Fireforming 6.5 Creedmoor brass recipes

[TiGuy]

What are you using for powder charge weights when fireforming your 22-250/243/250 savage brass? I form using 120 grain bullets jammed .015. I have used 4895 and AA2700 (just because it was available at the time).

 

[15Tango]

I'm in the process of doing this same exact thing with Lapua .22-250, I've only necked it up so far. I'm planning on using 139 grain Pvri cheapo bullets in a relatively light load, 40.0 grains of R17. According to my data I should get around 2750 FPS with that. It'll get the job done and I can get some practice trigger time in at the same time. I'm going to the range tomorrow with it, I'll post pics of the before and after when I get them.

I don't know the normal process for necking up but I used a 6mm expander ball then the 6.5MM expander ball and it gave nice results and even a bit of a false shoulder, I hope it's enough.

Wayne

 

[TiGuy]

Digging thru my notes on previous sessions, I've used 37 grains of IMR 4895 and 41 graind of AA2700.

 

[15Tango]

I formed some brass today from Lapua .22-250 and used 39 grains of Reloder 17 with CCI large rifle primers and loaded it at 2.820" jammed .005" to try and give it more resistance from getting pushed farther forward by the firing pin. That may not have been necessary but I did it anyway. The results were good, see attached picture.

Wayne

 

[M700]

Is this fireformed brass working out better than the Hornady brass?

 

[15Tango]

Much better for me velocity wise, I haven't had a chance to load anything for accuracy yet.

The only thing I've tried for load work up so far has been with a 140 VLD and Reloder 17. I ended up getting 3075 with 42.5 grains of R17 which is crazy velocity but the brass showed no signs of pressure. The best velocities I was getting with the Hornady brass with 140 class bullets was around 2975 and that brass could only take about 5-6 loadings that stout before the primer pockets were loose.

So far it's been worth the hassle. The Lapua weighed quite a bit more than the Hornady though, around 20 grains more if I remember correctly so keep that in mind.

Wayne

 

[Mudcat]

Getting doughnuts in the neck when you fireform to 6.5 Creedmoor? I am getting them when I turn them into 6XC but the doughnut is low enough on the neck that its not affecting my bullet seating, thankfully.

John

 

[2644ever]

15Tango, you made my day! Years ago I took a lot of flak on various forums, including this one, when I mentioned the superiority of 22-250 brass over any other in order to form 6.5x47 cases. I noticed the case was missing the infamous GROOVE of the .308 case family, that was, at least in part, responsible for case head failure at high pressures.
Your velocities are quite impressive and exceed anything possible with the .260 Rem. We're cruising in 6.5-.284 waters here... Good job!

 

[15Tango]

It's temping to get some of the 308 Palma brass to make some Creedmoor out of for that small rifle primer. It makes me wonder if any more accuracy or smaller deviation could be had with the small rifle primers. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before somebody does it.

 

[offgrid]

I formed some brass today from Lapua .22-250 and used 39 grains of Reloder 17 with CCI large rifle primers and loaded it at 2.820" jammed .005" to try and give it more resistance from getting pushed farther forward by the firing pin. That may not have been necessary but I did it anyway. The results were good, see attached picture.

Wayne

Thinking about giving the fire formed Lapua 22-250 a try. A couple questions:How many rounds do have on your brass? What is the loaded neck OD? Or wall thickness after you ran the 6.5 expander through?

Thanks, Kevin

 

[15Tango]

Kevin,

I don't even know how many firings I've got on it at this point. Besides the culling of a few from split necks on necking up, 2 I think, I haven't had to toss any of them yet and the pockets are still like a drum.

I never measured neck thickness before turning. I turned them to .0125" thick, .289" loaded.

Wayne

 

[offgrid]

Wayne, thanks for the reply.

Going to order a box of the Lapua brass, see how it works out. Been a little disappointed with the Hornady brass. Bought 220rds of factory loaded 140amax, after shooting the factory loads and two reloads, tossed 21 pcs for loose primer pockets. I'm loading 42.7/4350, 139 scenar, getting 2870 fps, very accurate out of my 26" Kreiger, 1-8. No pressure signs except for the loose primer pockets.

3075 is crazy velocity! What are you getting for ES/SD?


Kevin

 

[15Tango]

3075 is crazy velocity! What are you getting for ES/SD?

Not good enough, ha, that's why I ditched it and I'm back down to 2900 FPS with H4350.

Yeah, the Hornady stuff is quite good in all respects BUT the primer pockets loosening up, I think the Hornady stuff is of semi-balloon head design (I've never cut one open to verify) and I know Lapua's solid-head stuff.

You'll be happy with the Lapua, it'll probably last the life of the barrel. Its capacity is different though (it's much heavier) so be sure to work loads back up again.

I still have about 150 Hornady cases laying around, I've dedicated it for use on varmint rounds (47.5 gr. R17, CCI #200, 2.670" 95 Gr V-Max = 3400 FPS) so I don't have to cry if I lose any. The 95 Grain V-Max at 3400 shoots very flat, only 8.5 inches of drop at 300 W/100-yard zero!

Wayne

 

[offgrid]

Wayne,

fire-formed 50 Lapua 22-250 today. Sure is a lot of fuss, hope it's worth it. Cases look great.

How did your load change? Less powder for the same FPS?

Kevin

 

[15Tango]

I had to lower the charge. 43 grains of R17 was giving me right around 3000 FPS with the Lapua but 43 of R17 gave me about 2900 FPS with the Hornady. Makes sense given the Lapua weighs approx. 160 grains and the Hornady stuff is at 147 grain approx., some of that difference is in the neck length obviously but not that much.

Got any pictures of how yours turned out? Any issues while forming it? I had donuts I had to cut out - turn the necks if you can.

Wayne

 

[offgrid]

No issues. Used a Redding 6.5 tapered button to neck up. Turned the necks to a tad under .013.

What bullets are you shooting? The 140 Amax's and 139 Scenars shoot great for me with 4350. Want to give the Berger 130VLD's a try, hopefully they'll be available soon.

22-250, Fire-formed, Hornady

 

[15Tango]

What bullets are you shooting?

I've shot: 140 Amax, 123 Amax, 120 Amax, 123 Scenar, 142 SMK, 140 VLD & 95 Vmax is awesome for varmint.

Your pictures look just like mine, ha. You should be happy with the results, that brass will last.

Wayne

 

[memilanuk]

How long are your cases formed from Lapua .22-250 brass as compared to factory brass? I've seen some folks recommending forming from .243 Win or .308 Win instead of .22-250 Rem because the finished case length ends up too short using the .22-250 stuff - but I haven't seen any numbers as to what constitutes 'too short'.

TIA,

Monte

 

[offgrid]

Monte,

my fire-formed cases are 1.880. Trimmed the Hornady brass to 1.910.

The shorter case has had no effect on accuracy, getting slightly better ES/SD numbers with the Lapua. Best with Hornady has been 19/6.82, with the Lapua 16/5.48. 10 shots.

Kevin

 

[memilanuk]

so... 30 thou shorter. Dang, that is a bunch. Hmmm... wondering if forming from .243 or .308 brass would be a better option?