Help rquired with TIKKA M55 chambered in 6.5x55 Swedish

[Alpha1]

I recently acquired a Tikka M55 fitted with a Stainless Shilen barrel and a rather nice wooden stock.
Saturday was the first chance I had to really try it out at 300yards.
I originally fired 50 full length sized rounds through it using a 140grain bullet. The bolt was a bit sticky and did not open cleanly but I did not think to much of it at the time.
I then neck sized the 50 cases using a Le Wilson neck die and loaded them with Hornady 120 grain A max bullets.
I seated them under the maximum over all length to fit the magazine.
I also full length sized another 50 cases and seated the bullet to the same depth.
at the range the bolt was stiff to close on all the rounds used and the bolt was very difficult to open on them the bolt had to be forced open. At this stage I stopped shooting it and bagged the rifle up.
Once I got it home I checked the seating depth with the same bullets using a Hornady over all length gauge no problem with the seating depth.
I trimmed a couple of cases so they were shorter than recommended.
I neck sized a couple of the fired cases with a Le Wilson neck die and chambered them with out bullets they were tight to seat and I had to use a rubber mallet on the bolt to eject the case.

I repeated the exercise using a Lee neck die the type you use with a mallet. The result was the same stiff to chamber and a rubber mallet to eject the case.

I then full length sized the cases and repeated the exercise the result is the same stiff to close the bolt after opening the bolt I needed to use a rubber mallet to eject the case.
I think who ever built this rifle has got the chamber wrong.
Do shillen barrels come with the chamber all ready cut would the builder have to alter the barrel to fit the action.
Am I doing some thing wrong any ideas before I get some one to check it out and start forking money out.
Obviously I will be contacting the dealer I bought it off. I should of stuck to my Milsurps they just perform full stop. HELP.
Any body got any idea how much a gunsmith is likely to charge to check it out.

[Steve E]

The barrel would have been chambered by the gunsmith that fitted it.
It may be that the original owner specified a tight chamber that needs the necks of the cases turning to fit.
Ask the person that you bought it from if they can supply the contact details of the original owner and ask if it has a tight chamber.
Also why when you were loading your ammunition did you not check that the sized cases would fit before you loaded powder/bullets/primers.

[dromia]

You've bought a dog Dave, to be helpful I'll take the rifle off your ticket for you at no charge.

[dromia]

On the other hand a nice chamber/throat/lead/groove/bore slug would be most informative before disposing of it to me.

[Sim G]

What make of brass are you using Dave? I had some PPU and Federal brass that had rims out of spec. Everything with the loading was spot on as far as I was concerned, but likewise, they were tight to very tight to close the bolt on and open up. Purely by chance I had an R-P case get mixed up that slid in like it was coated in butter. Digital callipers and a cartridge diagram told me the rest...

[Sim G]

You've bought a dog Dave, to be helpful I'll take the rifle off your ticket for you at no charge.

Sometimes you have quite a spiteful side....!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Alpha1]

I will have to check the cases I don't think they are all the same make but its worth a try.

[Alpha1]

You've bought a dog Dave, to be helpful I'll take the rifle off your ticket for you at no charge

You might be right Adam you could all ways confirm it by doing a chamber cast for me.
As for passing it on to you or any other shooter for that matter if it is a duffer my conscience would not let me do that.
If its a dog and I end up stuck with it will be chopped and disposed of.

[Sim G]

If it is the chamber that's the problem, have the barrel removed and the chamber end chopped off, then re-chambered, re-threaded and refitted....

[Sandgroper]

You've bought a dog Dave, to be helpful I'll take the rifle off your ticket for you at no charge

You might be right Adam you could all ways confirm it by doing a chamber cast for me.
As for passing it on to you or any other shooter for that matter if it is a duffer my conscience would not let me do that.
If its a dog and I end up stuck with it will be chopped and disposed of.

Hell no!

One man's dog of a rifle is another's project rifle.