308 neck down to 6XC ?

[rcol317]

I am wondering has anyone ever used 308 brass to neck down for 6 XC and can it be use safely? I know that the 308 is .002 larger than the 22-250 which the 6 XC was based on but I measured my Norma 6 XC brass and it seems closer to the 308 size than the 22-250. I have some 308 Lapua brass and no longer shoot a 308. Thank for the help. Rick

 

[Kodiak99317]

Yes it can be done, but its a lot of work, you will have to neck turn after since your necks will be much thicker. Plus, you can loose cases, neck collapse, unless the side walls are supported when you push the shoulder back. A shortened 308 FL die or a 9 bushing form die like Butch Lambert makes, will allow you to push the shoulders back without collapsing the existing shoulder and finish off via a 6xc fl die and then you have to neck turn. After a lot of work, you will end up with some great cases since they will all have been neck turned to the same neck thickness.

Here is the form die I use now... from Butch

 

[rcol317]

Thanks Kodiak for the information, I'll follow up with Butch. I don't mind spending a little time for good brass. Just neck sized some 7X57 Norma for my 6mm AI and turned all those necks also. I guess I'll keep the Lapua brass. Rick

 

[Raptor]

Rick, I am making 6.5 Creedmoor brass out of new 308 brass by doing what Kodiak said. I had an old 308 bushing die and cut 1/8" off the bottom of it and then used it with a 7mm busing to push the shoulders back. I then used my Dillon power trimmer to cut them down as far as possible then ran them into the 6.5 creedmoor die. I then turn the necks down to about .014 and have a really nice looking case. It will work for the 6XC too because I used my 6XC die to try one to see if it would work and it does.

I can make the brass out of 22-250 too but then it needs fire formed and I don't like fire forming brass. I have been down that road to many times. Besides like you I have a bunch of 308 Lapua and I have time....

 

[highmaster82]

I run the 308 thru a.243 die then a 6xc die, trim and turn .works for me.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I bought a 7mm-08 BODY die that I plan to shorten for this same purpose in my up-and-coming 6XC. Should work fine and probably only minimal work. I turn all my necks anyhow so that doesnt make a difference to me.

Ive formed cases that were a heck of a lot harder. Forming 20 VarTarg cases from 223 is what I call a good amount of work to make brass. 6XC made from any of the 308 family cases (308, 7mm-08, 260, 243) should be a walk in the park

 

[wwbrown]

If you have a reamer for the 6 XC and a lathe take some 7/8 round stock and thread 7/8 x 14 TPI on it and drill a pilot hole that will take the pilot of the reamer. Once you enough depth reamed to support the shoulder stop reaming and drill the neck out. Once you start threading do not take the piece out of the chuck until done. You do this a number of times so you can push the shoulder back in stages starting with the largest diameter throat and step down. As long as you are not doing 1,000's of brass hardening is not required.

This is not nearly as elegant as Butch's system but it works and can be made up in a little time at the lathe.

wade