Question for 6 SLR loaders...What case lube works best for resizing 243 brass?

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

I am having my 243 rebarrelled and chambered for 6 SLR.

I'm using Whidden 6 SLR Click Adjustable non bushing sizing die with a Whidden micrometer seater

While I'm waiting for the rifle, I have been resizing some of my fired 243 brass as practice

I have once fired Remington (R&P) cases that I'm practicing with before I start sizing brass that will need turning. Normally I anneal after every firing but these cases were not annealed before resizing in the 6 SLR die as I only reloaded 243 Lapua brass prior to this

Using RCBS case lube and a pad, I ended up with 6 dented shoulders out of 40 resized.
These were my first dents. I know that too much lube will cause problems so I always lube very sparingly.

Searched the forum and found several votes for Imperial Sizing Wax, and a couple for one shot and Ballistol. Interested in hearing from the other "SLR"ers what works best and if dents like donuts can be part of the SLR experience.

 

[1lnbrdg]

Wait until you get your barrel chambered and back to work with. Saw someone do this earlier on another post, ruined a lot of brass as he sized too much. 1st resizing you will get a lot of dented shoulders. Not a problem, just shoot them.

 

[OldManTA]

I am having my 243 rebarrelled and chambered for 6 SLR.

I'm using Whidden 6 SLR Click Adjustable non bushing sizing die with a Whidden micrometer seater

While I'm waiting for the rifle, I have been resizing some of my fired 243 brass as practice

I have once fired Remington (R&P) cases that I'm practicing with before I start sizing brass that will need turning. Normally I anneal after every firing but these cases were not annealed before resizing in the 6 SLR die as I only reloaded 243 Lapua brass prior to this

Using RCBS case lube and a pad, I ended up with 6 dented shoulders out of 40 resized.
These were my first dents. I know that too much lube will cause problems so I always lube very sparingly.

Searched the forum and found several votes for Imperial Sizing Wax, and a couple for one shot and Ballistol. Interested in hearing from the other "SLR"ers what works best and if dents like donuts can be part of the SLR experience.

I have been using Imperial wax for years with no problems. You don't need much. I spread some on a lube pad and roll a few cases on that making sure the necks get lubed then size a case then another without rolling on the pad.
Tom Alves

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have been using Imperial wax for years with no problems. You don't need much. I spread some on a lube pad and roll a few cases on that making sure the necks get lubed then size a case then another without rolling on the pad.
Tom Alves

^^^^ this. I put imperial wax on with my fingers. Either way it works, no dented shoulders. Robert Whitley has a very good video out.

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the advice.

 

[1shot]

^^^^ this. I put imperial wax on with my fingers. Either way it works, no dented shoulders. Robert Whitley has a very good video out.

I've never dented a case with imperial. I just put a dab between my thumb and index finger and wipe the case.
I suspect you will love your SLR. I'm on bbl.#4.

Lloyd

 

[XTR]

I use imperial, and as noted in post #2 you should wait till you have the barrel back and set your die up for minimum sizing to fit the chamber.

 

[GWY]

+1 on the use of imperial wax for resizing fired 6SLR brass

When forming virgin 243 brass (Remington) to 6SLR, I've found a light spray of Hornady One Shot works fine

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

I use imperial, and as noted in post #2 you should wait till you have the barrel back and set your die up for minimum sizing to fit the chamber.

I agree I should wait before sizing all my brass but I have to size something so I can get the "fired" brass for setting the dies right?

+1 on the use of imperial wax for resizing fired 6SLR brass

When forming virgin 243 brass (Remington) to 6SLR, I've found a light spray of Hornady One Shot works fine

Did you get any dents when using One Shot?

I picked up a tip from the one of the 1000 yard shooters at the Leupold Cup this weekend, he puts his brass in a ziplock and sprays the cases and works them till they feel coated.

Thanks for the great responses

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

I've never dented a case with imperial. I just put a dab between my thumb and index finger and wipe the case.
I suspect you will love your SLR. I'm on bbl.#4.

Lloyd

Thanks Lloyd! I'm going with a 30in Brux 1:7.5 for my first barrel and a .120 freebore for DTACs and other 115s

 

[1shot]

@WhiskyTahoeFoxtrot
I'm running a 7.5 twist also, shooting SMK 110's. Mine is also a BRUX at 32'.
Good luck with your build

Lloyd

 

[XTR]

I agree I should wait before sizing all my brass but I have to size something so I can get the "fired" brass for setting the dies right?

