Thread: Stupid Question. bare with me please

Originally Posted by Mroach

Newish reloader, have done alot of study and have had some success..Am reloading for 6.5 creedmoor Tikka T3x rifle, have been getting reloading data off XXL reloading am now looking at the New Hornardy 11th edition.. Am impressed by no.s however I am using Lapua brass and either wind river or federal primers the Lapua brass seems to be quite short 48.5 mil. I am looking at throwing the 147g Eld-m using Alliant 16/26. Hornardy manual says 71.12 mil COAL whereas I have been loading other ammunition to 70.1 mil ( 129 SST) I quess my question is, I don't know the Max cartridge length my rifle can handle, am I safe using the published COAL using different brass/primer as long as I start at the low end? and observe pressure signs ?!?!

Greetings @Mroach,
About now you are likely wishing you never asked the question. Simply the cartridge must fit in the chamber, preferably without the projectile touching the lands, and the cartridge must also fit in the mag. 70.1mm clearly meets these requirements with the SST and should with the ELDM as well. A lot of current projectiles shoot just as well with a bit more jump if not better so no need to try and fix what aint broke. I work with a minimum clearance to the lands of 1mm where the mag allows. The Creedmoor data is pretty good being quite new is right up there so I would work with that preferably chronographing a start load to validate the data before mong up closer to the top loads. The chronograph will give you a better indication of pressure than anything else. PM me if you have questions.
Regards Grandpamac.