243win from 6.5 x 55 brass

[robbor]

You guys have any thoughts on forming 243 win from 6.5 x 55 brass?
I ordered a new Lothar Walther 28" 243 barrel and am trying to decide on components and I dont know how loose the chambering is going to be. I was thinking of going with the 6.5 x 55 so I could gain a little neck thickness and still have the possibility having a turned yet fairly thick neck. Secondy how well does lapua brass hold up to high pressure loads? I was thinking of either Win or lap brass and then 85 gr bergers. This rifle will be setup for 500 yard antelope.

 

[rcw3]

Maybe I just don't get it - when you have so many brands of good 243 Win brass out there, why go through all the extra work to try to make 243 Win brass from 6.5 x 55 brass? I don't even know whether you can do it, but in any case, I have my doubts that having thicker brass around the neck is really going to make any meaningful accuracy difference. Just my musings on the issue.

Robert Whitley

 

[WayneShaw]

Robert is right. Lapua brass is available in 243, end of concern which brass to buy. If you're concerned about the chamber size, find someone that will do a chamber that meets your needs.

 

[rstreich]

What Robert and Wayne said.

Besides the base diameter of the 6.5x55 and .243 are different. I don't have any of the Lapua 6.5x55 laying around to measure, but my Hornady book,which I'm guessing is showing SAAMI specs) shows the 6.5x55 brass to be .010" wider in the web.

A thicker neck will only mean that your neck will work-harden faster anyway. To really save yourself the aggravation, get the chamber set up the way you want, not the other way around. Half the fun of getting a custom barrel is agonizing over details like neck diameter for the chamber.

robert

 

[robbor]

Thanks for the input guys. Im so used to dealing with factory chambers and this is my first custom barrel, they are prefit match/lapped barrels and for $250 thats hard to beat. Im thinking that the chambers should be more tward the min spec side so I will probably not need thicker necks. And I am not really talking about going thicker or much thicker but to be able to turn the neck and have a uniform consistant neck that more closely matches the chamber. Ill order some Lapua and just go with it, thanks rob

 

[WayneShaw]

It's your money, and it's not too much to ask for a chamber print of the reamer to be used. Then you'll know....

 

[rhino]

you could size down 7-08, that would give ya a thicker neck to play with.


RHINOUT!

 

[robbor]

I sent an email off to LW and they replied very fast,maybe an hour)
they said it has a "match chamber" capable of 3/8" groups or better. Im sure it will be fine probably just a 243 win min match chamber min saami. I will measure a few pieces of fired win brass before I start loading the Lapua. As someone above said, Im surprised that they did not send and actual demension/print.

 

[mbianchini]

Save yourself some time and buy Lupua 243 brass load and fireform. Why waste your time with the 6.5 x 55 brass.

Thats my two cents.