Potential 6.5-280 AI brass problems

[DLH_]

Hi all. In the pursuit of something a little different, I am having my 6.5x284 rebarreled to the afore mentioned cartridge. One thing that keeps making me scratch my head is related to the brass sizing.

If I were to neck-down standard 280AI brass to 6.5, this would cause a ‘donut’ of sorts at the point at which the neck bushing stops sizing the case neck- approximately 0.06 from the case neck junction. This ‘donut’ would be 0.02 larger than the portion of the neck that has been sized. I can’t see how this would possibly chamber, particularly when using a tight neck reamer as I will be doing for this application.

Can anyone who has some experience with this cartridge and brass sizing/forming offer any advice.

Kind Regards,
Josh.

 

[Will Henry]

The difference arises from exactly which cartridge you are chambering and sizing for. The 6.5/280 AI or the 6.5/ 280AI. In otherwords, is the rifle chambered for the 280 Rem, necked down to 6.5 then AI'd, or is it chambered for the 280 AI necked down to 6.5. If the former, the juncture of neck and shoulder is slightly further ahead; the neck is shorter. So, if you are using 280AI brass, you will have to blow the shoulder ahead to fit the chamber unless the rifle was chambered with the idea of using 280AI brass necked down. If this is the case, the die will have to be shortened to put the shoulder in the right place. Am I making any sense to you?
If I was to chamber a barrel for this cartridge, I would size a piece of 30/06 brass in the FL die and use this as a headspace gauge. The dimension might not be standard, but it would work perfectly with the dies in question. I don't know if this helps you but it's the best I can do! WH

 

[AckleymanII]

Try necking up Winchester 270 brass.

 

[DLH_]

Try necking up Winchester 270 brass.

How would that help if I am shooting a 6.5-280AI?

Thanks

 

[AckleymanII]

Longer necks on the 270 brass, trim to fit the cartridge, will be longer than using 280 brass to start off with.

 

[JRanum]

DLH,
Will you be using a custom reamer? Sounds like it.

Will you be starting with fully formed 280AI brass? That would be logical.

Whats your plan to bump the shoulder back when the time comes?

 

[Will Henry]

Once again, is your die made for the 6.5/280 blown out? Or, is it made for the 280AI necked down. They are different in headspace.
For which is your rifle chambered?
If you know the answers to these questions, you will know the answer to your potential die issues. WH

 

[Edd]

Hi all. In the pursuit of something a little different, I am having my 6.5x284 rebarreled to the afore mentioned cartridge. One thing that keeps making me scratch my head is related to the brass sizing.

If I were to neck-down standard 280AI brass to 6.5, this would cause a ‘donut’ of sorts at the point at which the neck bushing stops sizing the case neck- approximately 0.06 from the case neck junction. This ‘donut’ would be 0.02 larger than the portion of the neck that has been sized. I can’t see how this would possibly chamber, particularly when using a tight neck reamer as I will be doing for this application.

Can anyone who has some experience with this cartridge and brass sizing/forming offer any advice.

Kind Regards,
Josh.

I would send the reamer print to Hornady and ask them to make a case form die.

 

[DLH_]

Again, thank you all for you input. I have considering a Whidden forming time.

I have attached a reamer print. I hope this helps

 

[Will Henry]

OK. It appears that your rifle is chambered for the 280AI necked down, providing the gunsmith works to the print. From the sounds of things, your die may be for the 6.5/280 blown out. If this is the case, you can shorten the die so it will produce a case with the correct headspace, or you can specify the die and get one that is right for your application. WH

 

[DLH_]

OK. It appears that your rifle is chambered for the 280AI necked down, providing the gunsmith works to the print. From the sounds of things, your die may be for the 6.5/280 blown out. If this is the case, you can shorten the die so it will produce a case with the correct headspace, or you can specify the die and get one that is right for your application. WH

Thanks again. I will be either using a 280AI Type S with a 6.5 bushing in or I will have a die made with that reamer. In either application, will chambering of the necked down virgin brass be problematic?

 

[Will Henry]

Have you tried the 280 AI die with the 6.5 bushing yet? If it leaves the step too far forward of the shoulder, you will have some difficulty chambering the sized case. A conventional FL sizer will size the whole neck, The bushing die can be modified to size more of the neck as well. I had it in my head that you had a FL die.
If you have a FL die for the 6.5-284, you can probably neck down with that, once you have it adjusted right.. Not ideal but it will probably work. From then on, you'll be fine. WH

 

[DLH_]

Have you tried the 280 AI die with the 6.5 bushing yet? If it leaves the step too far forward of the shoulder, you will have some difficulty chambering the sized case. A conventional FL sizer will size the whole neck, The bushing die can be modified to size more of the neck as well. I had it in my head that you had a FL die.
If you have a FL die for the 6.5-284, you can probably neck down with that, once you have it adjusted right.. Not ideal but it will probably work. From then on, you'll be fine. WH

I do indeed have a FL 6.5x284 die. I’ll try that. Thank you

 

[Will Henry]

If you size until the shoulder just touches you might be good. I expect there will still be a little interference when you chamber but it should be manageable. WH

 

[ddoc1547]

I have a 6.5x280AI. I use an S Die with the smaller bushing. If I could do it over again, I would probably go with 6.5-06AI. 280AI brass choices are slim. I have been less than impressed with Nosler brass life and Peterson is unobtanium. Loads that allow me to load brass 5+ times without clickers and loose primer pockets are only going 2850fps with 140 bergers and H4831sc.

Edit: Regardless of my opinion of the 6.5-280AI, I neck turn to get rid of the excess material around the neck/shoulder interface. I have not had a problem with donuts, but I also usually can't hold on to a primer well enough to get to that point either.