Go No go head space gauges

[The Gun Pimp]

I am using Redding full length dies and lapau brass.

OK - this is going wild on two threads but let's stay sane..........

Firstly, when you try to chamber a brand new unfired, un-sized Lapua 6.5x55 case - what happens?

[Alpha1]

Ok I started again from the beginning I trimmed 10 new unfired lapau cases to 2.177".

I chambered them one by one in the rifle they worked OK.

I seated a 120grain Hornady A max bullet in each case then seated the bullet to fit the magazine.
I blacked the bullets like Ovenpaa said and chambered a round it was immediately obvious what was wrong.

I have spent my life shooting military rifles with long chambers re loading for nice shiny new barrels is a different ball game I seated the bullets to fit the magazine. WRONG.

I am a duffer the rounds are now sorted after starting from scratch and paying attention to detail this time. The rounds now cycle through the action like a knife through hot butter.

I think I am going to like this rifle. I will go stand in the corner.

[dodgyrog]

[ovenpaa]

You need to confirm the maximum overall length the chamber will take if it is less than the magazine. In the absence of an OAL gauge take a fired case, neck size it if possible and cut a slit lengthways down the neck, this will mean the bullet is gripped but not as tightly as normal. build the dummy round and chamber it. This is a crude way of doing things however it should give an indication of the OAL, now load a round at .040" shorter and check to see if it chambers it OK. The reason I say go back .040" is unless you get the neck tension spot on you will push the bullet into the lands by a few thou. A black marker pen on the bullet highlights this.

Just one point, is the magazine length longer than the standard 6,5x55 build length?

[Alpha1]

The cartridge over all length I settled on is 2.896 there is room for tweaking.
The magazine measures 3.830

[The Gun Pimp]

Ok I started again from the beginning I trimmed 10 new unfired lapau cases to 2.177".

I chambered them one by one in the rifle they worked OK.

I seated a 120grain Hornady A max bullet in each case then seated the bullet to fit the magazine.
I blacked the bullets like Ovenpaa said and chambered a round it was immediately obvious what was wrong.

I have spent my life shooting military rifles with long chambers re loading for nice shiny new barrels is a different ball game I seated the bullets to fit the magazine. WRONG.

I am a duffer the rounds are now sorted after starting from scratch and paying attention to detail this time. The rounds now cycle through the action like a knife through hot butter.

I think I am going to like this rifle. I will go stand in the corner.

Nice one!

[Alpha1]

Thanks every body for your help and advice much appreciated.