6br dies

[Webster]

First experience with this chambering. Suffering from information overload.

I *think* I want a bushing die. Seems to me I probably need a body die as well?

Where would you start if you were new to this chambering?

Thanks for looking.

Don't know why you would need a body die. Been reloading for my 6BR Norma since 2017. I bought a Whidden bushing die. It comes with a free bump gauge. I can send you a free fired and sized 6BR Norma case if you want to see if it chambers. If it's the older 6br Remington cartridge I would think it would be labeled Remington Arms Co. on the barrel? Almost all the competition shooters use a bushing die or a custon die made based on providing 3 fired cases. If it's an original barrel on a Rem action it's probably not a 6BR Norma?

I don't remember if 1 bushing diam comes with the Whidden die. I turn necks to 0.0125" and use a .265" bushing. .272" no turn neck. I might have a 6BR Remington case. It's bigger than a 6BR Norma.

It's not complicated. I have a minimum of tools and gadgets and I am happy with the ammo I make. Keep it simple.

 

[Webster]

I started working with the 6 Br about12 years ago. I started with the Forster set including a micrometer seating die and FL sizer. Based on the recommendation of an experienced shooter I went to a Redding bushing die. The problem with a bushing die is that eventually you develop Donuts. May or not be a problem based on your seating depth. If the base of the bullet is above the donut when seated. So beware of the bullet selection and throat dimension.

I don't think a bushing die has anything to do with donuts. It's brass in the shoulder area moving forward.

 

[DShortt]

Don't know why you would need a body die. Been reloading for my 6BR Norma since 2017. I bought a Whidden bushing die. It comes with a free bump gauge. I can send you a free fired and sized 6BR Norma case if you want to see if it chambers. If it's the older 6br Remington cartridge I would think it would be labeled Remington Arms Co. on the barrel? Almost all the competition shooters use a bushing die or a custon die made based on providing 3 fired cases. If it's an original barrel on a Rem action it's probably not a 6BR Norma?

I don't remember if 1 bushing diam comes with the Whidden die. I turn necks to 0.0125" and use a .265" bushing. .272" no turn neck. I might have a 6BR Remington case. It's bigger than a 6BR Norma.

It's not complicated. I have a minimum of tools and gadgets and I am happy with the ammo I make. Keep it simple.

Used rifle. Not sure if the brass actually was fired in this chamber.
That's why.

 

[Hipshoot]

Midway and Midsouth carries them.

Hip

 

[muleystalker]

Very happy with Wilson FL sizing bushing die

I love my Harrell's dies they work great, but I did just pick up an L.E. Wilson 6BR FL bushing die from a member on here and although I haven't used it yet it appears to be very nicely made.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I use a standard Redding die for 6br, using Alpha brass. However, I do not use the expander ball and resize, then a ,2415 mandrel ( Sinclair) to set neck tension. I seat with a Redding ordinary die with the added micrometer seater. Oddly, it's the only calibre that I do not have Wilson seating dies for. It makes extraordinary ammunition - so no need for upgrades, but I may add the Wilson seater, mainly for logistics. The BR is an easy cartridge to load for, if you take care of OAL and neck tension.

For the Alpha Dasher, I use a Wilson full length bushing die(269) - no expander ball, a 243 mandrel and Wilson seater. The 6BRX, Norma and Lapua brass and uses a Redding "S" die with a 268 bushing.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Mine are Widden's.

 

[dusterdave173]

Mine are Widden's.

Love my Whidden as well!

 

[AlNyhus]

A good setup is either the Redding #77317 Type S full length bushing die or a Harrell's #2. Both of these will give the same amount of case sizing. The Redding is adjustable so the bushing will size more of the length of the neck, if you want it to. Wilson's full length bushing die is another one I can recommend.

For a seater, a Wilson standard inline seater works great.

Grab a small press like the RCBS Partner and a small arbor press for the Wilson seater and you have a nice, compact setup for loading at the range.

