6mm AI case forming question

[John from MN]

I'm considering trying to use my BR form die set to size down 30-06 brass to fireform in my 6mm Rem AI. Any reason it would not work? I can buy the 06 brass locally for a reasonable price and the weather still sucks here in MN.

Seems to me it would work, but I've been wrong before.

 

[Darrel Martin]

I recently converted some 7x57 Norma brass to 6mm AI . When I tried to go straight to 6mm using a 270 bushing in a Redding 6mmAI die ,I ruined the piece of brass. I doubt you can go from 30 cal all the way to 6mm in one step. The process I came up with was to first use a 6.5 284 die with a 290 bushing. Then I used the 6mm AI die with a 270 bushing. I don't see why the 6mm AI die using first the 290 and then the 270 bushing would not work,but I just used the 6.5 284 die as it had the bushing I wanted to use.Took a little tinkering to get it to chamber with just a little resistance.To come down from 30 cal you may have to play with different bushings. It might take three steps or it may not work but it won't hurt to try as it will only cost a few pieces of brass .
I also came up with a fireforming load using Bullseye pistol powder and 70 gr Nosler ballistic tips. I did this after reading the 6mm Crusader thread on Snipers Hide where someone was using a subsonic load with a pistol powder. The 6mm Crusader is essentially identical to the 6mm AI. Try at your own risk, but I am using 16.5 grains of Bullseye shooting the 70's at about 2550 . I can sit and just shoot the 10 ring out of a 100yd varmint for score target when fireforming so they shoot well enough to be fun to play with and hopefully I am not burning too much barrel life.

 

[CatShooter]

With that load, the barrel will last forever.

 

[gotcha]

Better yet, use 7X57 brass (if you can find it) not as much neck squeezing to do and its the parent case for the 6mm Rem. ..... The 1st sizing step would be 6.5mm (.264) which is just about mid way between .284 and .243...... I think Midway has 7X57 in stock. Update: Graf & sons has a good selection of 7X57 brass.

 

[expiper]

you mite try 257. if available,,,Roger