Thread: More Learnings and Questions Using Redding Competition Shell Holders.

Greetings All,
I have pondered a little more on my results with the 6.5 x 55 with the following results. The headspace dimension for the minimum chamber and the maximum case are often close together. Quite by chance my T3 seems to have a minimum chamber and the Lapua cases seem to be close to or at maximum. I probably shouldn't be surprised as both are made in Finland. The tolerance for chambers seems to be about 0.25mm (0.010") from min to max and the three rifles I have checked all fall within this range with the M77 and M38 close to max. The case tolerance seems to be a bit less, about 0.15mm (0.006") which would mean that a minimum case should measure about 44.7mm where it actually measures 44.45mm. This tells me that the dies are my problem. The dies are Lyman made in the late 1980's when 6.5 x 55 cases were not made in the US. I'll check some more modern dies to see if things have imoproved,
Before anyone has a spastic fit about the Hornady Headspsce Compariter not mesauring headspace I do know that but it does let me compare headspace which is what I have done here. The point is to warn other handloaders that some significant adjustments may need to be made to get your cases to fit the chamber. Short neadspace cases can easily separate and usually at the most inconvenient time.
Regards Grandpamac.