6BRA Dies

[Mfitz717]

I recently got a 6BRA rifle, came with brass and a few loaded rounds. The seller was using norma 6BR brass to fireform and said he only had to take a little of the neck.
The barrel isn’t marked what the neck diameter is.
I see Whidden makes a die set, who else does that you don’t have to wait for months to get one?
Also, where is a good source for 6BRA load data, current load is 105gr Berger, the barrel is a 1-7.5”

 

[Chris Edmondson]

Not cheap but, they are very well-made dies:

Short Action Customs

Modular Sizing Die – BRA

Modular Sizing Die – BRA Our new Modular Sizing Dies fit a family of cartridges. The Modular Sizing Die – BRA works seamlessly…

shortactioncustoms.com

 

[urbanrifleman]

I recently got a 6BRA rifle, came with brass and a few loaded rounds. The seller was using norma 6BR brass to fireform and said he only had to take a little of the neck.
The barrel isn’t marked what the neck diameter is.
I see Whidden makes a die set, who else does that you don’t have to wait for months to get one?
Also, where is a good source for 6BRA load data, current load is 105gr Berger, the barrel is a 1-7.5”

LE WILSON 6BR ACKLEY Full Length Sizing BUSHING Die-FREE SHIP

LE WILSON 6BR ACKLEY Full Length Sizing Die - Interchangeable Bushing

theurbanriflemanstore.com

 

[ruthless11]

https://theurbanriflemanstore.com/6.../?searchid=22571&search_query=6br+ackley[/URL

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I recently got a 6BRA rifle, came with brass and a few loaded rounds. The seller was using norma 6BR brass to fireform and said he only had to take a little of the neck.
The barrel isn’t marked what the neck diameter is.
I see Whidden makes a die set, who else does that you don’t have to wait for months to get one?
Also, where is a good source for 6BRA load data, current load is 105gr Berger, the barrel is a 1-7.5”

harrells precision

 

[a-dog]

Micron makes some great dies that I use fory 6BRA. You can get various sized bushings to achieve the desired neck tension you want.

 

[Ackman]

Mine are Whidden. They work just fine, and his seater is especially fine. And his dies come with a headspace gauge thing.

 

[Rick300]

I have both Harrells and Short Action Customs. Either one works great and won't hold you back

 

[Mulligan]

Not cheap but, they are very well-made dies:

Short Action Customs

Modular Sizing Die – BRA

Modular Sizing Die – BRA Our new Modular Sizing Dies fit a family of cartridges. The Modular Sizing Die – BRA works seamlessly…

shortactioncustoms.com

I have an SAC BRA die and I agree they are good.
However,
they are not perfect by some margin.

What obstacles/challenges I experienced.
A BRA is an Ackley improved cartridge, done correctly, the chamber is about .004" shorter than a standard 6BR chamber.
My chamber was cut to the correct P.O. Ackley standard of ~.004" short.
With the SAC die, I could not push the shoulder back on a fired case. I called SAC asked them to send me another set of shims to set to adjust the shoulder a bit more. No go, the fella said there is only .005" clearance in the die and .004" in shims is the max allowed by design. He recommended I tumble my brass to get all the carbon off the case and that would get me a bit more shoulder contact with the die, he also said that most of the calls they got were from folks using RCBS presses. The fella on the phone asked what press I was using and I said an old RCBS A2, the grandpa of the rock-chucker. He asked if I had another press, I told him I most certainly did, I have seven A2's a JR and a CO-AX. He suggested I try the Forster CO-AX, so I tumbled the brass in walnut hulls and set the die for the CO-AX. I did get a little bit out of both changes....... but not enough. So, I had the local smith cut a shell holder back a bit and went back to the A2 press. But wait, there is more........ If you have a tight neck chamber, they may not have the bushings you need. I was looking for a .259' and .258" bushing........ nope, don't make it. I called and asked if I could get some made, yep, I have to order 3 bushings for a special order, but they can be different sizes. OK, how much? $80.00 each. Well shoooooot!!! OK, if I order them, will they also work in a dasher die? Nope, each bushing is made only for the die body it is designed for. So a bushing for a 6x47, 25x47, 6.5x47 will work in the same die but a dasher bushing will not work in a BRA die and vice versa.

The die is solid, runout is as near perfect as my indicator can measure. Once working, they make you smile, they are nice for sure.

I get beat in benchrest matches by folks using a $130.00 Harrells die that uses standard bushings.

Micron is a very good die, I have one in a BRA I use for my Hammer (long BRA/short dasher), it is a dandy.
Warner is a very good die. I do not have one, but have a friend who does....... Likely the best die made today.

I actually really like Forster dies and have 2 for the BRA......... for around $70.00 a piece they will hone the necks for you to your specifications............. ya want to talk about STRAIGHT cases!!!!!!! No bushings at all.

