Alpha1 wrote:Dougan how long have you been re loading. How long have you had your Swedish Mauser.
The 139 grain Lapau scenars are probably one of the best bullets you can buy for the 6.5x55 as long as the rifle is in good nick and the bore is OK.
My advice to you would be to keep them all though I do appreciate your offer. The first thing I would do is slug your bore to make sure that it is not shot out I would be surprised if it is but its worth doing.
Vitavouri powders are not the only powder you can use with the scenars you just need to work up a load using a suitable powder. Were do you do your shooting who do you shoot with and who is giving you advice on re loading for your swede. My guess is with a little bit of work we could work up a load for your swede with the Scenars and the N160.
Please keep the scenars post some more questions pm me if you want I am sure we can find a load for your rifle using the scenars.
Alpha, you help is much appreciated, thank you...
...to answer your questions - I've been loading for my SMLE for 2 years (with no problems at all), and for the Mauser since last year - While some of my club-mates do reload (and I've converted a few), I think when it comes to the detail there is more experience here on the forum.
I don't think there are any problems with the rifle - The bore is good, and when I first had problems last year I had the gun checked by a reputable gunsmith...the bolt, head space, chamber and throat all checked out OK.
Anyway, I tried some more yesterday...
I had 3 batches - one of 39.0 gn at 3.050, one of 40.0 gn at 3.050 (so 0.5 gn either side of the minimum load) and one of 41.0 gn, but seated to 3.080 (wanted to try a lower load than the ones previously seated at that depth).
The first batch felt good (not too strong) and the cases looked fine...other than some slight sooting - The next batch felt noticeably stronger and had marks on the head from the extractor slot on the bolt face (I'll come back to that...) - The last batch gave stiff bolt lifts, so I stopped after 2 rounds.
So now having tried various loads (powder and seating depth), and being able to compare them across all the available data there is a basic pattern to the problem - That no matter what the seating depth, and corresponding powder amount the same thing happens...At even a few grains over minimum load I get stiff bolt lifts and ejector marks...back it off a grain, and I just get the ejector marks...but to get no indications at all I have to go below the minimum load; but then there's the sooting...
The 'in-between' loads (showing the ejector marks) are very accurate, but apart from the marks, the cases become a tight fit (too tight) for the chamber if only neck sized on the second re-loading.
I have it from a good source (Adam) that the marks on the head may not necessarily be a sign of over-pressure, but could indicate a 'poor fit' in the chamber, and/or a light load not sealing the case to the chamber and there for pushing back on the bolt face...
...a picture of the mark (at 3 0'clock on the case head) which I get on nearly every reload other than those less than the minimum load - I deliberately picked a noticeable one for the picture, but most are much fainter:
Have any of your cases had a similar mark...?
If it comes to it, I'm prepared to put up with a bit of sooting; though with new brass it can be quite a lot...the frustrating thing is that there are no problems at all with the PPU factory (no marks, no sooting no nothing)...so I know it is possible with the rifle...