First Time Necking Down - Need Advice before continuing (6.5 Grendel to 6 Grendel via FL bushing)
- Thread starter Winny94
- Start date
Unfortunately my smith was Sid Goodling and he's no longer with us. I haven't looked for a new since I haven't done anything "custom" since he built my benchrest gun. I'll have to see who I can find.
The die you use in contingent upon your reamer but yes, I spec'd my 6 Grendel to work well with an off the shelf Redding 6.5 Grendel type s full bushing die. All it takes is a bushing swap, per se.
As for necking down, don't over complicate this. It's very simple but it also depends on your reamer, to some degree. For mine, I use a 6ppc seater to get it very close, then finish with a 6br body die, that happens to have the right neck id to get me where I need to be. Once within a thou or so, a barrel stub made with your reamer will do the trick. You'll then need to run it thru the right bushing. The only problem is that a bushing won't size all the way to the neck..so you need something that will, to get you to the same or very near the reamer neck diameter before running it thru a bushing die. I shoot mine in br from a bolt rifle. You could very well neck down in one step with the right die but I choose to do it in two. It has worked very well and couldn't be much easier.
You just have to find something that gets it very close first. I'd like to say, just use such and such, but I've seen that neck diameters in dies can be different within even the same die # from the same maker. Not a big issue...it only needs necked down once and once you have the right setup to do that, it should always work.--Mike Ezell
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It's an x caliber barrel. So maybe I can get in touch with them to see if they have any input on it. I've sized manye 6.5x47 down to 6x47 so I'm familiar with necking down and neck turning if needed. I'll keep this thread marked to reference back to all thr input.
First, I trim and chamfer the 6.5 Lapua Brass out of the box. Lengths must be consistent, but I just trim to the shortest one in the box, what ever dimension that is.
Next, I size the new lapua 6.5 Grendel brass necks - just slightly with a regular Redding 6.5 G bushing die. This initial neck sizing is done to fit the C21 neck turning mandrel perfectly. Then, I neck turn to .011” wall thickness.
Next it goes into a 6MM AR Redding FL non bushing die, to be sized to .241” ID.
The neck wall thickness will increase from .011” - when the neck is reduced from 6.5 to 6mm.
Load and shoot.
After brass has been fired the first time, I resize with a Redding 6mm AR Bushing die and a .262 bushing. I push the shoulders back .005” from fired length, from this point forward.
Very low runout and no donuts after 6-7 firings in an AR. Very good brass with this method.
Using the .241” neck ID gives me 35-40 psi consistent seating pressure with Berger 105s.
I have to shoot from a magazine in my matches, otherwise I might explore lower seating pressures.
Next, I size the new lapua 6.5 Grendel brass necks - just slightly with a regular Redding 6.5 G bushing die. This initial neck sizing is done to fit the C21 neck turning mandrel perfectly. Then, I neck turn to .011” wall thickness.
Next it goes into a 6MM AR Redding FL non bushing die, to be sized to .241” ID.
The neck wall thickness will increase from .011” - when the neck is reduced from 6.5 to 6mm.
Load and shoot.
After brass has been fired the first time, I resize with a Redding 6mm AR Bushing die and a .262 bushing. I push the shoulders back .005” from fired length, from this point forward.
Very low runout and no donuts after 6-7 firings in an AR. Very good brass with this method.
Using the .241” neck ID gives me 35-40 psi consistent seating pressure with Berger 105s.
I have to shoot from a magazine in my matches, otherwise I might explore lower seating pressures.
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That's more or less what I did with my 6x47. I just need to find dies for this thing. Once I get that situated I'm home free.
Since this is a wildcat any dies you plan to buy should be compared to your reamer print.
Contact redding. I know they make them for Robert Whitley.
Contact whidden. If you have a reamer print or fired cases i am sure they can make you dies too.
WyleWD
Silver $$ Contributor
For anyone following along, I added an in between bushing and gave it another go (actually, I borrowed 2 - .281, .274, .268), and it made a world of difference. No discernable false shoulder or donut, smooth neck walls, easy ram throw, etc. I'm so far pretty happy with how they turned out. OAL seems to have stayed in the 1.5195-1.5205 range. They chambered and ejected buttery smooth. Hoping to get a handful loaded and start testing charge weights this weekend.
That is the way I do it. Yeah it's another trip through the die etc, but it works out well that way . Also, I leave the expander ball in the die through the first 2 trips. Then trim to length, turn necks then champher. I also use a cutter type mandrel when turning the necks to cut out any donuts. Also, I've found Norma brass easier to work with and fewer (if any) donuts to remove YMMV. WD
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