Hope this helps.

CW

 

[Mfitz717]

Micron makes some great dies that I use fory 6BRA. You can get various sized bushings to achieve the desired neck tension you want.

What is the best way to determine the neck size bushing I need?
Unfortunately the barrel is not marked the neck diameter of the chamber.

 

[Owens85]

What is the best way to determine the neck size bushing I need?
Unfortunately the barrel is not marked the neck diameter of the chamber.

Take a piece of brass that's loaded with the bullet your going to use and measure the neck then subtract 3. That will be a good starting point. Deferent powders will have deferent neck tension preferences so a bushing above that and below should get you going. So if your loaded round is .268 id get a .264 .265 and .266 bushing. Also not knowing the neck diameter of your chamber is not really good. If you have a fired piece of brass that you know is from that chamber you can measure that to get a idea. Usually add a thou to what a fired piece is will be really close to your chamber neck diameter. Example fired piece measures 271/271.5 your neck is probably a 272. Also you will not won't no less then 2 thou clearance 3 or more is much better imo.

 

[a-dog]

Measure the neck of a fired case. Most likely, if it measures .270, you will have a .272 neck chamber. It will be slightly undersized due to the springback of the brass. Just like Owens85 said above, you want a bushing 3-4 thousands under loaded bullet diameter. You will most likely be using a .265 or .266 bushing for Lapua brass. Pm me if you need help. I'm very familiar with the BRA cartridge.

 

[Mark W]

I recently got a 6BRA rifle, came with brass and a few loaded rounds. The seller was using norma 6BR brass to fireform and said he only had to take a little of the neck.
The barrel isn’t marked what the neck diameter is.
I see Whidden makes a die set, who else does that you don’t have to wait for months to get one?
Also, where is a good source for 6BRA load data, current load is 105gr Berger, the barrel is a 1-7.5”

Back when I had my first 6 BRA barrel chambered there weren’t many options for dies, so I sent 3 fired cases to Harrel’s and got one of their bushing dies and it has served me well.

@Owens85 gave you some good advice for finding your bushing sizes. Hopefully you have a fired case.

For load data, there is a long running thread that I believe was started by @Alex Wheeler. It has tons of good info. I’ve referred to it several times over the years and even copied pertinent info into a notebook for easy reference.

Good luck! I hope you enjoy your BRA journey as much as I have.

 

[quest450]

Thread '6BRA load data'

May 6, 2018

I thought this thread could be useful. Interested in hearing all the different combos you guys have found success with.

• Alex Wheeler
• Replies: 904
• Forum: 6BR, 6BR Improved & Wildcats

• 

 

[Chris Edmondson]

@Mulligan, agreed re: the SAC Modular Sizing dies. I have one that simply will not work with brass fired in a 6.5 CM barrel I have, it's chambered very generously. It's a great die, just not for that barrel's chamber, I wish they offered an exchange program. Knowing what I know now, I'd get the die fully-qualified before dropping $300+, maybe that means sending in a few fired cases prior to purchase.

 

[Buttstock-TX]

My rifle is chambered with a Wheeler 6 BRA no-turn reamer. I use the LE Wilson FL bushing die and micrometer seater with VLD stem. These are some of the best dies I have ever owned, reasonably priced and readily available. I had to cut 6-7 thousandths off the bottom of the sizing die to get the 1-2 thousandths shoulder setback I wanted with an RCBS #3 shell holder.

 

[SKWERLZ]

LE WILSON 6BR ACKLEY Full Length Sizing BUSHING Die-FREE SHIP

LE WILSON 6BR ACKLEY Full Length Sizing Die - Interchangeable Bushing

theurbanriflemanstore.com

I use a Wilson die for my 6BRA.
They are from one of the nicest areas of Washington state as well.

 

[urbanrifleman]

My rifle is chambered with a Wheeler 6 BRA no-turn reamer. I use the LE Wilson FL bushing die and micrometer seater with VLD stem. These are some of the best dies I have ever owned, reasonably priced and readily available. I had to cut 6-7 thousandths off the bottom of the sizing die to get the 1-2 thousandths shoulder setback I wanted with an RCBS #3 shell holder.

I just sand a shellholder if I want more setback.

 

[BoydAllen]

I have a custom Harrell die, and Wilson seaters are available. Harrell's is likely the fastest of the custom makers. Give them a call. They will want fired cases.

 

[JFrank]

I use a Wilson die for my 6BRA.
They are from one of the nicest areas of Washington state as well.

Wilson was kind enough to hone a wee bit off a die for the cost of shipping and three fired cases.
It took about a week total.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Wilson was kind enough to hone a wee bit off a die for the cost of shipping and three fired cases.
It took about a week total.

They are good people.