6.5x55 Headspace?

[Mr Peabody]

Is there a difference in headspace tolerances between newly made bolt guns and the M96 Swedish rifle?

[Jedman]

Sir, If you handload your ammo for this Swede and want to know if it is out of spec. take a case that you have sized and primed and load and fire it. Extract it and look at the primer to see if it is protruding and by how much ? If the primer is only slightly above flush it should be OK by adjusting your sizing die to keep the shoulder near where a fired case from the gun would be.

If you take the test fired case set the primer on a flat surface and see how much of a feeler gauge you can put between the bottom of case and the surface the primer is against . Holding the case as straight vertical as you can if you can get a .010 or thicker feeler between them your gun is severely over headspace spec. You may still be able to shoot it safely by again adjusting your sizing die to compensate but it has to much headspace and not really a safe condition.

Jedman

[Larry Gibson]

Yes, there is a difference, especially if the "new made bolt gun" is chambered to SAAMI spec. Headspace on most every M96 I've measured has been a tudge longer than the headspace in M38s. The M38s headspace usually is on the long side of SAAMI spec.

Sizing dies are made to SAAMI spec so FL sizing will probably over size the case for a milsurp chamber. Adjust the FL size die to just bump the case shoulder during sizing for maximum case life and minimal trimming. Neck sizing is preferred. A Lee collet die has much to be recommended, especially for the 6.5x55.

[Mr Peabody]

Thanks for the answers!

[Dutchman]

http://dutchman.rebooty.com/headspace.html