Recommendation on freebore for caliber/bullet combinations?

[)Stephan]

Dear all,

until now I never had a private set of reamers and therefore I never had any "good" FL dies as well.
I would like to change that and order some new chamber- and reloading-die reamers for my calibers.
Only issue: I am not quite sure on freebore... I already received the "standard" prints, but I assume they need some tweaking for my intended bullets.

Can you please have a look at what I came up with after some long hours of searching different forums?
FYI - I am currently looking at Berger Bullets exclusively as they are typically available in my country. Also I do not really like "throating-reamers" as I experienced some trouble with them already.

Last Updated: Nov.14th
.223Rem (300yds+) (1:7):
.169 for 80.x grs
(std. from reamer-mfg. is .025 - most likely for light bullets?)

6mm Norma BR (300yds+):
.104 for 105grs Hybrid and/or 105grs VLD
(std. from reamer-mfg. is .094)

6PPC (ShortRange Benchrest, 100/200):
.060 for 68grs FB (Thank you Jackie!)
.2435 FB Diameter
(std. from reamer-mfg. is .090- seems a little long to me?)

.308Win (300yds+):
.090 for 155grs Hybrid
(std. from reamer-mfg. is .090 - seems to be OK for my bullet)


Thank you very much and best regards,
Stephan

 

[Texas Solo]

For the Berger 105's...104FB works very well for me in 6 Dasher

 

[jackieschmidt]

I think you are about right for the BR at .104. However, the 6PPC at .060 might be a better selection.

The original JGS 1045 6PPC reamer had a .060 throat, it was the standard for decades.

There are a multitude of different throat lengths and designs for chambers you listed. Many shooters use a specific design for a specific bullet.

 

[DR_2297]

Call Ray Gross @ Manson and he can lay it out for you and make the reamer to match

 

[urbanrifleman]

Dear all,

until now I never had a private set of reamers and therefore I never had any "good" FL dies as well.
I would like to change that and order some new chamber- and reloading-die reamers for my calibers.
Only issue: I am not quite sure on freebore... I already received the "standard" prints, but I assume they need some tweaking for my intended bullets.

Can you please have a look at what I came up with after some long hours of searching different forums?
FYI - I am currently looking at Berger Bullets exclusively as they are typically available in my country. Also I do not really like "throating-reamers" as I experienced some trouble with them already.


.223Rem (300yds+) (1:7):
.078 for 80grs VLD (short?)
Or
.169 for 90grs VLD
(std. from reamer-mfg. is .025 - most likely for light bullets?)

6mm Norma BR (300yds+):
.104 for 105grs Hybrid and/or 105grs VLD
(std. from reamer-mfg. is .094)

6PPC (ShortRange Benchrest, 100/200):
.060 for 68grs FB (Thank you Jackie!)
(std. from reamer-mfg. is .090- seems a little long to me?)

.308Win (300yds+):
.090 for 155grs Hybrid
(std. from reamer-mfg. is .090 - seems to be OK for my bullet)


Thank you very much and best regards,
Stephan

Honestly, 90s need 200-230 freebore. 169 freebore is excellent for 80s, but 90s are technically into the donut. Might be fine with brand new brass, but one will definitely have problems after a few reloads.

 

[)Stephan]

Dear all,
Thank you very much!
I think I am mostly settled (see original post).

Also I discarded the .223Rem 90VLD bullet as I do not shoot 1.000yds (maybe when I have more grey hair…)
Do yo think .150FB is ok for 80-something Bergers.. ? I really would like to get it right and the .223Rem really troubles me.. (reamers are expensive.. because of shipping and taxes …)

TY

 

[DR_2297]

80.5 and 85.5 Berger’s shoot very well from the Manson T15 Fullbore or the good ole ISSF chamber or any number of the .170-.200 FB chambers.

 

[)Stephan]

Thank you all! I updated .223Rem to .169 and will prepare my order now.. Exciting times!!!

 

[urbanrifleman]

80.5 and 85.5 Berger’s shoot very well from the Manson T15 Fullbore or the good ole ISSF chamber or any number of the .170-.200 FB chambers.

Yes the 85.5 is actually about ideal for the 223 ISSF.

 

[)Stephan]

Dear all,

I received drafts for all finishers and also resizers.
I am only still wondering about the resizer neck diameter.

E.g. 6PPC
Finisher: .268 Neck diameter
Resizer: .256 Neck diameter (-.012)
—> I already ordered bushing die blanks

The question: why is -.012 recommended even for bushing dies..?
I am afraid that the first 5% or so of the resizing die (neck, but below the bushing) will be at .256 and therefore it does not matter what bushing I pick..? (Because the bushing will sit on top of the .256 Neck part)

Please also check picture attached (red circle) —> that area (~5% of the neck) will be sized to .256, right..?

Sorry to bother you guys again, but I really am confused …

Edit:
…or is the neck (below the bushing) already pre-cut to the correct dimension in the bushing die blank..?
—> if I use a non-bushing blank the neck will be cut (to .256), but with a bushing die blank, the neck will not be cut (by my reamer) at all..?

TY
Stephan

 

[)Stephan]

Fyi:
.060FB with Berger 68grs (seated a few times in increments to find touch)

 

[bulaman]

Dear all,

I received drafts for all finishers and also resizers.
I am only still wondering about the resizer neck diameter.

E.g. 6PPC
Finisher: .268 Neck diameter
Resizer: .256 Neck diameter (-.012)
—> I already ordered bushing die blanks

The question: why is -.012 recommended even for bushing dies..?
I am afraid that the first 5% or so of the resizing die (neck, but below the bushing) will be at .256 and therefore it does not matter what bushing I pick..? (Because the bushing will sit on top of the .256 Neck part)

Please also check picture attached (red circle) —> that area (~5% of the neck) will be sized to .256, right..?

Sorry to bother you guys again, but I really am confused …

Edit:
…or is the neck (below the bushing) already pre-cut to the correct dimension in the bushing die blank..?
—> if I use a non-bushing blank the neck will be cut (to .256), but with a bushing die blank, the neck will not be cut (by my reamer) at all..?

TY
Stephan

I have had the same thing from reamer manufacturers when specifying reamers and am going to follow here to see if there is a good explanation. I have switched all of the reamers pairs (I always buy reamers in a finisher/resizer pair) that I order to have the resizer reamer be the same neck diameter as the finisher and they have worked great. I also use bushing dies and Newlon blanks. My thought process of specifying the same neck size is that the brass springs back after fired and there is room to get the neck of the case up through the end of the die to the bushing. To date it has worked great.

One thing I have found though is that I have to run the resize reamer into the resizer die blank far enough that the neck end of the should leaves very thin edge where the case enters the bushing area. Even at that I have still have a small amount of the neck that isn't sized due to the radius on the neck bushings. It seems to work fine that way though since I typically keep the widest part of the bullet in the neck similar to )Stephan's picture above.

I would love to know if there is a better way.