Can I jump in and ask advice on my application? I'm kinda nervous about loading for an older action.
I have a Carl Gustov 1913 with the original barrel thats 18 1/2" . It shoots about a 1" group at 100 yrds after I bedded the action and using "Century Arms" 139gr SP shells. (I think they are Yugoslavian made.)
I have the Speers #14 reload book with the section for old military actions, I bought it because my other reloading books don't mention the military actions for the 6.5x55.
Hornady .264" 140gr SP interlock bullets,
IMR 4350 and Varget, (two of the powders listed in the Speers book)
Federal large rifle primers.
To establish the COL for my intance, could I take an empty case and a bullet and let the closing bolt seat the bullet up to the start of the lands, then remove and measure COL? Then compare that measurement to what is stated in the loading book and adjust accordingly?
Or, just measure the Century ammo that I know works and copy that measurement?
Or, just use the measurement from the Speers book of 3.000"?
Thanks.
If you want to use the magazine I bet you will find that you will have to seat the bullet a lot deeper than the lands to have it function in the magazine. I am loaded to a magazine maximum of 3.15", I have a friend who loads for target shooting, he loads out to 3.25" to best fit the throat but he has very little bullet in the neck, he can pull the bullet out with his fingers and he cannot put a round in the magazine.
I found that the throat of my M38 is shorter than a 96 and chambers just find at 3.15" but not wanting to push it out further as the ammo will be handled for hunting and put in the magazine.