Learned how to NOT size 6.5x284 to 6x284 today

[LRPV]

I thought that I could get off cheap at least one time during this new 6x284 project of mine and bought a Lee FL die set as I thought I could just run 6.5 Lapua brass into the FL die and be good to go. Wrong... Tried it with One Shot and Imperial and smashed them both. Going to try it the way Redding told me to in the first place. 6x284 form die, or 25x284 trim die then the regular 6x284 seater die, then 6x284 FL die. At least Midway had the 25x284 trim die on clearance for me, thanks Larry.
Jason

 

[HillbillySniper]

I can relate a little with the forming of my 25wsm. I tried using the 7wsm brass and necking down didn't even come close had to go and git the 300wsm redding type s die with two different bushing then use my 25wsm die to finish. Guess no matter what there's never a cheap and easy way in this game! ;D


Hillbilly

 

[Bulseyetom]

Is it because of the sharp shoulder or what? I have necked down hundreds of 30-06 to 25-06 without problems in just one step. Does it crush them even if you only go part way down the neck? I know that wouldn't chamber but I am curious as to why you would have problems going from .264 to .244 caliber by just sizing as you tried. ???
Tom

 

[LRPV]

I am guessing it is the 35 degree shoulder. I have done many one caliber neck downs just playing around with things like 30-06 243 and 300 win mag without issues. I think that some of it might also be how much tighter that lee die was than it needed to be too, I can't remember what it was without the expander ball but it was especially tight.
Jason

 

[k80skeet]

Yup, Been there and done that. You can get away with it just often enough so you give it a try. Like the posts above 30-06 to 25-06. I take 30-06 run them through a 25-06 neck size die and then through a full lengh die and they come out perfect and size with little effort. I would have done the same thing you did until I found out it didn't work. I don't use Lee dies at all. Maybe it is just me but I believe you get just what you pay for and they are just to cheap for me. There will be no Lee dies in my future. I will stick with my Redding and RCBS. I am not bad mouthing Lee. They are just not for me.

 

[LRPV]

K80, I know exactly what you mean about the dies. I use Forster and Redding but have seen people talking good about the Lee dies so I thought I'd try them. I can't fault the dies themselves any in this instance other than the seater die is really crude with a seating stem that might be suitable for seating 30cal bullets but not even close to fitting a longer 6mm bullet.

Some measurements: Outside of neck made with calipers

6.5x284 Lapua out of box .2905
After 25x284 trim die .2905
After 6x284 seater die .279 Going to use this for a modified case
After 6x284 FL die w/out expander .267
After 6x284 FL with expander .272
Loaded with 105 Vld Berger .274

So I didn't need the 25x284 trim die, it looked like the 6.5 brass just fit it, so if I was using regular 284 brass it would be the thing to have.
All of the dies were Redding. The FL die did not size the neck all the way down, It looks the same as if I would have used a bushing die. Headspace measured with a 420 Hornady bushing zeroed out measured 1.797 on new 6.5 Lapua brass and the same on my formed 6-284 brass so hopefully I'll be good.
Jason

 

[johnmyers]

I use Redding FL die set. Use Imperial and run first pass through your seating die, this brings it down a little first and you shouldn't have any trouble.

 

[FroggyOne2]

Too bad that you don't have a Jones die, I could have hooked you up with the proper bushings to reduce the neck down to 6mm.

 

[LRPV]

John, does your FL die size the neck all the way down or does it leave a little bit un-sized? The way these turned out after going through the FL die, it didn't size the whole neck. They look like I did it with a bushing die which if I would've known that was the case I would have just used the bushing die in the first place.

 

[johnmyers]

LRPV, mine sizes all the way down when adjusting the FL die for a .002 shoulder bump. Hope you get along with Redding if you try one.
John

 

[Pistol35743]

I have used a 25/284 trim die before going to 6x284 for years.

 

[LRPV]

LRPV, mine sizes all the way down when adjusting the FL die for a .002 shoulder bump. Hope you get along with Redding if you try one.
John

I did try the Redding, it is the one that is not sizing all the way down. After the Lee die didn't work I ordered the Redding dies. I need to play with them a little more I guess, I didn't send the Lee dies back so I might try them again after running through the seater die too just to see.

 

[LRPV]

I have used a 25/284 trim die before going to 6x284 for years.

I can see where it would definitely help if using 284 brass but with the 6.5x284 lapua brass it didn't even touch the neck.

 

[jonbearman]

I have been reading all the problems of necking down from 6.5x284 to 6mm-284 on several posts and cant believe you have all these problems.I bought a redding fl die and used the rcbs lube and sized it and no problem what so ever.The cases after firing dont split or any other problems.You are reducing about .011 on a side which is a small amount to begin with.I have resized .243 up to 260 rem for fun and it worked great with an eliptical expander period.

 

[HillbillySniper]

Just a thought could you maybe have a bad batch of brass?

Hillbilly

 

[johnmyers]

LRPV, you have a pm

 

[DOGCAPPER]

I was using various neck dies in a vise to neck down 6.5 to 6mm....What a zoo......Jim Carstsen made me a stubby die that he used...One pass fast as you can load the shell holder....Straight all the way to the shoulder ready for turning...LT

 

[LRPV]

I appreciate everyone's help on this. I didn't think it would be that big of a deal just sizing the neck down on these but it has been a little more involved than I expected. With using the Redding seater die and then the FL die I think they will be good enough to work with. I lowered the FL just a little bit more and it is getting almost all of the neck now but it almost looks like it is bubbling the shoulder just a tad.
It is going to be a few more months if not longer before the rifle is done anyway, I'll just do a few now to see if they even chamber. Thanks for everyone's help. Jason

 

[RossL]

I ran a thread a while back with my problems necking down 6.5-284 norma brass. I used a hornady FL die with imperial sizing wax and got them sized down but it took a great deal of force. The necks became very stiff and seating/pulling of bullets was extremely difficult. I wasn't sure if working the brass way down past normal dimensions to .264" then running it past a sizer ball was causing it.

I ended up getting some Lapua 6.5-284 brass and tried a different approach. I owned the 6-284 reamer and have a lathe. I made a form die using an old .264 SS barrel. The form die necked down the brass to .277" easily. I got to finished neck dimension with a Redding S bushing.

Since then I barreled a sporter weight rifle with a rechambered .243 rem takeoff to 6-284 and used some twice fired 284 win brass with the same die. I didn't think the old brass would work but I have a huge number of them and just had to try. It was very easy with no damage to any of the pieces.

I have concluded that the norma brass had issues before it was over worked.

You have already purchased the dies required to form the brass. I added the information on making your own form die for other potential 6-284 shooters to see.

 

[LRPV]

I appreciate it Ross. I was watching your thread close and kept what you were doing in mind. Even with the the extra steps, which the 25-284 trim die didn't do anything, but using the 6-284 seat die with the guts out of it and then using the 6-284 FL die I still didn't get the whole neck sized on the Lapua brass. They look like they were sized with a bushing die, I have that much at the bottom that didn't get sized I mean. I think they will be good enough but I have to wait a few more months to find out.
It's going to be,

Pre-64 M70 action
Canjar set trigger
Bartlein .236 5r 8 twist Med/heavy Palma
Manners T2A stock
6-24x50 4200 FFP Bushnell (for now anyway)
Put together by Chris Matthews (LongShot Rifles)

Gonna be my long range coyote/personal jollies rig. I hope it works out, I have pretty high expectations for it.