22 250 ai to 6 or 6.5 mm round

[CF2209]

Hi all
Am new to this excellent forum and would like to ask about a 22 250 AI I have which the barrel is nearly worn out. I would like to reform the brass to use 6mm bullets or perhaps 6.5 even.. Is there a round that these cases could be made into and what are the steps needed to acheive it.
Many thanks.

 

[Timgunner]

There is a 6-250ai that would be a simple run through an expander die. If you had a set of bushing dies for the 22-250ai all you need is a larger bushing. That case is also very close to the 6mm creedmoor, although the creedmoor has a slightly wider body section with a 30degree shoulder you might be able to neck up and fireform.

 

[B23]

There is a 6-250ai that would be a simple run through an expander die. If you had a set of bushing dies for the 22-250ai all you need is a larger bushing.

You can't just put a larger bushing in a 22-250AI bushing die to use it as a 6-250AI bushing die. The transition part of the die before the case neck goes into the bushing will still only be .22 caliber.

 

[Rtheurer]

6mmX 22250 AI is a great cartridge. Pretty much the same as the 6XC and all the other cases in that case capacity. Cant go wrong.

 

[CF2209]

Thank you all for your replies. I have a 6mm expander to order and will talk to the gunsmith to see what reamers he has on hand
Which out of the 3 would be the easiest to tune.

 

[fredo]

Mornin!

Steps?
Easy: get a 6mm expander mandrel & run that brass up on it.

Are you currently using a bushing die for your .22-250AI?
If so, then you'd simply hafta swap the appropriate bushing in, and run that brass thru the FL die. Naturally, this step is to dial your desired neck tension in, on that necked up brass. Without this step, the brass you necked up via mandrel, would not hold a bullet...

Done

 

[CF2209]

Have both types of dies.
How does the 6 mm 22 250 ai perform compared to the 6 creedmore or 6 xc. To tune and accuracy.
Was going to replace with a benchmark barrel, any recommendations on barrel contour.

 

[STOMP442]

I would just go with the 6mmXC. Don't even mess with having to adjust dies or form brass for essentially the same case and performance. There is high-quality brass available and accuracy and performance is outstanding.

 

[B23]

Mornin!

Steps?
Easy: get a 6mm expander mandrel & run that brass up on it.

Are you currently using a bushing die for your .22-250AI?
If so, then you'd simply hafta swap the appropriate bushing in, and run that brass thru the FL die. Naturally, this step is to dial your desired neck tension in, on that necked up brass. Without this step, the brass you necked up via mandrel, would not hold a bullet...

Done

As I said before, this will not work.

It sounds like a great idea but the transition, inside the die, just before it goes into the bushing, the hole will be smaller because the die is set up from the factory as a 22-250I. If you run a 6mm/.243 mandrel through your 22-250 brass to enlarge the necks, then run that brass through your 22-250ai bushing die, even with no bushing in the die at all, it will size the neck under 6mm/.243 I know this because I thought I could use my 6-284 bushing dies, but with a larger bushing, for my 6.5-284 and only have to buy one set of dies. Nope, it was a no go. Now, if I had purchased a set of 6.5-284 bushing dies first, then I could have done this because you can go smaller, but you can't go bigger.

 

[fredo]

As I said before, this will not work.

It sounds like a great idea but the transition, inside the die, just before it goes into the bushing, the hole will be smaller because the die is set up from the factory as a 22-250I. If you run a 6mm/.243 mandrel through your 22-250 brass to enlarge the necks, then run that brass through your 22-250ai bushing die, even with no bushing in the die at all, it will size the neck under 6mm/.243 I know this because I thought I could use my 6-284 bushing dies, but with a larger bushing, for my 6.5-284 and only have to buy one set of dies. Nope, it was a no go. Now, if I had purchased a set of 6.5-284 bushing dies first, then I could have done this because you can go smaller, but you can't go bigger.

I could see that being a problem.

Although, I've used .223Rem and .223AI FL bushing dies to size & load for 6x45 and 6x45AI, respectively...and did not encounter what you described?

How much was your (parent) 6-284 bushing die squeezing down the necks?
Was that with new, or fired brass?
And, what brand of die?

 

[AckleymanII]

As I said before, this will not work.

It sounds like a great idea but the transition, inside the die, just before it goes into the bushing, the hole will be smaller because the die is set up from the factory as a 22-250I. If you run a 6mm/.243 mandrel through your 22-250 brass to enlarge the necks, then run that brass through your 22-250ai bushing die, even with no bushing in the die at all, it will size the neck under 6mm/.243 I know this because I thought I could use my 6-284 bushing dies, but with a larger bushing, for my 6.5-284 and only have to buy one set of dies. Nope, it was a no go. Now, if I had purchased a set of 6.5-284 bushing dies first, then I could have done this because you can go smaller, but you can't go bigger.

That small area in the die can be opened up with a boring bar by a machinist, then you will be good to go.

Neck on your bullet seater will have to be opened up also to accept a 6mm bullet or buy another die.

