Hi. I've done some handgun reloading with a progressive, and was given an old single stage RCBS press. I decided to start reloading rifle as well. I have followed the instructions and re-read, but I can find nothing about the following; I'm loading 6.5 X 54 MS. Hornady 140 grain bullets. The question is that in order to make the full length of "3.063," I have to leave the cannelure exposed by about a fat eightth of an inch. Is this SOP? THANK YOU!

While it is aesthetically irritating, it is not a problem to leave the cannelure out of the case. The really important issue in rifle reloading is the relationship of the bullet to the throat of the rifle. At some specific distance from the lands, the rifle is likely to perform at it's best.

If you are just starting, go with the recommended OAL as a starting point, cannelure be ****ed!

Yep...as noted, the cannelure is sometimes going to be exposed...can't have it in but one place, and there are a lot of 6.5 cartidges out there with various neck lengths and OAL's. Does no harm hanging out there, but it does have that unfinished look about it.


If that 6.5X54MS is like any of the other's I've seen, has plenty of room for the bullet to be seated out...would still want to check for any interfearance between rifling and bullet at your choosen OAL. Can feel contact with the rifling as resistance to bold closure that's not there when bullets are seated deeper...can marks-a-lot (or just soot one up) the bullet and chamber/extract and look for contact marks if you are unsure.

Just checked...on some 6.5Jap ammo, that cannelure is a good .19-20" ahead of the case mouth.

Hornady #4 says 2.950" COL for both their 140 grain bullets. That's about 1/8" difference. As Hornady specs the round-nosed 160 grainer at 2.970", your pointed 140s shouldn't be too long to chamber at 3.063". That 3.063 sounds more like the maximum length allowable for the 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer magazine, which de Hass says is 3.075" long. Gotta have some slack there.

Bye
Jack

Hornady #4 says 2.950" COL for both their 140 grain bullets. That's about 1/8" difference. As Hornady specs the round-nosed 160 grainer at 2.970", your pointed 140s shouldn't be too long to chamber at 3.063". That 3.063 sounds more like the maximum length allowable for the 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer magazine, which de Hass says is 3.075" long. Gotta have some slack there.

Bye
Jack

Thanks very much!

Thanks very much!


Be sure to check and make sure your rounds function through the magazine. I've found that this often sets the max OAL length limit on Mannlicher-Schoenauers instead of the barrel throating.

Hope this helps,
Chris

If you plan on loading for several rifles with various bullets, i would recommed getting a stony point over all length gauge, its a pretty handy little tool