bolt face or action when switching calibers. Just new barrels?

 

[mtnhunter22]

Correct. If you’re going from a 6.5 creed to a 6 creed or a 243 or anything of the like, just a new barrel, no work to the bolt face or action.

 

[Supersubes]

There’s no modification needed to your action.

 

[Ledzep]

.308 is/was at one time the most popular cartridge that had a case head that was .473" in diameter. That's what the bolt face interfaces with, the case head. Most short action cartridges that have a .473" bolt head head will use "standard" or ".308" pattern parts (magazines included)

Typically you'll see these "sizes" of bolt head;
.223 ( .376")
6.8 SPC/224 Valkyrie (.421")
7.62x39, 6.5 Grendel, PPC (.445")
.308 (.473")
"Magnum" (.532")
"Lapua" (.589")

So what you have is a short action with a .473" diameter bolt face. There's a huge list of cartridges that will work with that. I'll list a few I can think of off the top of my head that your action could be rebarreled in... .22-250, 22x47, 22 creedmoor, 22-243, 243,6mm GT, 6mm creedmoor, 6x47, 6BR, 6BRA, 6BRX, 243 AI, 6mm competition match, 25 creedmoor, 25x47, 6.5 Creedmoor, .260, 6.5x47, .260AI, 7-08, 7 SAW, 7mm Creedmoor, .308, .30 TC, .338 Federal, .358, and .45 ACP will fit but probably won't feed worth a shit...

 

[StarrPrecision]

Awsome! Thank you very much for the detailed information.

 

[Camcan1111]

I know nothing about gunsmithing really and I'm chiming in. Sorry in advance. I've got a Rpr 6mm creed coming in and I got a BSF carbon fiber 308 barrel. All I need is to swap barrel and I'm fine as well?

 

[Stoweit]

Yes