collet die for 6BR?

[gotcha]

I'm having a 6br Norma built and looking at die alternatives. Is anyone using the Lee 6PPC collet die for 6BR cases? Any modification needed? Details please. Thanks in advance, Dale

 

[jonbearman]

As long as the body of the 6br doesnt touch the body it should work fine.

 

[Tozguy]

There is a chance that it will work. From memory, the 6BR case is longer to the neck so you would have to use a shim on the shell holder. The other issue is neck wall thickness. The neck wall thickness of the 6BR case would have to be similar to the 6PPC case that the die was designed for. I am sure that ReedG could shed more light on this subject.

 

[ReedG]

I have a Lee 6 PPC Collet Die and it surprisingly works fine on 6 BR. Once I tried it and it worked, I have now sized many hundreds of 6 BR (and 6 PPC) with it.

 

[gotcha]

Thanks Guys! Input much appreciated. My main concern was the collet closing too close to, or actually getting into the neck/ shoulder junction of the 6BR case. You've given me the confidence to buy the 6PPC LCD & give it a go. I may do some light machining on Die components to keep the collet fingers well above the shoulder. Then again, it may not be necessary. Sounds like a Win/Win

 

[sdneil]

Lee made a collett die for my 6BR-- have had it since 2010 works perfect.....

 

[kelbro]

I had to open mine up a little to make it work properly.

I set the die up in the vise. Used the largest bit that would fit the existing hole. Used that bit to center the die up under the chuck and clamped it down. Swapped bits out to the 15/32 (which was the closest size in my index to the 6BR case) and plunged it down. A few seconds polishing and it was done. Counting setup, 5 mins and I was done.

 

[gotcha]

SDNeil, Thanks for the input. Unfortunately LEE has suspended its custom die making at least through June, as I understand it. All a part of the latest feeding frenzy I suppose. I'm hoping the input here will be a classic example of how youth & inthusiasm are overcome by old age and treachery :

 

[gotcha]

Kelbro, Now thats the kind of treachery I'm talking about!! Please note I mentioned nothing about old age. I don't want to bite the hand that feeds me. I recently had a fellow shooter with a Lathe convert a 6.5X55 Swede LCD to 6.5X47L. Its pretty amazing what a DIY guy can do with the LEE collet & a little ingenuity. Thanks, Dale

 

[Tozguy]

Thanks Guys! Input much appreciated. My main concern was the collet closing too close to, or actually getting into the neck/ shoulder junction of the 6BR case. You've given me the confidence to buy the 6PPC LCD & give it a go. I may do some light machining on Die components to keep the collet fingers well above the shoulder. Then again, it may not be necessary. Sounds like a Win/Win

To keep the 6ppc collet fingers above the shoulder of a 6BR all that is needed is to shim the shell holder with a washer of the right thickness. I have been sizing 223 cases in a 222 collet die that way for years.

 

[gotcha]

TOZGUY, Thanks for the input. I tried the shim idea w/ a .223 Rem. LCD today as I haven't received the 6PPC yet. I used a .020" feeler gauge between the SH & bottom of collet. Die set to touching Plus 2 full turns for the Rock Chucker. The impression of the collet on the neck was noticeably higher w/ the shim than w/o. (worked just fine) I'd like to find a way to raise the top surface of the SH. Perhaps epoxy a piece of feeler gauge to top of SH then trim to fit the slot w/ a Dremel. A bit extreme?....Yes. Of course, you could also epoxy a washer to the bottom of the collet. Have you ever considered this or know someone who has? Just curious. Thanks, Dale

 

[Tozguy]

I have never felt the need to permanently modify a SH or collet for that purpose. I use a washer slipped over the case. Clearances allow the washer to slide on and off the case easily but have full contact on the SH and collet. With practise it becomes second nature and doesn't slow things down much. If I have to gang up washers to make a thicker shim I use crazy glue to hold them together.