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Well, I've had a most frustrating day

I had already prepped and primed the 6.5 cases yesterday - so today I carefully powdered them in their various increments, and then seated the bullets, again very carefully to specific depths - So all done...then thought I give them a quick polish...and found that I could push the bullets in, and pull them out just with my fingers... (no wonder I was getting sooting :roll: )....So, after much swearing, emptied them all again, and took some more measurements....

....Now it's hard to get reliable measurements of the inside of necks with calipers; but the interference seemed to be between 0.001 and 0.002 thou. No matter what I tried with the neck sizer I couldn't get better; and have come to the decision that I don't like the Lee collet die - I then had another look at the FL die...I measured the width of the expander mandril; and at it's widest point it is definately 0.263"...which means it can not give any more iterference than 0.001" !!!...Lee...

I did try without the mandril at all - but it gave 0.010" interference, and when I seated a bullet (to test it), it visibly bulged the neck, and the bullet couldn't be pulled with an inersial hammer (had to put the bugger in a vice!).

So, I called Midway, and they said they'd give me a credit if I sent them back - I then ordered a Redding set (I think I prefer normal dies, with an expander ball) - I just hope I get them before next weekend, which will be my last chance to load test for a month.

The day wasn't a total loss - I finally got to use my Target Master trickler; and got 100 .303s knocked up pretty quickly...the trickler is excellent - I've totally cut the powder thrower out of the operation...I was using a dipper and a cup of powder (nice low-tec ) carefully straight into the pan on the scales, and the a few seconds more of the trickler (which I was starting first)...and the load was measured

ovenpaa: Nothing quantifiable (yet - but I might work on this as I have some 144gr left!).

And the military ammunition was (iirc) 160gr RN.

Of course, your 6.5 x 284 is actually nothing like the old Swedish girl!

Have got some 144gr left if you want to try them (10 or so?). You can have them foc if you pm me your postal address.

Cheers

Harry

Dougan,

Pm me your address - I'll send the Redding set (on loan) for you to use for next weekend.

Cheers

Harrry

Pudding wrote:ovenpaa: Nothing quantifiable (yet - but I might work on this as I have some 144gr left!).

And the military ammunition was (iirc) 160gr RN.

Of course, your 6.5 x 284 is actually nothing like the old Swedish girl!

Have got some 144gr left if you want to try them (10 or so?). You can have them foc if you pm me your postal address.

Cheers

Harry

Harry, thank you indeed for your offer. I am just the opposite to you with the 139's. I loaded ten to start with, had found my load within half a dozen shots and only tweaked the OAL after that. I use it in a Sporter out to 1200 yards and have no plans to change any time soon.

It would be interesting to see the 139 and 144 side by side though, a picture would suffice if possible

I am currently looking at/playing with/trying out different loads for my 6.5x55 at the moment - alas mine is one of those modern fandangled things - but it certainly shoots straight enough!

Mike

Dougan,

I am at a loss as to why you cannot get the neck tension suitable to hold the bullet in place.

I've just picked up a 3 die Lee collet set from a forum member (I already have the redding set) - I've just been playing with them and I can get them to easily hold the bullet firm enough without damaging the case.

Are you setting the die up correctly? (Sorry don't mean to be rude)

Ive just tried it with 100gr, 129gr and 160gr bullets (I didn't have any 139gr)

Have a look at these two video clips:





Mike

MiLisCer wrote:Are you setting the die up correctly? (Sorry don't mean to be rude)

Not rude at all - in fact I think you're spot on - Having watched the vids (thank you ), I'm pretty sure that I wasn't adjusting them correctly

However even after watching the vids, I still think the collet die is fiddley, and I would prefer a die that doesnt need constant adjusting (my father needs to use them too) - I'm using an old set of simple RCBS dies for my .303, and the expander ball gives exactly the right neck tension with no fuss...

The other thing is the FL die - I could 'polish' the mandril down, or would have to run cases through both dies to get them right - again...to much messing about.

Anyway at least I know what the problem was now with the neck tension,

Cheers Mike :cheers:

Pudding wrote:Dougan,

Pm me your address - I'll send the Redding set (on loan) for you to use for next weekend.

Cheers

Harrry

That's a very kind offer thank you

- But not necessary - I will keep my fingers crossed that I get the dies on time...but if not, I've got other rifles to take

ovenpaa:

Pic of 144gr and 139gr Lapuas.

Thank you for posting the image, it has got me thinking as there is quite a difference. I will have a look at the BC's and play with some numbers.