How to figure LOA

[aprayinbear]

Got a question for you experienced reloaders......?

Is there a rule of thumb for determining LOA. I just picked up some cast 150 grain gas checked/ lubed 6.5mm bullets to reload for my Swedish mauser. Here's a link for the ones I bought. Lyman #266673 140 gr. Can't find an exact recipe for 150's except jacketed bullets. I'm using Trail Boss powder. Trouble is if I seat the bullet to the top lubed ring (not the top ring) the round measures out to around 2.90 with the gas check almost to the bottom of the shoulder. And even though the bullet doesn't compress the powder, I was worried that too much gas could get beyong the gas check. On the other hand if I move the gas check to the top of the shoulder it looks like I've created a scud missile.

Suggestions?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[USSR]

Try seating it long. With a lead bullet, it will be obvious if the bullet is contacting the leade.

Don

[JBS]

Old cast bullet safety rule. Never seat a gas checked bullet so that the gas check is below the case shoulder. The rule is to prevent a gas check from coming loose into the case and becoming a secondary projectile.

[Kirk]

Max LOA for the 6.5x55 is 3.150" with their long 160 gr rn bullets. when seating bullets out, the limiting factors are either the ability to load/eject a loaded round or for the bullet to contact the leade. I'd make a dummy round that is partially neck-sized so that a bullet can, with effort, be pushed into the case. Seat the bullet long (3.25" and carefully chamber it. When it hits the leade, the bullet will be pushed into the case. Carefully extract the cartridge & measure the LOA; that will be your LOA for than bullet - unless it will not load or eject. Then, you will have to seta it deeper. You may also have to seat it deeper to a point you can crimp the bullet.

With a 150 gr lead bullet, I expect your max LOA will be much less than 3.150" & that the GC will be well within the neck.