6.5/284 Brass and runout

[phlyer]

I have Win .284 brass to neck down and Norma 6.5/284 brass. I am inexperienced with anything other than standard .223 and .308 loading.
I have checked the runout on the loaded rounds with .005 and more on a high percentage of the finished product, Unsat. I am now finding the necks are out of concentricity with the case.
Can the neck be resized to align better with the case? Any tricks to improve total runout? Using good bullets, 142 SMK and Cauterucio GTB. Redding Dies and Coax press.

 

[ballistic64]

phlyer,if your necking down virgin 284,I dont think I'd worry about the runout until its been fireformed.Check the concentricity when its resized after firing once.I dont even check runout until the brass has been fired once.

 

[phlyer]

Thanks, that will solve one of my problems. Any recommendations on VLD seating depth? Neck clearance ? I have seen on this board to use .003 neck clearance. I have found mine .007 to .008. Probably will have to use this as fouling brass.
Thanks again.

 

[ballistic64]

How did you measure your neck clearance? What is the primary use of your gun?
I dont use VLDs,but have always been told they need to be jammed into the rifling to shoot well,so if you attempt this you need to adjust your powder charge accordingly.

 

[phlyer]

I originally built this rifle to shoot long range prone, 600-1000yds. I had to take several years off. Now I Think F class suits me more than prone w/sling. I have R22 and Cauterucio 144.5 VLD's in my inventory, along with a box of 107 and 142 SMK's and a box fo H AMAX. I will give the VLD's a try set into the rifling. I was told years ago that 54-55 gr R22 was a good load, but now I see that this is too fast. I will try 49 gr R22 and gradually work up.

 

[phlyer]

I miked fired cases, they are .2985 to .2990. The chamber drawing shows neck of .2990. I was using a bushing die of .293, leaving a neck clearance of .006. Is this too loose? I could have another bushing made .295. What do you recommend?
Any recommendations on R22 charge with a 144.5 Cauterucio VLD into the lands? I am thinking 47-49 grains to start.

 

[ballistic64]

You should be fine with .003 clearance per side.I dont know the thickness of your neck walls but would venture to guess your neck tension with the .293 bushing is on the light side anyway,.015X2=.030+.264=.294).I wouldnt start off jamming in the lands but back off to a starting load and seat the bullet to just touch and go from there.The only thing that worries me with what your shooting is that the RL powders are generally temp sensitive and with a bullet in the lands on a hot day depending on what charge you wind up with could give excessive pressure, so BE AWARE.

 

[phlyer]

Thanks ballistic 64 for some very useful info.

The Norma case neck wall thickness run .0143 - .0159

The Winchester .284 brass runs .0143 to .0160

I will start as you recommend. I was not aware of R22 temperature sensitivity. Is IMR 4350 better? Is the temperature sensitivity why 6.5/284 loads on this board use H4350 and H4831sc?

 

[aJR]

Hi all, After recently finding a good deal of runout at the case head on my Mag cases i made a new gage that does neck to body runout and case head square together,i then checked a bunch of different brass new and used,i found new 6.5x284 Lapua brass to be up to 3 thou out of square,then checked fired stuff from 2 different rifles,30x284 and 284w) and they still have up to .003,not all)..I don't know yet for sure because of the sampling size but it looks like the straight cases,everywhere) shoot better..In preperation for a coming big match my present H/gun shot a .904 group at 551 yds last weekend with cases that are perfect..JR.. Jeff Rogers