6.5x55 COAL not right

[dillwt]

I’ve been reading some since you posted this. If you search, you’ll find others who also were getting measurements of a short throat, using the Hornady OAL Gauge. But when they went to reloading, they just loaded to normal, based on whatever loading manual, and all well with the world.

If your chamber is good, there isn’t really a way the throat can be short for the 6.5x55. The SAAMI throat length is super long! You might want to try loading a few dummy rounds to COAL you wish & chamber them. Let me ask, we’re you actually getting Lands marks on the bullets when testing COAL? Or was the bullet just stopping?

Dave, that's what has me confused. The 6.5x55 is supposed to have a long throat. The bullet is just stopping. I have actually dropped it into the chamber to eliminate a problem with the modified case ensuring that the bullet was into the throat. I am not getting land marks, but I may not be putting enough pressure. I have used a light to inspect for any possible obstructions but I don't see anything obvious. I will check again tonight applying more pressure and maybe a dummy round. Why would the bullet stop before hitting lands?

[Dave Hoback]

Yeah, seems strange. But like I said, just try searching & you’ll find others through more than the last decade, who were looking at the same problem & using the this method. But all was actually fine. They loaded ammunition to proper Loading Manual COAL & recipes, and found good accuracy with no pressure problems. And the ones I found were 6.5x55 Swede specific! So, we might just overthinking it. Kinda like when people decide a Savage barrel is TRASH because they used a Bore Scope, without ever testing it.

Maybe try some factory ammunition first?

[dillwt]

Yeah, seems strange. But like I said, just try searching & you’ll find others through more than the last decade, who were looking at the same problem & using the this method. But all was actually fine. They loaded ammunition to proper Loading Manual COAL & recipes, and found good accuracy with no pressure problems. And the ones I found were 6.5x55 Swede specific! So, we might just overthinking it. Kinda like when people decide a Savage barrel is TRASH because they used a Bore Scope, without ever testing it.

Maybe try some factory ammunition first?

Factory ammo coming with the No-Go gauge. I will set up a dummy round tonight per Speer Manual and check that.

[dillwt]

Yeah, seems strange. But like I said, just try searching & you’ll find others through more than the last decade, who were looking at the same problem & using the this method. But all was actually fine. They loaded ammunition to proper Loading Manual COAL & recipes, and found good accuracy with no pressure problems. And the ones I found were 6.5x55 Swede specific! So, we might just overthinking it. Kinda like when people decide a Savage barrel is TRASH because they used a Bore Scope, without ever testing it.

Maybe try some factory ammunition first?

Removed barrel and set up 4 Dummy Rounds at 3.00 and longer up to 3.15. Chambered the first one and it was obvious the round was not fully seated in the chamber. Tapped on the cartridge base lightly to fully seat brass. had to lightly pry cartridge out with screw driver. remeasured OAL. it was now 2.99 and seating in the lands. Very obvious thanks to Mr. Sharpie. Repeated process on the 3 remaining dummy rounds. Same results on all 3. So looks like I have a short throat. From looking at the rifling marks I can probably seat to OAL of 2.97 and be just kissing them. Not sure if this was by design from Shilen. I may keep it this way but shooting lead free may be a problem. Any Thoughts?

[Dave Hoback]

Well, like I first said.. my Shilen in 260 Rem was the same way. So I reamed with a PTG Uni Throater. If you want, you can rent these from 4D Rentals inexpensively. (Where I got mine) https://4drentals.com/product/6-5mm-precision-throater/

[cowboybart]

Try a different bullet other than the Speer. The Speer is kinda heavy and fat up front. Maybe try a Bal Tip or whatever Hornady is offering. If the quest is hunting - keep that in mind when selecting a bullet. If punching paper, any of the Match bullets from Berger, Sierra, Nosler, Hornady ... should be able to be seated out longer as they are sleeker.