Making 6 BR cases

[spudgun]

Has anyone cut down and resized used Creedmoor cases to make 6BR?

Over the past 6 years of shooting 6.5 and 6 CM I have about 120 cases that the necks have split (my bad, didn't anneal the cases until about 2 years ago). No good for 6.5/6MM CM but could be cut down and resized to 6 BR. At $1.30 a case for new it might be worth my time. The brass is Starline and I have had very good results with it.

Also got all winter to do this.

 

[STS]

Case shoulders and bodies don't make good case necks. Find a way to buy BR brass.

 

[spudgun]

I see your point. Didn't think of that. Brass might just be to thick at that point.

 

[Murray Brook]

Is there any suitable brass to make 6br cases from.

 

[SSL]

Is there any suitable brass to make 6br cases from.

Don't know anything about the manufacturer, but Blue Collar Reloading lists new Alpha 6mm BR brass at $130 per 100. Top notch seller.

 

[STS]

In addition to my comment above, making long brass into short brass involves more than a simple necking down procedure. When you start pushing shoulders back you need a set of case forming dies that reduce the body diameter gradually, over two or more steps, to keep from collapsing the brass. Those case forming dies will cost you more than simply buying some BR brass.

 

[hoz53]

Is there any suitable brass to make 6br cases from.

i attempted making some out of 308 brass a few years ago. i sized them in one shot from 308 to 7mm br in 7br size die then cut them off. then lots of other steps and still didnt get them to the point they would chamber but i was close.

 

[Bat Rastard]

I spent a Winter making 6.5CM out of some 243.
I wouldn't do it again.

 

[spudgun]

OK guys, you got your point across.

6 BR brass it is...

thanks for your inputs...

 

[jackieschmidt]

One other point.

The capacity will end up be quite a bit less due to the wall thickness.

 

[Keefe300]

One other point.

The capacity will end up be quite a bit less due to the wall thickness.

Attached is a picture to reiterate Jackie’s comment about case capacity. This is a piece of 6.5x47 Lapua brass turned into a 6BRX and a fire formed piece of 6BRX brass made from Lapua 6BR brass. Notice the difference in thickness! Also the case capacity of reformed 6.5x47 brass was equal to a straight 6BR. So if you were to use charge weights for a 6BRX you would be treading in very dangerous territory!!!

We sometimes have ideas that can get us into trouble.

 

[Ray123]

Yes,

Has anyone cut down and resized used Creedmoor cases to make 6BR?

Over the past 6 years of shooting 6.5 and 6 CM I have about 120 cases that the necks have split (my bad, didn't anneal the cases until about 2 years ago). No good for 6.5/6MM CM but could be cut down and resized to 6 BR. At $1.30 a case for new it might be worth my time. The brass is Starline and I have had very good results with it.

Also got all winter to do this.

You can ...but should you? It may be more involved and work you are not willing to do.
But I just made 30-06, 308, 25-06, 300 Savage cases into 8.6 Blackout ..which is very close to the 6 Dasher ...but I have machine tools and make my own rough forming dies when necessary. I used found once fired brass...so no annealing was necessary. But with split necks the brass has been work hardened by resizing numerous times, in the neck especially & lesser extent in the body. Annealing may be necessary. I'd rough size them in my die where it takes 30-06 to Dasher length with 30 degree shoulder one pass with no lube is actually needed but it works really slick with a quick spray, of Hornady lube. Transfer the rough sized case to mill, cut to exact length in dead lenght collet... cut time 1 second...deburr, lube run through 8.6 blackout factory die...neck turn on lathe .010 into the 30° with carbide diamond ground 30° form tool to thin out brass to .010 to .012 per side ...very easy and fast ...if ya have the tools...without annealing...but 6mm is a smaller diameter so ya might have to anneal the necks a time or two. Yep it can be done ...and 300 Savage is the best case, besides the factory one.
I made 308 Win in to 6mm ARC, cut the solid head down and a new extractor groove... because I can. Not for the average guy without machine tools. But your case forming is a doable task. 129 cases roughed in as fast as you can pull the handle, trimed in mill as fast as you can pull the handle ..all roughed out in 30 min.or so, In my garage. Hard part will be neck turning ...
But you have all winter, you can do it. Also I did 6.5 grendel basic .440" straight wall to 6mm ARC but annealed necks on each step down with no cases lost.

 

[dgeesaman]

Attached is a picture to reiterate Jackie’s comment about case capacity. This is a piece of 6.5x47 Lapua brass turned into a 6BRX and a fire formed piece of 6BRX brass made from Lapua 6BR brass. Notice the difference in thickness! Also the case capacity of reformed 6.5x47 brass was equal to a straight 6BR.
We sometimes have ideas that can get us into trouble.

View attachment 1384904

‘In communist Russia, you don’t bump shoulder - shoulder bumps you!’

Great photos. What did you use to section those cases?

David

 

[Keefe300]

I use a portable band saw and a jig that holds the case. After I split it in half I then rub it on 120 grit sandpaper and finish with 220 grit sandpaper.

Sectioning cases helps to visualize what’s happening in the places we can’t see or measure easily.

 

[wildcatter]

One other point.

The capacity will end up be quite a bit less due to the wall thickness.

That depends on the brass your comparing, I found factory Peterson Brass to be much less capacity than Lapua,,, but I have seen others make it shoot as well, I gave up and could not the same velocity from it the Lapua gave me.

I might use the Peterson if I needed to, which is long before I would go thru the pains of making it that way.