6.5 benchrest dies

[quillow]

I'm thinking of getting an AR in 6.5 benchrest. Only Redding makes dies but at a hefty price. Anyone have any ideas on a combo set up I could use for this, maube a 6BR sizing die and then expand the neck with a Sinclair expander. Seems like I'd be working the necks too much like that. I contacted Forster to make a custom set but haven't been contacted yet. I'm guessing that would be real expensive too.

 

[Kenny474]

Using either the Sinclair or K&M expander to size the neck to 6.5 will work great, then just use a full-length die with neck bushings so you don't need an expander after initial forming. And for a seat die, a 7mmBR die with a 6.5MM seating stem should work fine.

Full Length die with neck bushing
http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=36931/Product/Redding_Type_S_Full_Length_Die__6mm_BR_SB

7mmBR bullet seater.
http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/sid=68712/sku/Redding_Seater__7mm_BR_Rem

The Redding dies will also likely be cheaper than custom Forster dies.
http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/cid=5675/k=/t=S/mfg=/Cartridge_98=6xzzx5+mm+BR/Products/Rifle-Dies

Lee will also make custom dies, and may be an option if the others are too costly. There is a $130 set-up charge, and $42 for each die set after initial set-up for a full length die and seat die. If you find someone else looking to build a 6.5BR, you could split the set-up cost and it would cut the price a good bit.
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/faq/index.cgi

Lee also makes custom collet dies, and they are $55 for sizing die and dead-length seat die.
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/faq/index.cgi

 

[quillow]

Thanks much for the quick response. After I expand the neck up to 6.5 I would then size the case body and shoulder with the correct bushing to size the neck diameter, which would pretty much keep it the same as what the expander left it at. The final step would be seat a bullet with 7mm die with the proper seating stem. Correct? I've been loading for a bit now but nothing custom or fancy. Is there any published data on this round? Thanks again for any and all your help.

 

[Kenny474]

You are correct with the sizing steps.

As far as data, I am not sure. Many of the guys here have QuickLoad, which has data for many different rounds, and will likely have something in there for the 6.5BR.

Maybe use slightly reduced 7mmBR loads to start with and work up slowly? I would think something in the range of H4895, BL-C2, or H335 would likely work well, as it will likely need a bit slower powder than the 6BR, but not as slow as the 7BR. But I would definitely check with someone who knows a bit more than I do before you just go for it and start loading.

 

[jonbearman]

You could go to 6mmar.com,alot of imfo on target rigs built around the ar platform.Personally I would go 6.5 creedmore or 6.5 grendel.

 

[quillow]

Originally I was going to go with a .264 (same as a Grendel) but then heard of the 6.5BR, a little quicker. I decided to go that route, sounds like a great idea. He also makes a 6BR but I think one day I'll build one of those in a bolt gun.

 

[kitsap]

Is there any published data on this round?

Lots of data available for 6.5 mm BR rifles on the Hodgdon web site here:
http://www.hodgdon.com/

This is a very popular round in handgun silhouette circles using XP-100 type bolt action pistols. Using an AR type gun your pressure limitations should be lower than for bolt actions.

DougF