Having problem with 6.5x55 reloads.

Half of my cartidges won't chamber completely in one of my Swedish Mausers. The bolt only closes about 1/2 way. They will chamber completely in my other Swede.

Factory loads seem to load ok in both guns. Most of the problem catridges are Wolf brass with one Remington brass.

Any idea what I am doing wrong ? I did caliper the necks, they are about .002-.004 wider on the Wolf brass, but the Remington brass is same as factory.

Any help is appreciated.

2 things come to mind - 1st is wolf anything seems to be s--t, and 2nd to make sure you're full length sizing and running the cases fully into the die.

Had a similar problem recently when I prepped once fired .308 FGMM cases I had got from a buddy on the range: They wouldn't chamber as I had necksized them only. So I pulled the bullets, dumped the powder, deactivated (w/ WD 40) the primers and deprimed the cases. After I had FL sized and newly loaded the cases, they chambered perfectly. The chamber of my buddy's rifle simply had been wider and the cases were fireformed to these measurements.

I have found the M38 rifles to typically have a larger chamber diameter than M96 rifles. Both rifles headspace ok but brass shot in M38 expand upon firing and will not fit in M96 chamber unless you really (not partial) full length sized. Now once you resize them properly you will need to trim brass as it grows pretty fast. Also a symptom of this problem is that the primers are typically much flatter as they slam bolt as opposed to gripping chamber wall.

Just one possibility of many...

Thanks gentlemen,
I will pull the bullets, resize, trim, and see what happens.

Will also try to stay away from Wolf brass in the future. Funny how most of the problem reloads were Wolf.

I had the same sort of issues when I started reloading, and with the Swede as well. With mine it was case length. I trimmed, and the issue went away, though I also noticed that once I switched to proper brass (translation: Lapua) I have to trim less frequently.

Eric

I have ordered new brass as well. I have always trimmed after FL re-sizing.

My though is maybe I am stretching the neck when I pull out of the die by not having enough lube in the neck. I will also confirm full press into the die.

Sounds like to me, that you are sizing the cases a little too much and getting a slight bulge at the shoulder...

I did that a lot when I first started reloading...

If your dies are not set up and locked into place, I always size a case and then try it in the action, before loading them... that way I know they will work, instead of having to dismantle a batch of ammo, which I had to do a lot of also when I started reloading...

I finally got a little wiser with experience...

Never thought about over doing it. I haven' t had a chance to reload again. But will definitely chamber the first couple pieces of brass I size.

Thanks to all