6.5-06 A Square/Bumping shoulders

[Turpentine]

Guys I ordered a custom Lee collet die and a couple of different mandrels based off of my fired case dimensions and measurements which should work well. I have been full length sizing with a standard 6.5-06 RCBS die which is working well I just figured the collet die might work the brass less and cut back on trimming. From testing Remington 30-06 brass seems to give me better accuracy, speed, ES, and SD numbers compared to 270 brass which doesn’t make much sense to me but is what it is. Anyway, Redding makes a 6.5-06 body die and I could simply buy that to bump shoulders back. However, I’m wondering if I might be able to pull the expander ball and decapping pin from my RCBS full length 270 or 30-06 dies I already have and bump shoulders that way. It’s not like the Redding die is that expensive I’m just thinking out loud. Some of you guys have a lot more smarts and experience than me so I’d like to hear what you think.

 

[Rat Rifle]

Yes, You can do that. But by just removing the expander, You will be sizing the neck down further than it needs to be, then pushing it back out, over working Your brass. The Redding Body Die is the way to go. I did make a body bump die by drilling the neck area out of a regular die for a 260 REM.

 

[Turpentine]

Yes, You can do that. But by just removing the expander, You will be sizing the neck down further than it needs to be, then pushing it back out, over working Your brass. The Redding Body Die is the way to go. I did make a body bump die by drilling the neck area out of a regular die for a 260 REM.

That’s what I was wondering. I just didn't know how much the 270 or 30/06 die would neck down the case and hadn’t tried it. My mandrel should be around .262. I’ll just get the Redding

 

[Zero333]

If you already have the proper mandrel, you can remove the decaping pin and ball.. then size the cases and mandrel them after sizing.

 

[Turpentine]

If you already have the proper mandrel, you can remove the decaping pin and ball.. then size the cases and mandrel them after sizing.

Don’t have the mandrel or collet set yet. They said 6 weeks. For the moment I’m just full length sizing. But I dislike all the trimming after firing if I can get away from it plus I’d like to keep my brass more in its fire formed state And see what happens.

 

[Rat Rifle]

I had them make a 6BR and a 284Win and the quality of both was excellent. It will be interesting to see how this works out for You, so please keep us informed. With the way we are being manipulated by world events, shortages forced upon us, a chambering like the 6.5/06 could become very attractive.

 

[Turpentine]

That’s one big reason I went with it. Unlimited brass. Common powders. The folks at Lee, Brenda in particular, have been great. They wanted 4 measurements: Base to Neck, Bullet Diameter, Max Body Diameter, Max Case OAL. They also wanted 3 fired cases.
I just completed this rifle about 3 months ago. Criterion, Remage nut System, Varmint profile barrel at 26”. 1 in 8
Mack Bros. Long action with 20 MOA pic rail
Triggertech two stage trigger
Oryx chassis. Sightron PLR 8x32x56
It Weighs 14lbs empty
I haven’t had a lot of time to shoot it and develop a load but what I have shot has done well. Best it’s done so far is .35” 4 shot group with 147 eldm’s at around 2925fps. Made good progress last time out in finding brass and a combo it seems to prefer. Single digit ES and SD and under 1/2 moa. Now to just make it do it enough to prove the load works.