Neck sizing 6.5x55 Swedish

[Alpha1]

lee dies are one of there better products .(well sort off) they can turn out satisfactory ammunition. Iv never been able to get on with the neck die thingies. I use there dies as well as other makes to full length size my cases after five firings then wiz them through the Lewilson trimmer then go back to the Lewilson neck jobbies.
(This post is starting to sound like a add for Lewilson)
I just like there stuff Iv done Lee. RCBS. Lyman. Reding. Forster I arrived at Lewilson I like it enough said.
I'm not knocking Lee if it floats your boat great. The original poster stated he would like to reload for his latest acquisition using a Lewilson neck die in 6.5x55. Im just responding to that.

I have also made quite a few bits based on the Lewilson dies and stuff for my milsurps that work really well.

[WelshShooter]

Ramshot powders are really easy to load. They're all ball powders and meter very well. For a cartridge like 6.5x55 you're gonna want a slow burning powder, and there's load data available for Magnum and Hunter if I recall correctly. I've not got this calibre or use these powders, however I've found that for 8mm Mauser and 303brit the slower burning Big Game works much better than the faster burning Tac. You might find sooting around the case neck exterior after shooting which can be stubborn to remove, but at £32.50 per lb it's pretty hard to beat.

[Alpha1]

Alpha1, just out of interest what load are you using with Ramshot? I might give it a try.

Its not a Swedish mauser I am loading for blu its a heavy barrelled target rifle. I am using Ramshot Magnum it meters beautifully through my RCBS powder thrower.
Im using prepped PPU once fired brass neck sized. Im using a 139grain PPU bullet with 47 grains of Ramshot Magnum.
The load data is taken of Ramshots web site.

I'm using the data for a 140grain Hornady A max the starting load is 44.4 grains the maximum is 49.4.
They quote a cartridge overall length of 3.025 but my rifle has a tight chamber so my cartridge overall length differs from that.

I'm shooting it to morrow up to now I have had good results(by my standards) out to 350 yards.

[Blu]

Alpha1, ah I see. I thought you were loading for the Swede, my mistake.

[matdoodson]

Nothing wrong with an advert for LE Wilson gear... I think it's all fantastically well made and an absolute joy to use compared with Redding dies in a turret press (which I also own for .303 reloading..). I've never compared arbor press and turret press rounds for accuracy though.

Cheers for the heads up re: Ramshot Magnum. I haven't heard of that before but will see what's about locally.

[Laurie]

M1896 loads are best kept in the 40,000-45,000 psi range. (Swedish service ammo was loaded to ~45,000 psi.) Ramshot Magnum works fine with maximum modern rifle pressures with 140s, but is too slow burning for lighter loads giving dirty cases and large velocity spreads. Hunter is a better choice in this application from the Ramshot range.

The traditional favourite for many Historic Arms shooters was the venerable 140gn Sierra MK, a bullet that seems to suit most barrels and around 44 to 45gn Viht N160, start a couple of grains down and work up. The next slowest burner in the Viht range, N165 seems to suit the 6.5X55 too in a range of loads / pressures with 140s with loads that are a couple of grains higher. N165 has the added benefit of being the coolest burning single-base propellant generally available to the rifle handloader, a feature which enhances barrel life considerably, and which is well worth having when loading for any historic piece where rebarrelling may not be an option.

[matdoodson]

Excellent insight... thank you Laurie...

[markyw]

Just to add to this, I am having success in my M96 using Reloader 17 @ 36gr. behind PPU 139gr FMJ. Getting fist sized groups at 100yds with the Soderin target sights, so pleased for my first outing with this combo.

Inf/l resize at the moment for the Swede, as only have the f/l die, but have neck sized my .222 with good results.

Safe shooting.

Mark

[Alpha1]

I am neck sizing for all my milsurps using a Arbor press with modified lee reloader neck dies and Lewilson modified neck and seating dies. Great fun and I can reload on my desk whilst reading the forum and surfing the net.