 

[divingin]

Used rifle. Not sure if the brass actually was fired in this chamber.
That's why.

If it chambers (without sizing), and you got it from whoever you bought the rifle from, it probably was. Use scotch tape on the case head and see if 2 or 3 plies keep the bolt from closing. If both those are successful, you'll be good to go.

In the long run, though, a couple of hundred pieces of new brass isn't all that expensive.

I'm using a Wilson neck die (arbor press type), and hit it with a Redding body-only die when the bolt starts dragging (usually every 5 or 6 firings, at which point it gets annealed, body sized, and checked for trim length.) Seating is with a Wilson arbor press inline seater.

FWIW (and to add to your confusion) Redding dies are sold as 6BR Remington. They, and others, have not changed the spec to 6BR Norma.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I use a Wilson bushing FL die and Forster seater for my 6bra
No complaints.

 

[DShortt]

Update - I've measured the shoulder angle and it's 30° on the fired brass.
The brass will chamber, but it's REALLY tight. Definitely -0- headspace.
The case length is 1.562 give or take .001". It has a bit of room in the neck when chambered when viewed with a borescope. .471" at the base before the extractor groove. So it's a Norma chamber.

 

[divingin]

Update - I've measured the shoulder angle and it's 30° on the fired brass.
The brass will chamber, but it's REALLY tight. Definitely -0- headspace.

Next step would be to figure out where the interference is. Coat the entire case with a Sharpie and chamber it, and work the bolt up and down a few times without extracting the case. Remove and look for where the mark has been rubbed off. Base and shoulder indicates CBTD is too long. A ring just above the extractor groove indicates too fat at the base. You get the picture.

Or you could just bump the should a thou or two and see if that eases the chambering. It likely will.

 

[searcher]

I've got a drawer full of various 6 BR dies, some custom, many quite expensive. Most work pretty well. If a friend asked me what to get, I'd point to the Harrel's bushing die, as a number of folks here have noted. Very reasonable price, does the job nicely.

 

[AlNyhus]

So....the cases you got with the gun were sized when you got them? And they're still 'tight' when you close the bolt (firing pin assy removed, of course)? -Al

 

[DShortt]

So....the cases you got with the gun were sized when you got them? And they're still 'tight' when you close the bolt (firing pin assy removed, of course)? -Al

No, the cases are fired. (Bullet slips into the neck). When I chamber one of these cases, the bolt close is not a free close. Some I wouldn't even try to close the bolt on because the bolt close is too firm.
This is a new chambering for me, so I have no dies.

 

[charlie b]

Dumb question.

If you use a bushing die do you select a bushing so you do not need the expander button?

I've used Lee collet dies to set neck tension in the past, but, am considering a bushing die.

My 6BR I currently use the Forster FL die and Redding Comp Seat die.

 

[divingin]

Dumb question.

If you use a bushing die do you select a bushing so you do not need the expander button?

Dumb answer: Depends on the die, and how you want to use it.

My arbor press (neck only) LE Wilson die just uses a bushing - final interference fit is set by selecting the bushing, rather than opening it back up with an expander.

I believe some (most?) FL bushing dies use an expander plug (I don't have one - I have a Redding neck only die that has a decapper built in, but no expander plug.) On that note, I see no reason you couldn't get rid of the expander and set diameter with just the bushing. You'd still need a decapper assembly, unless you do that as a separate step. But many people like using a plug of some sort to set the neck tension; up to you I guess.

 

[AlNyhus]

No, the cases are fired. (Bullet slips into the neck). When I chamber one of these cases, the bolt close is not a free close. Some I wouldn't even try to close the bolt on because the bolt close is too firm.
This is a new chambering for me, so I have no dies.

I wouldn't expect fired cases to chamber freely.

 

[DShortt]

I wouldn't expect fired cases to chamber freely.

Agreed. The first step was identifying the chamber. So I'm making some progress at least.