Thread: Hdy 129g SST in 6.5x55 Swede

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

I'd recommend not "forcing" the projectile back into the case. I'd recommend using a dremel to slot the sized neck twice, opposed, lube the projectile and as slowly and gently as possible, squeeze the bolt so as not to shove the projectile in, rather to ease the thing back into the case.

Then I'd play the black sharpie trick, adjusting until I found just touch, then find my working length from there. Unless I've missed something in the op descriptive, that pill is probably still 40 thou jammed. My rifles, I don't like jammed, I like jump, and even with the pills that urban myth claims need to be close to the lands, jump still works, I have a VLD jumping 120thou that is just as accurate as one jumped 40thou in the same rifle. Accuracy is helped by using the full case neck where reasonable too. Think concentricity and consistent neck tension.

Feel free to correct me you lot. Can't find my pants some days, but those nice young men in blue suits always bring me home again......

Appreciate your comments. I think I was not clear. When I close the bolt on the cartridge I do so slowly and the projectile moves back into the neck with little effort. Definite no big push deal so don't feel I need at least with this calibre to do the dremel thing. Save that idea tho. So I have got to exactly the point you recommend. Then I have gone to my press and used the seating die to push bullet back a further 9 thou. And yes, I used a black sharpie marker to check. There is no engagement with the lands. At all. I am confident the bullet is 9 thou clear. I guess my question is whether 9 thou is enough? If accuracy is not there I am happy to keep moving the bullet incrementally back. I am ignoring the cannelure at this time. There is sufficient neck tension to hold the bullet and if I feel I need more I can use the Lee FCD to crimp the case at any point I desire. I understand Hdy putting the cannelure where they have as a universal positioning that accommodates a wide range of chambers and throats. But there is no law that it must be used, is there?

Anyway, I believe I am doing the process you describe but without the Dremel bit. Correct me if I'm still missing something.