SMK #2155 build length

[ovenpaa]

I needed some dummy rounds to test the feeding of a rifle this morning and spotted a box marked '2155 PALMA' on the shelf so loaded 5 up to 2.790" and discovered they were all way too long for the chamber of the rifle I was working with. So I tested on a second rifle and they were still far too long, in fact I had to knock them back to 2.65" before they would get close to chambering with a closed bolt which would suggest one of two things. Either they are not #2155s - I have never used them so have no experience of them. Or alternatively they do need to be built to an incredibly short OAL.

Thoughts anyone?

[Sim G]

The Palma is longer than the 155 MK with a more streamlined ogive. Never used them so I wouldn't know from the practical build perspective. I'll wait for Laurie to come along and "own the internet"!

[StanDeasy]

The SMK #2155 was the original "Palma" bullet from 1992 and described as such on the packaging until Sierra introduced the #2156 as a more streamlined replacement.

Clearly the rifle you are working with has a short-throated chamber which is not compliant with NRA "Rule 150"

[rox]

Either they are not #2155s

Have you weighed them? Trying to remember if I gave you those pulled 190s in old 2155 boxes (although they would be the same shape at the front, so probably no different).

I've never heard of them being loaded short, and a chamber that requires them to be loaded that short sounds like it could even be too short for a proof round.

If you want some idea of whether they may not be 2155 post the bullet length and base to ogive @ 0.3" length

I don't get what relevance Rule 150 has here though.

..

[phaedra1106]

I have some 168gr 2155's, loaded to a COAL of 2.801" and base to ogive of 2.224"

They fit both my previous Steyr SSG04 and current Tikka T3x CTR with no problems at all.

[ovenpaa]

Interestingly the 'Palma' built to 2.700" would not fit my SSG P1.

[Duey]

Ovenpaa
I load 2155 in the P14 to 2.725 if I remember correctly, as I measure off a comparator, but I was supprised that it was below the 2.800 that I was expecting to load to

[toffe wrapper]

attached is specs of the 2155.

2.80 > 2.82 is a normal length for 2155, 2156 can be longer.

Phead
You can not have 168 2155. 168 is 2220

[phaedra1106]

Oops!, says 2155 on the plastic box I got them in, obviously the person I bought them off got it wrong!.

I usually use the Nosler 168's, I just got 2,000 of the Hornady 168 Match to try, a quick measure shows very little difference in ogive when they're all seated at 2.8".

[ovenpaa]

Just checked these, they average out at 1.1290" in length and weigh 158.60 to 158.75 grains and I cannot get a build length of 2.800" to fit any 308 rifles here so I have here so I have no idea what they are or what they were designed for.

Rox, those 190's have long since been shot and very good they were. I remember them well as my son shot them through his Accuracy International at 1000/1200 yards and got on very well with them. It was not until afterwards that I realised what he had been shooting... I tumbled the cases, resized them primed them and it was at that point that I discovered that they must have been neck turned at some point and as I did not have a suitable bushing at the time they ended up in a box and are probably still there to this day.