Thread: ZKK-600 7x57 Hard to chamber

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

So if you hadn't used fancy pants measuring stick and had just adjusted die for fit via feel you would've achieved the same thing without now being worried it's different lol. Sounds the opposite to this fellas issues but I'm with JD on this one. Use it and see what fired cases are like. My old .270 just hated neck sized brass,possibly an offset neck... Partial length resizing suited it just fine.

I worked for years as a draughtsman (draughtsperson in modern language) which is a lot about measurements and being exact with dimensions and descriptions. A hard habit to break. But I still load for my old soldiers neck sizing sometimes with a Lee Loader which is fine for light loads. Might even use the scoops one day.
GPM.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings All,
I note the replies regarding the US and European standards being different, perhaps I should have said the adherence to those standards varies. In my safe is a T3 6.5x55. Lapua cases emerge after firing having stretched little. To me this suggests that I have a close to minimum chamber and the cases are close to max. Happy days. It all turned to custard when I started sizing. A Hornady headspace comparator and set of Redding competition shell holders were on hand which showed that I needed to use the +0.010" shell holder to get the desired 0.05mm (0.002") bump with my Redding FL die so the total set back with the standard SH was 0.3mm (0.012"). Perhaps my chamber was as loose as a goose. Wrong. Measuring fifed cases from a friends Ruger 6.5x55 showed it's chamber was even longer. Maybe my dies were duds so out with old Lyman FL dies from the early 1990's. Worse again.
In the US manufacturers are reluctant to adopt wildcat cartridges due to the baggage that comes with them and perhaps it is the same with overseas cartridges as well. For those of us that like the 6.5 and 7mm European cartridges it is just something we have to work through. For my T3 the +0.010" shell holder and for my old M38 with the miss matched bolt light loads and neck sizing should do. I can always set the Lyman of the shell holder if I need to.
Regards Grandpamac.
PS. The 6.5x55 is still my favourite cartridge.

The 6.5x55 does have some difference between Us and Euro specs, but the old 7x57, grandfather of everything, never has. The 7x57 is my favourite. (Along with the .30/06 - and also the .308! I am a very plain guy. But I have enjoyed reloading the ancient .44-40 the most over the years.)

Mate Im in Kapiti, your welcome to drop in and Ill have a look. Does the bolt only close with difficulty when you've got a cartridge in the chamber? Or is it difficult to close on an empty chamber?

Sounds like you got conned, first time for the rifle and 2nd time by the gunsmith.

Acquire a headapace gauge and check it yourself. This is a simple thing and if I paid a 'gunsmith' any money I would be expecting any problems to be unearthed, diagnosed and sorted.

Great to see a rifle in that stock!

Originally Posted by Tuckerbox

Great to see a rifle in that stock!

Yeah mate, stoked as with the wood, despite the barrel bluing it’s really brought it back and made it worth persisting with in my opinion.