michaeljp65 wrote:What sort of rifle is it? Tikka 243 or 308 or similar? I don't think its rifle related, seldom is if reloading yourself. In regards to the ring around the case head. Get a paper clip and straighten it out with a small hook at one end. Run this hook down the side of the case till you hit the bottom. If you do not feel anything near that mark around the bottom, don't worry about the marks. I have some cases now that have a ring around the base and I'm not at all worried, it may have come from the die.
Hard to lift bolt and hard to extract It sounds like you are not setting the headspace correctly. You need a headspace gauge a set of verniers to measure your fired case headspace and set your sizing die to match, and a good quality FL/bushing die. Once you have these tools it will all seem very easy to get right.
Rifle is a t3 in 6.5x55 brought new removed the barrel and had a lilja barrel fitted and the reamer came from jgs in the us. I will try the paper clip method tomorrow. It has accured to me that a 6.5x55 and a 308 do not share the same shell holder i wonder if this is a problem as I am lead to believe I need a 308 bolt face. I have a 308 in the safe i might have a look