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I tried the first batch of 6.5s in my Sweedish Mauser today - they were accurate enough (5" group at 200 yds) - But the cases obviously weren't sealing to the chamber, as they all were covered in sooty powder marks; it even went all down the bolt aswell.

The load was 36.3gn of Vhit 150 behind a 140gn SMK, and using new brass which had been run through a full sizer.

I found the data in the Vhit reloading guide a bit confusing - for 140gn SMK it quotes a C.O.L of 3.110, but this leaves hardly any of the bearing surface in the neck of the case; so seated to 3.050 which had just over half the bearing surface in - But is this still allowing the bullets to release too soon? Should I just ignor the reloading guide and seat the bullets even futher in so that there is full contact between the inside of the case neck and the bearing surface?

So should I experiment with the seating (was also planning on just neck sizing the once fired to see if that helps), or keep the same C.O.L for now and start working the load up a bit to get more pressure?

Any advice on this problem, or general advice for loading 6.5 x 55 would be most welcome....

PM ex skydiver and say I said to ask him. He shoots a 6.5 Swede Mauser sniper and had sooting issues a while ago, no idea what he did to resolve it however I can confirm it is an accurate rifle.

Cheers Ovenpaa, I give him a PM

The sooting issue aside; I was well pleased with the Mauser - I think once I get the loads right it'll be very acurate...I still find it hard to believe it's over 100 years old

We've just added a long barrel M1896 Swedish Mauser to the sett armoury, and it's due its first outing at Kingsbury in three weeks time. We'll be using military surplus canned bangs in ours.

If you've never shot one before, you won't be dissapointed - I'd seen a few, but had never shot one before, and bought it more from reputation than anything else...but I think it's already joined my Anschutz and SMLE as a rifle I will keep for life

I also got to shoot a friend's Long Lee today - another rifle I've never shot before...very nice

Can I ask a favour Badger?...when you get your factory ammo for the Sweedish...could you let me know what the C.O.L is please?

See my post over here relating to the same problem, and my solution:

There's also some load data which may be of use...

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread. ... 5x55/page3

Post #103

Cheers (recently joined this fora)

Harry

Good information and welcome to the forum Harry.

Welcome to the forum Harry - and a well timed first post...as I am powdering up some more rounds tomorrow for testing at the weekend...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that the recomended seating depths leave too little of the bullet in the case - I pulled a .308 RUAG to have a look, and it was seated with half the inside of the neck gripping the bullet...where as some of the recomended COLs for 6.5 x 55 leave only about a quater of the inside of the neck touching.

There's another angle to it though aswell - Ex Skydiver (another member) has been helping me with the issue...the dies I'm useing (Lee deluxe (or not) set) are only giving me a difference between the diameter of the bullet, and the inside of the neck (or 'neck diameter interference (NDI)', as Ex Skydiver calls it) of 0.002" - that's both the full length (mandril type) and the neck sizer (collet). If I take the mandril out of the FL die, I can get 0.010" NDI, but that's quite a lot so I'll try other things first.

Also I did start at the minimum (36.3 of N150/ 140 smk), and looking at the fired cases they haven't expanded in way at all - so I think it's a combination of a bullet only just held by a loose neck and a low load.

Your loads seemed at the reasonable end - so I think I'm going to try 3 lots of ten - 36.8, 37.1 and 37.4 gns of Vhit 150, and seat 5 of each batch as I did before, and 5 of each a bit deeper. If this doesn't work then I'll have to look further at the neck tension issue...

Another thing to consider, is that I checked the jump on it today (just got some cases back from Ovenpaa to use with the SHED OAL gauge ), and was pleasantly surprised to find it was only 0.064" from the max COL! I'm quite impressed by that, for a 100 year old military rifle...so don't want to end up using 'too' deep a seating to solve the sooting problem...

Anyway, thanks again Harry, and Ex Skydiver - I'll let you know how the testing goes.

:cheers:

Dougan

Thanks for the welcome people...

Checked some resized cases today - I get .004" (.1mm) interference fit with Redding dies, and still get sooting with the COAL as suggested by Lapua.

FYI I have also used Lapua 144gr FMJBT, loaded to spec and never had a problem - although have to stick with the 139gr Scenars as I bought 1000 of them and still some to go.

Most M96 shooters use RL22 with success, but as it's not around here, I use the N560 as it's very close. Slow = good for Swedes!

You could try taking the mandrel down a bit with some emery cloth and a drill?

Cheers

Harry

Harry, I know it is not a true comparison however I shoot Christels 6,5-284 which is very vaguely in the same area as the 6,5 SE with 139 Scenar's and N560 and it is a good combination, what makes you prefer the heavier bullets?