I recently made time to play with these things and some things I have notice.
My Full length size dies make the cases small and in fact they become the same size as new R-P cases.
Which are too small.
I researched and found the case head diameter on original Swede was .480" and I get .473" after sizing and new R-P or PMC cases measure .473".
I also measured some "gallery ammo" 1942 and 1945 and the case head is .4785"
If I shoot the small case head brass in any of the 3 rifles I am playing with the case head after firing measures .477"
Spring back of course.
I am going to shoot and neck size some cases a few times and get a real chamber dimension.
I mention this because I sized my cases down and knew I was sizing them down quite a bit and in fact the shoulder was getting sized down .008"
This was really working the brass and allowing a lot of growth when fired and that growth not only goes out it goes forward.
My cases were growing .008-.009" for each firing.
6 reloads on one PMC case and I have early witness mark of case head separation.
I would imagine as it has grown .054" longer (Yes I trim) Now on my .308 I get .001 to .0015" of growth for each time fired and full length sized.
European dimensions for the Swede are different than the US version and there lies the problem.
Now I did hone my first die some as I knew it was way small and after hone I was getting the only .008-.009" of growth.
Hate to know what it was before.
But that was still too much and required a lot of force to size the cases.
I honed and polished another die and got it to where I am only sizing the case .002" down anywhere except the neck of course.
I have not shot any cases yet with the new die.
I will say this all 3 of those Swedish 6.5x55 rifles have the same case dimensions after firing.
Impressive.
The bullet that works best for me so far is the Hornady 129gr. flat base.
Groups are staying under 2" at 200 yards scoped.
I have not played with seating depths yet but IMR4064 H4895 and H4350 all work great.
Hope to get these cases to last as long as my .308 R-P cases. 50+ times full length sized reloads.
My Full length size dies make the cases small and in fact they become the same size as new R-P cases.
Which are too small.
I researched and found the case head diameter on original Swede was .480" and I get .473" after sizing and new R-P or PMC cases measure .473".
I also measured some "gallery ammo" 1942 and 1945 and the case head is .4785"
If I shoot the small case head brass in any of the 3 rifles I am playing with the case head after firing measures .477"
Spring back of course.
I am going to shoot and neck size some cases a few times and get a real chamber dimension.
I mention this because I sized my cases down and knew I was sizing them down quite a bit and in fact the shoulder was getting sized down .008"
This was really working the brass and allowing a lot of growth when fired and that growth not only goes out it goes forward.
My cases were growing .008-.009" for each firing.
6 reloads on one PMC case and I have early witness mark of case head separation.
I would imagine as it has grown .054" longer (Yes I trim) Now on my .308 I get .001 to .0015" of growth for each time fired and full length sized.
European dimensions for the Swede are different than the US version and there lies the problem.
Now I did hone my first die some as I knew it was way small and after hone I was getting the only .008-.009" of growth.
Hate to know what it was before.
But that was still too much and required a lot of force to size the cases.
I honed and polished another die and got it to where I am only sizing the case .002" down anywhere except the neck of course.
I have not shot any cases yet with the new die.
I will say this all 3 of those Swedish 6.5x55 rifles have the same case dimensions after firing.
Impressive.
The bullet that works best for me so far is the Hornady 129gr. flat base.
Groups are staying under 2" at 200 yards scoped.
I have not played with seating depths yet but IMR4064 H4895 and H4350 all work great.
Hope to get these cases to last as long as my .308 R-P cases. 50+ times full length sized reloads.