ABLR Minimum Bearing Surface Case Neck

Paul Barnard · Aug 5, 2017

I am loading some 129 ABLR bullets in a Howa 6.5x55. The magazine length and throat will allow me to seat these bullets way on out there. In trying to decide on my seating depth though, I am concerned about the bullet's bearing surface on the case neck. The bullet has a LONG boat tail. I am at a COAL of 3.1 right now and the bullet only has a bearing surface of .19 inches. Is that .19 inches enough?

TackDriver284 · Aug 5, 2017

It's pretty far out of the neck at .019" seat, I would seat it deeper with bearing surface almost flush with the bottom of the neck so it can centralize the bullet better. A little jump won't hurt it. Give it a try.

SJB358 · Aug 7, 2017

I would try them at .050 off the rifling to start off with. I'd probably want a little more bullet in the neck but if they are seated straight and that is where you end up I probably wouldn't sweat it too much. I'd just worry a little about concentric rounds with so little bullet in the neck.

Paul Barnard · Aug 7, 2017

Thanks. I went ahead and seated them more deeply. I did a little more research and saw where a general guideline is seating as deeply as the bullet's diameter.

hainleym · Aug 8, 2017

I have a Howa 1500 in 6.5x55. I have loaded using the 129 gr Nosler ABLR with a COAL for 3.1. I use a Lee Factory Crip Die with a light crimp. I am getting 1/3" groups with the ABLR's.

Paul Barnard · Aug 10, 2017

hainleym":2pdw6leo said:
I have a Howa 1500 in 6.5x55. I have loaded using the 129 gr Nosler ABLR with a COAL for 3.1. I use a Lee Factory Crip Die with a light crimp. I am getting 1/3" groups with the ABLR's.

What powder and charge if you don't mind?

hainleym · Aug 12, 2017

My load is 44.5 grains H4350, CCI 200 primers, Nosler 129 grain ABLR, Norma brass, 3.1 OAL, slight crimp with Lee Factory Crimp die. It is a very nice accurate load low recoil.

preacher · Aug 15, 2017

Seems like I read, admittedly years ago, ( at least in their 8x57/200gr machinegun rounds)the Germans used (metric equivalent of course) a minimum of .25" and then used some kind of crimp ( usually the stabbing kind). They wanted powder space! I myself have always liked a full caliber or very close, but then, I found out that I really like the results of the FCD, so for the past many years I crimp, no matter what.