6.5x55AI seater die choices.

[vervi1jw]

I just had a barrel chambered in 6.5x55 AI. I am going to use a 6.5x55 lee collet die for neck sizing as I have had great luck with them in the past. What are my options for just a seater die? I already have a set of 260AI redding dies, could I use the 260AI seater die as they are very similar dimensions? I am trying to figure out something a little cheaper as the 6.5x55AI are pretty high priced especially to other ackley dies.

 

[LHSmith]

The Swede case is fatter at the base than the .308 family. Have your Smith run the chambering reamer in a Wilson in-line 6.5 x 55 die. You will need an arbor press however.....it doesn't have to be a $100 Sinclair press, with a little ingenuity you can make your own....think old fashioned bottle capper design.

 

[357Mag]

Vervi -

Howdy !

You might consider using a Horandy seater die; along w/ their "Micro-Just " top.

These are of a " universal " design... where you can use the same die body; and simply swap-out case holding " sleeves"... and seater stems.

Hornady's die quality is superb, their prices are just fine; and availability & delivery times ( in my experience ) have been all I could ask for.

I've done multiple wildcats ( .224" cal, 6mm cal; .358" cal ) and seated all using the same die body & Micro-Just top.
Also, I have not found it necessary to have the case sleeve(s) custom machined w/ a dedicated wildcat reamer ( my guns, my ammo ).

You can always contact Hornady, and run any Qs you have, past them.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Laurie]

Another more expensive option is a 6.5X55mm Redding Competition seater with the sliding case-body sleeve machined by your gunsmith with the AI chamber reamer.

I can see how the Lee Collet helps out, but what are you going to do when case-shoulders need a bit of a 'bump' as they will sooner or later?

 

[wwbrown]

I use the 6.5 x 55 seater from Redding as is. For a FL die I had JLC convert the die that redding makes for the AI into a bushing type die.

 

[flatlander]

I took the sleeve out of my Forster Ultra Mic 6.5x55 seater and ran the 6.5x55 AI finisher reamer into it. You need a lathe & the reamer, or you could get the gunsmith who did your AI bbl to do the Forster sleeve. Forster makes these sleeves out of free-machining leaded steel, so they're really easy to ream.

 

[vervi1jw]

Thanks for the replies guys. I should have looked at die choices before I looked into this chambering. Not that I am regretting it, but so I could have had the gunsmith make the die while he already had the rented reamer. Are there any notable smiths that do this type of die work? The guy I went through is local and is a master machinist that does free lance gunsmith work so I am not sure if he has done die work. However, he works cheap and really really knows his machining.

 

[vervi1jw]

Geeze,

Hornady is busy! All of there dies seem out of stock and they suspended work on custom dies!!!

Vervi -

Howdy !

You might consider using a Horandy seater die; along w/ their "Micro-Just " top.

These are of a " universal " design... where you can use the same die body; and simply swap-out case holding " sleeves"... and seater stems.

Hornady's die quality is superb, their prices are just fine; and availability & delivery times ( in my experience ) have been all I could ask for.

I've done multiple wildcats ( .224" cal, 6mm cal; .358" cal ) and seated all using the same die body & Micro-Just top.
Also, I have not found it necessary to have the case sleeve(s) custom machined w/ a dedicated wildcat reamer ( my guns, my ammo ).

You can always contact Hornady, and run any Qs you have, past them.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[vervi1jw]

Another more expensive option is a 6.5X55mm Redding Competition seater with the sliding case-body sleeve machined by your gunsmith with the AI chamber reamer.

I can see how the Lee Collet helps out, but what are you going to do when case-shoulders need a bit of a 'bump' as they will sooner or later?

I haven't planned for that scenario yet Laurie. So far in my 260AI after 6-7 firings I haven't had to bump the shoulder yet so I am hoping for that. Perhaps a 260AI redding body doe opened up a bit?

 

[flatlander]

Commercial sizing dies are hardened - it'd be a tough job to screw around with a Redding 260 die.

When I decide to do a barrel in a chambering where commercial dies aren't available, I usually order a resize reamer while ordering the finisher. Then I get a die blank or two from Troy Newlon, and make my own sizer, using the resize reamer. I've done several custom seaters using Forster's Ultra Mic seater die; if the sliding sleeve can't be opened up to fit whatever oddball ctdge I'm working with, I'll machine one from scratch using free machining steel rod.

There are other ways to go, but that's my preferred route to wind up with a good die set. One thing I've yet to try is to send one of my homemade sizers off to have it polished & hardened. It'd be nice to find a place that does this routinely so I could count on them to finish dies made for a customer.