Forming 6BRA from Dasher brass?

[RAG]

I "fell into" a Dasher because it came with a gun I bought, and I recently fireformed 300 pieces Lapua 6BR to Dasher. Each case has 2 - 3 firings. But now I wish to chamber up a 6BRA, which is what I really wanted in the first place (for varminting).

Wondering if I could form/size 6BRA from Dasher, and how I'd go about it?

Thanks!

 

[shoot4fun]

I vote no.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Give it a try but I don't think it's gonna go well. I wouldn't put much faith in it anyway. Steep shoulder and little body taper will likely collapse the shoulder before it pushes back, especially on 2-3 times fired cases. A big maybe is annealing MIGHT help but I doubt it.

 

[RAG]

Yeah, sorta what I suspected. But thought there was a chance if I used a 6BR die first, I should push the outside of the shoulder down first (in a few incremental steps) and then use 6BRA die (which I don't have yet) to then push the inside of shoulder down.

Well, I can't waist all this beautiful brass...I practically just got it fully firefomed, so maybe I do another Dasher...just a bit overkill for the varminting work I want to do.

 

[STS]

The Dasher moves the shoulder forward from the base BR brass. To go back to BR length you would have to move the shoulder back to where it was which means you need to push the shoulder back by reducing the diameter in steps from body diameter down to neck diameter. Probably 3 steps. It requires case forming dies to get there. It not something that a full length will do without collapsing the shoulder. The case forming dies will probably cost you as much as buying new brass and you will have better brass in the end. You’d be better off to start with new brass.

 

[SHall]

Don’t try it!!!
I thought you were mistaken in your post and meant BRA to Dasher.
But a Dasher to BRA is a definite no-no.

 

[DJSBRS]

It can be done, but you have to use the straight 6BR die and not push it back all the way. Stop pushing it back .017 longer than a BR 30 degree and then use a BRA 40 degree FL die and bump shoulder back to a 40 degree shoulder without pushing the case wall back any further. The shoulder case wall is .017 longer on a BRA but the neck shoulder headspace is .004 shorter than a 6BR. You will need to anneal the case shoulder a couple of times during the process and use plenty of case lube.
Go slow!

DJ
DJ’s Brass Service

 

[Rset]

So maybe I do another Dasher...just a bit overkill for the varminting work I want to do.

Who said that a Dasher has to be loaded to top velocity?. You can load the case to a lower pressure and velocity and get case life that will last longer while still achieving great accuracy.