6.5CM Dies?

[northerndoc]

Getting ready to jump into 6.5CM. I have experience with Lapua brass in my .338 LM and really like the longevity/consistency. The issue I am concerned with is the small primer in Lapua brass vs large in Hornady. I wouldn't mind buying a few boxes of the match hornady ammo to start and then switching to Lapua after I get some time behind the gun and the barrel broken in. Are there any specific dies that are recommended that handle both brands well? Just wondering about the decapping aspect. I really like the efficiency of decapping while neck sizing rather than making a completely separate step. Buy large and small pins for whatever die set I end up with? Can I get away with a small pin for the large primers? Just looking for some feedback. Thanks

 

[dreever]

Getting ready to jump into 6.5CM. I have experience with Lapua brass in my .338 LM and really like the longevity/consistency. The issue I am concerned with is the small primer in Lapua brass vs large in Hornady. I wouldn't mind buying a few boxes of the match hornady ammo to start and then switching to Lapua after I get some time behind the gun and the barrel broken in. Are there any specific dies that are recommended that handle both brands well? Just wondering about the decapping aspect. I really like the efficiency of decapping while neck sizing rather than making a completely separate step. Buy large and small pins for whatever die set I end up with? Can I get away with a small pin for the large primers? Just looking for some feedback. Thanks

I use Whidden bushing die set. It can handle both size flash holes.

 

[LVLAaron]

I use the redding competition die set. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018258755/redding-competition-bushing-3-die-neck-sizer-set

I have used Whidden bushing dies before and found the Redding easier to set up and prefer their bushings.

 

[Puzzaz01]

I use the redding competition die set. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018258755/redding-competition-bushing-3-die-neck-sizer-set

I have used Whidden bushing dies before and found the Redding easier to set up and prefer their bushings.

I started out using Hornady brass before Lapua was out and I've been using my Redding type S dies in both cases large and small works really well. I removed the expander ball off the de-camping pin and I use a K&M expander mandrel. A lot more tuneable.

 

[Bc'z]

Is the expanding mandrel a must?

 

[LVLAaron]

I started out using Hornady brass before Lapua was out and I've been using my Redding type S dies in both cases large and small works really well. I removed the expander ball off the de-camping pin and I use a K&M expander mandrel. A lot more tuneable.

I actually do the same thing. Remove the expander ball, and use an expander mandrel as the very last step.

 

[Puzzaz01]

Is the expanding mandrel a must?

It's not a must but it's easier to feel what neck tension is going to be prior to seating a bullet and you can make fine adjustments with 1/2 thousands increments of the expanders offered. Just fine tuning, that's the difference from winning and losing.
Just my 2 cents

Darrin

 

[Bc'z]

It's not a must but it's easier to feel what neck tension is going to be prior to seating a bullet and you can make fine adjustments with 1/2 thousands increments of the expanders offered. Just fine tuning, that's the difference from winning and losing.
Just my 2 cents

Darrin

I just tried sizing without expander button in place for the 1st time , .288 bushing seating force seemed less
Mandrel Will help with coincentricty?

 

[Puzzaz01]

I just tried sizing without expander button in place for the 1st time , .288 bushing seating force seemed less
Mandrel Will help with coincentricty?

I also now use a .288 bushing. I used a .289 for about 9 reloads and I started loosing neck tension..... I don't anneal..... so I went down to a .288 and it's all fine again. All expanding is with a .2630 mandrel. I try to keep the seating force pressure about 65 psi.

Darrin

 

[Bc'z]

No annealing preasure gauge here.
Expander mandrel probably work better for truing tweeked necks on new brass over sizing die w/ button?

 

[Tsu45]

Y’all using the mandrel exclusively on new brass or for every loading? Do the various size expander balls from Whidden accomplish the same thing is far is dialing in neck tension?

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I’m just a back pasture shooter. I use the basic Redding f/l die set, it came with the decapping pin small enough for the small flash holes. I have since put the Forster decapping unit in the Redding die, and it’s pin has even a smaller diameter. I can give you measurements if you want them.

 

[Bc'z]

Y’all using the mandrel exclusively on new brass or for every loading? Do the various size expander balls from Whidden accomplish the same thing is far is dialing in neck tension?

I believe he's using on every loading, expander is claimed to get necks out of alignment.