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Alpha1 wrote: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?

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.

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?

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

Alpha1 wrote: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!

Thanks every body for your help and advice much appreciated.