I am thinking about going down this road myself.

 

[B23]

I could see that being a problem.

Although, I've used .223Rem and .223AI FL bushing dies to size & load for 6x45 and 6x45AI, respectively...and did not encounter what you described?

How much was your (parent) 6-284 bushing die squeezing down the necks?
Was that with new, or fired brass?
And, what brand of die?

Ok, so just did a quick test. Also, nearly all my dies are Redding and for this little test I was using Redding FL Type S bushing dies for both the 6-223 and 6-250.

I just ran a new piece of Lapua 22-250 and 223 brass through my K&M 6mm mandrel. After going through the 6mm mandrel the 22-250 had an OD of .269 and the 223 was .267. Then I ran the piece of 6-250 brass through my gutted 22-250 FL type s bushing die and ran the 6-223 case through a gutted Redding 223 FL Type S bushing die. With no bushing in either die, the OD on the 6-250 came out of the gutted die at .261 and the OD for the 6-223 came out at .259

Again, this was using Redding FL Type S Bushing dies so in all fairness, a bushing ONLY die may be cut a little more generous so a 22-250 neck bushing only die could very possibly work for a 6-250. I just know a FL Type S bushing die won't work if you're going up in caliber.

 

[CF2209]

I dont mind buying an other set of Redding dies. Rather that than modifying the 22 250 ai dies. These could be sold. I see Redding make the the 6xc and 6 creedmoor but not the 6 22 250 ai.it appears.
Is that the problem with the 6mm 22 250ai that no one makes the dies.

 

[B23]

I dont mind buying an other set of Redding dies. Rather that than modifying the 22 250 ai dies. These could be sold. I see Redding make the the 6xc and 6 creedmoor but not the 6 22 250 ai.it appears.
Is that the problem with the 6mm 22 250ai that no one makes the dies.

I understand you're wanting to do something off of the 22-250 cases you already have but there is lot of great 6mm/.243 cartridges out there. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time messing with doing a 6-250ai. There is so little to be gained when you "improve" the 250 case and there are plenty of good choices available that require no fireforming. With all of the 24 caliber bullets that are available, I prefer to have more case capacity. My 6-284 is one of my favorite rifles but if you want something a bit more sedated, the 6 Creedmoor or 243 Win would be good choices too.

 

[Rtheurer]

Hey Concentric Look up 6mm NMC or National. Match. COurse. Based off the 22-250 case and is right in that 6XC, 6 Creedmoore area your actually looking for.

 

[CF2209]

Thanks all.

 

[fredo]

Ok, so just did a quick test. Also, nearly all my dies are Redding and for this little test I was using Redding FL Type S bushing dies for both the 6-223 and 6-250.

I just ran a new piece of Lapua 22-250 and 223 brass through my K&M 6mm mandrel. After going through the 6mm mandrel the 22-250 had an OD of .269 and the 223 was .267. Then I ran the piece of 6-250 brass through my gutted 22-250 FL type s bushing die and ran the 6-223 case through a gutted Redding 223 FL Type S bushing die. With no bushing in either die, the OD on the 6-250 came out of the gutted die at .261 and the OD for the 6-223 came out at .259

Again, this was using Redding FL Type S Bushing dies so in all fairness, a bushing ONLY die may be cut a little more generous so a 22-250 neck bushing only die could very possibly work for a 6-250. I just know a FL Type S bushing die won't work if you're going up in caliber.

Hmmm...
I'm using Redding Type S Match die set, Part #36907
.223 Improved 40

This die does not squeeze neck down, as you described.

6x45AI brass necks are .011"
loaded rd is ~.265", and I run a .262" bushing

Not discounting the validity of your data, just sayin' I prefaced my comments above on my experience...

TO OP:
to err on the side of caution...I'd ignore my 'simple' recommendation above and heed what B23 stated. Obviously something's going in, and it makes sense, too. Mebbe I just got lucky with my situation?

 

[B23]

fredo, the die I used for this test was also a 223ai die (Redding part #77907) but the difference between our dies is mine is a full length bushing die and yours is a bushing only die. Your die only sizes the neck. I think those types of dies have a larger hole in the transition area before the case neck goes into the bushing which would explain why that die worked for you using it as a 6-250i die.

 

[fredo]

... Your die only sizes the neck.

Negative, ghostrider.

... the die I used for this test was also a 223ai die (Redding part #77907) but the difference between our dies is mine is a full length bushing die and yours is a bushing only die.

The part # shared (Redding #36907) is for a 'Match set', containing a Competition seater, and a TYPE S FL SIZER die...

Please describe the difference in dies, again?

 

[B23]

Negative, ghostrider.



The part # shared (Redding #36907) is for a 'Match set', containing a Competition seater, and a TYPE S FL SIZER die...

Please describe the difference in dies, again?

If yours is a FL Bushing die, then there is NO difference. Would be interesting to see you expand the neck on a piece of Lapua 223 brass up to 6mm then run it though your gutted die and see what you get for a OD measurement.