6mm br dummy rounds

[tootalloutdoors]

I need to load some dummy rounds to send to pac-nor for the chambering of my new barrel. The Lapua brass just came today,goofy looking cartridge if you asked me, but I guess that's why it works). Anyhow my redding bushing dies are not here yet.
Do I want to full length size these new pieces of brass then seat a bullet. Or just open and size the neck and seat. My chamber will be fitted to what ever I send in..It's got a 14 twist . I have some 67.2gr. bullets from Mike Moberly. They should be just about the longest bullet I'll be shooting. About where should I seat them,C.O.A.L.)? I've always done things in the reverse order. Loading and seating to match my existing chamber. I guess I will also ask Mike Moberly about seating recomendations also.
Any how about the sizing question. My bushings will be .267 and .268. I guess I'll use the .268?? I understand why they want the dummies and it sounds like a great thing. It's just that this cartridge is completely foriegn to me. tootalloutdoors

 

[Preacher]

They need the dummys to do the bullet seating depth and or free bore,, they have nothing to do with the dies) and putting the base of the bullet right at the junction of the neck and shoulder is about right to send them. The cases should be OK as is to seat the bullet unless it's way out of round and they usually are not.
That funny looking case will make a believer out of you when it's all over and done with......

 

[tightneck]

This is pretty much a no brainer. You'll be running bullets between 60 and 70 grains for your 14 twist barrel using Lapua brass. Your chamber should be cut with a 6br reamer for Lapua brass with a neck diameter to suit your needs. I personally prefer tightneck chambers so I can get proper neck tension on each case, but that is up to you. Go with .272 if you want a no-turn and .269 or less for a full cleanup. As far as freebore, you wont go wrong with .030"-.040" throat. Ive never seen the bullet you mentioned but with some of the bullets in this range, if you seat them to the neck/shoulder junction, they will never reach the lands even with a zero throat. Also, if you do decide on a neck turn reamer, you'll want to be seated away from any possible donut that forms in the case neck.

 

[tootalloutdoors]

Thanks preacher. My dies just came in today. I opened them and played around with them to get familiar with them. I'll load the dummies tonight and send them off to pac-nor. This is cool, things are comming together nicely. The redding comp. seater and the type "s" bushing dies are what I've got. One bushing is .267, the other is .268. I recon I'll use the .268.. Along with the bushing die came another expander ball. I didn't measure them yet but the extra one is quite a bit smaller. It fits right inside the new brass with room to spare. Any idea why they may have included it?? Thanks tootalloutdoors

 

[Vulcan]

For what it is worth, having been going through having a gun built, I would have the chamber cut to .269 and plan on turning the necks to .267. The way I looked at it if I am going to spend the money for a custom gun, I want the most I can get out of it. You may never see the difference in a no turn neck or turn neck accuracy but if you don't build it as accurate as possible, you may regret it later.

Also as far as seating the bullet for the dummy rounds for the throating. I would seat them with the bearing surface right at or .015 just above the neck shoulder junction. This way you have a lot of room to move the bullet into the lands and move it out as the throat erodes.

 

[Forum Boss]

PacNor normally cuts chamber and throat with the same reamer. The main reason for the dummy round is to set the freebore. There are so many different ways of measuring freebore, really the best thing is to measure off a dummy bullet. Some guys will also want to have the bottom of the bearing surface near the neck-shoulder junction so there's minimal free space in the case. Other guys want to seat the bullet further up the neck.

For a 1:14" twist, I'd go with a .060 Freebore measured Kiff-style. PacNor has 3 or 4 6BR reamers now for no-turn necks, plus a couple other tight neck 6BR reamers.

While I think PacNor offers a great service with their prefit barrels for Savages etc., I still like the idea of having a barrel fitted and chambered by the smith who builds the rifle.