Can I make 6mm BR from 220 Russian cases?

[mugsie]

I just received some Lapua 220 Russian cases from a friend. Since I shoot 6mm BR, can I reform the 220 into 6mm BR? If so - how?
Thanks.

 

[Phil]

I`m pretty sure the answer is NO!!!!!!!!

For starters the case head is .447 on the Russian and the BR is .478.

I`m sure there are other reasons,but this is the first one i came up with..... ;D


P.S............Welcome to the forums...

 

[mugsie]

Hmmm? I didn't even think about that! Duh! I just got home from the range with a bag of Lapua 220 Russian, and was thinking "could I do this". Guess the short answer is No!

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[spclark]

Since I shoot 6mm BR, can I reform the 220 into 6mm BR?

Uh, no. As others have posted, the 220 cases have a smaller head diameter.

Look for somebody shooting a 6RAT or similar, maybe they'll buy you some new 6BR brass to trade 1:2 or 3:5. The 220's head dia.'s the same as the 6.5 Grendel / PPC brass & might work OK for 6RAT or similar once it's fire-formed.

 

[tenring]

The 6BR boltface is larger about .0326 than the PPC boltface, so the PPC head will fit. I interchange barrels in both calibers on my Hall action .478 bolt face all the time. But you could not use the larger head in a smaller bolt face.

I think the bugaboo is case length. The PPC is 1.503 vs. 1.559 in the BR. Its too short to begin with and would be much shorter aftr fireforming.

 

[Ackman]

They're two different cases. PPC casehead and body diameter are quite a bit smaller, and the whole thing is shorter.

 

[GSPV]

OHN!

 

[STS]

Isn't anyone concerned about the unsupported PPC case head being fired in a BR chamber? We have mentioned bolt face fit and overall length, but the big problem is the danger of a case rupture from being fired in an oversized chamber.

 

[spclark]

I think we're ALL concerned yet take it for granted that's understood!

I - admittedly in haste one afternoon - grabbed the wrong box of test loads & mistakenly chambered a 6HAGAR cartridge in a 6XC-chambered rifle. Pulled the trigger too!

Instantly aware something was wrong when that round fired, I wondered WTF until I opened the bolt & out came the fired case, split almost full-length yet with the case head intact. Hit paper too, & this was @ 600 yards but nowhere near where I'd expected.

Case failure's no laughing matter at any time but depending on the action and cartridge involved, the results have a wide range of effects. Some you can smile & walk away from (like mine) while others you regret from that moment forward... if you survive.