6.5x55 Berger Match Hunting VLD 140g

[6.5x55]

(Cartridge) 6.5x55

(Brand of bullet) Berger Match Hunting VLD

(Weight of bullet) 140gr

(Brand of brass) Lapua

(Type of powder) RL-22

(Grains of powder) 47.5

(Brand, and type of primer) Winchester Large Rifle

(COL) 2.535" (to the Ogive) (0.007" off the lands)
(COL) 3.185" (to the tip)

(FPS/MPS) 2780 fps

(Rifle) Mauser M03

(Barrel Length) 60cm

(Accuracy @ 100 yards/meters) ~1" @ 200m

[icebug]

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, but getting 0.007" off the lands in Blaser R8 is impossible.

[Corjack]

I can touch the lands with my R8 in 6.5x55. It would be nice if he would post OAL, as the vast majority of reloaders do not have th tools to measure to the ogive.

[dchamp]

I don't have a 6.5x55 or a Mauser 03 but I do have a 6.5-284 in a Blaser R8. When touching the lands in mine, with a Berger 140 VLD, I end up with only .030" of the base of the boattail entering the case mouth. Maybe the Mauser 03 chambers are cut with a different lead on their reamers.

The trim to length on the 6.5x55 is 2.155". The trim to length on the 6.5-284 is 2.160". When I add .005" to 6.5x55's CBTO number of 2.535" I get around .170-.180" of bullet shank seated into the neck. So unless I really screwed something up the shank of his bullet should be seated about halfway into the neck. Also based on that I get 3.197" COAL to the lands.

[7x57]

My COAL for the same projectile in the R8 is very similar to 6.5x55's at 2.540. Jammed I had about 3mm in the neck of the case (what's that in thou?) . Came back to 2.540 which I estimated (using micro seater dies) to be 30 thou off the lands. I'll do an overall measurement and post it.

[6.5x55]

I can touch the lands with my R8 in 6.5x55. It would be nice if he would post OAL, as the vast majority of reloaders do not have th tools to measure to the ogive.

I'll measure it and post the COAL in the next few days as I'm travelling at present.

They are seated long, and luckily with the M03 has ample length in the magazine to support it, as the same magazine can be used for 30-06 and 9.3x62mm.

[6.5x55]

I don't have a 6.5x55 or a Mauser 03 but I do have a 6.5-284 in a Blaser R8. When touching the lands in mine, with a Berger 140 VLD, I end up with only .030" of the base of the boattail entering the case mouth. Maybe the Mauser 03 chambers are cut with a different lead on their reamers.

The trim to length on the 6.5x55 is 2.155". The trim to length on the 6.5-284 is 2.160". When I add .005" to 6.5x55's CBTO number of 2.535" I get around .170-.180" of bullet shank seated into the neck. So unless I really screwed something up the shank of his bullet should be seated about halfway into the neck. Also based on that I get 3.197" COAL to the lands.

I keep my cases trimmed close to the max length of 2.165. I trim them usually to around 2.162-2.164 in length.

I'll run some more measurements when I get back home in the next few days.

[Aussiegunnut]

I don't have a 6.5x55 or a Mauser 03 but I do have a 6.5-284 in a Blaser R8. When touching the lands in mine, with a Berger 140 VLD, I end up with only .030" of the base of the boattail entering the case mouth. Maybe the Mauser 03 chambers are cut with a different lead on their reamers.

The trim to length on the 6.5x55 is 2.155". The trim to length on the 6.5-284 is 2.160". When I add .005" to 6.5x55's CBTO number of 2.535" I get around .170-.180" of bullet shank seated into the neck. So unless I really screwed something up the shank of his bullet should be seated about halfway into the neck. Also based on that I get 3.197" COAL to the lands.

No, you haven't screwed up, your numbers in the Blaser R8 are spot on. I have exactly the same results in my 6.5x284, I couldn't touch the lands unless I use the Norma Oryx 158s round nose projies. Even then approx .110 thousandth of projectile in the case neck.
I do believe Blaser throat the chambers quite deep to help shed some of the pressure and this design offers them a serious pressure buffer and insurance against careless hand loaders... You basically cannot over pressure the chamber with such long throats using the correct powders for cartridge.
Mauser M03 must have a traditional chamber with a standard lead to case base length.
I'll check my PTG reamer specs and we can compare them against the Mmauser chamber specs if you'd like?

[6.5x55]

Just measured my reloads. COAL is 3.185" which is 2.535" OAL to the ogive.

[6.5x55]

IMG_20160906_210720.jpg

From left to right
9.3x62mm Woodleigh 286gr PP SN (reload)
6.5x55mm Berger 140gr Match Hunting VLD (reload)
6.5x55mm Geco 156gr RN SP (factory round)