Yes, you do need to size some to test fire.

I'd do the first batch like fire forming and jam them hard, then take measurements on the brass and set your dies to zero shoulder bump, and you will be pretty much set for ever. Probably good to have 6 or 10 cases to use to setup your dies.

Once fired brass usually has a little springback in it so if you size to zero bump those all of your brass will probably be 1 or 2 thou short of headspace, and you can use that same setting to bump all your shoulders when you size fired brass.

I know from my experience I oversized the first few cases by a little and there was a post here from someone a while back who had greatly oversized all of his 243 by a lot.

 

[craiger]

As said above, do not do anything until you get your barrel back. Lightly lube your brass and set the shoulder back just enough to close the bolt. Now you're ready to load. I have had excellent accuracy while fire forming. I have rcbs bushing die. I'm using a .270 bushing. I've only used new Winchester brass and have never had to neck turn. Edited to fix auto correct errors

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

Excellent info! I'll post results after getting the rifle, breaking in the barrel, and firing cases.
I appreciate all the input and can't wait to shoot.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Aneal that brass before you start, emperial wax will size them without any problems.
The DIE setup I do exactly as described by XTR, think I probably "learned" it from him on here as well

 

[Evan]

I agree I should wait before sizing all my brass but I have to size something so I can get the "fired" brass for setting the dies right?

What you need to do is slowly size the brass little by little and try it in the rifle with a striped bolt. Size only far enough that a striped bolt just closes on the brass with a little resistance at the bottom of the bolt swing. This ensures a good tight fit to minimize brass stretching.

 

[74Bronco]

I use only Winchester brass, Hornady one shot and whidden dies, never a problem except a occasional dent just below the shoulder/main body junction. and thats usually caused by the fact Winchester had some bad lots of brass a few years ago where the cases were kinda thin just below the shoulder, no problem tho, first firing they all smooth out. I've had lots where 50 out of 50 formed perfect , older win brass or newest, and the poor stuff maybe 4 to 6 per 50 would dent . I set my first sizing .002 headspace.

 

[R.Olds]

I am having my 243 rebarrelled and chambered for 6 SLR.

I'm using Whidden 6 SLR Click Adjustable non bushing sizing die with a Whidden micrometer seater

While I'm waiting for the rifle, I have been resizing some of my fired 243 brass as practice

I have once fired Remington (R&P) cases that I'm practicing with before I start sizing brass that will need turning. Normally I anneal after every firing but these cases were not annealed before resizing in the 6 SLR die as I only reloaded 243 Lapua brass prior to this

Using RCBS case lube and a pad, I ended up with 6 dented shoulders out of 40 resized.
These were my first dents. I know that too much lube will cause problems so I always lube very sparingly.

Searched the forum and found several votes for Imperial Sizing Wax, and a couple for one shot and Ballistol. Interested in hearing from the other "SLR"ers what works best and if dents like donuts can be part of the SLR experience.

I am still new to the 6SLR, but so far, I have resized 100 pieces of Alpha 260 RRP brass with the Whidden die and imperial wax....zero dents and zero issues. I did neck turn them and they all ran great for the first firing.

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

Update on my 6 SLR project.
My Rem40X needs a new stock to accommodate the 1.25" diameter barrel. The factory McMillan stock doesn't fit with the new barrel and it is foam filled fiberglass which doesn't take contouring very well. Fortunately I can reuse that stock for another project.

The search for a good laminated stock is underway and I should be able to test resized 243 brass after this short delay. I'm looking forward to putting the advice gleaned from this thread to good use.

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

Project update: Stock located and getting finished. Always something to do, buy, or try right?

Imperial Sizing wax is magic for sizing 243 brass. Finger swipe on the wax and spread thinly on the case. Works great. Thanks again for all the input.

On the advice of my gunsmith, I pulled the firing pin and closed the bolt on brass to adjust my sizing die. After a couple of tries, the die is set to size brass that just fits. Bolt falls 1/2 way then needs a slight push closed.

Should be sighting and barrel cleaning in a couple of weeks.