Necking Down and Resizing 6x47 Lapua Cases?

[JBM_DC]

I have been shooting 6.5x47 Lapua for a few years and am at the point where I want to make the switch to a 6x47 Lapua.

My question is can I use my current 6.5 FL Bushing Die to reliably size the brass just by changing out the bushing from a .288 to a .268? Will the seating die still work for the smaller 105 Berger Hybrids as well?

I am not opposed to buying new dies, but if I can save the $200 then I will just order more bullets.

 

[gtl1946]

I have been shooting 6.5x47 Lapua for a few years and am at the point where I want to make the switch to a 6x47 Lapua.

My question is can I use my current 6.5 FL Bushing Die to reliably size the brass just by changing out the bushing from a .288 to a .268? Will the seating die still work for the smaller 105 Berger Hybrids as well?

I am not opposed to buying new dies, but if I can save the $200 then I will just order more bullets.

Redding dies ? If so just call and ask them. You might as well as go to the "horse's mouth " !

 

[JBM_DC]

Redding dies ? If so just call and ask them. You might as well as go to the "horse's mouth " !

I called Redding already. I was told I could try it, but they couldn't guarantee anything. They said it should work. I was just hoping someone here tried this out before and could give their experience with it good or bad.

 

[gtl1946]

I called Redding already. I was told I could try it, but they couldn't guarantee anything. They said it should work. I was just hoping someone here tried this out before and could give their experience with it good or bad.

Why not try it out on let's say 3 cases and try it ? You could save yourself a couple of hundred $'s .

 

[JBM_DC]

Why not try it out on let's say 3 cases and try it ? You could save yourself a couple of hundred $'s .

Waiting on my barrel and reamer to come in. Should be here in the next week or two. Once I have the barrel chambered up I would be more than happy to try it out.

 

[mikecr]

A FL die sizes FL.
With an 'FL bushing die', the shoulder is included in the bushing.
Redding doesn't offer an actual FL bushing die.
What they offer is a misnomer to body-bushing die..

So with bushing partial length sizing of necks, you'd end up with near 26cal false shoulders(hard chambering).
I think you would need a forming die, or actual FL die here.

 

[Riesel]

A FL die sizes FL.
So with bushing partial length sizing of necks, you'd end up with near 26cal false shoulders(hard chambering).
I think you would need a forming die, or actual FL die here.

I think Mike is correct. If you get an RCBS or some such FL sizing die in 6 x 47L for your first time I believe you would be good to go with your Redding set-up and bushing. You would probably need to fire-form but should give you a starting place for load development. My 6 x 47 just loves the 115 DTACS

 

[SG4247]

Dont even try using a Redding 6.5x47L bushing die to form 6x47 Lapua brass. It will basically ruin the brass. Dont buy the Redding 6x47L FL dies either as it is not made to the proper diameter in my opinion.

Call Forster and get their FL die and use it for the first sizing.

Then you can use the Redding bushing die if you want to.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/best-way-to-make-6x47-lapua-brass.3892828/

 

[Milo 2.0]

Dont even try using a Redding 6.5x47L bushing die to form 6x47 Lapua brass. It will basically ruin the brass. Dont but the Redding 6x47L FL dies either as it is not made to the proper diameter in my opinion.

Call Forster and get their FL die and use it for the first sizing.

Then you can use the Redding bushing die if you want to.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/best-way-to-make-6x47-lapua-brass.3892828/

^^^This guy spot on, a reg die will neck it down way better, no matter how much lube you put on the necks, you will crush a good pct of the cases you try.

 

[JBM_DC]

^^^This guy spot on, a reg die will neck it down way better, no matter how much lube you put on the necks, you will crush a good pct of the cases you try.

What I cannot understand is why would I crush my cases when necking the cases down to 6mm in a 6x47 FL bushing die? Essentially it is honed to the same specs as a standard die but with the option to adjust what they call "Neck tension" or basically outside neck diameter. Why is there an issue using this method?

 

[SG4247]

I wasted well over 100 lapua 6.5 x 47 cases using Redding bushing dies in an attempt to form 6x47 Lapua brass. Donuts from the sizing operation were the primary result, which wrecked seating pressure - causing random fliers in a 600 yard F-open prone match.

The Forster 6x47 die was perfect, and no donuts!

BTW the Forster FL die is $37!

My 2 cents!

 

[JBM_DC]

I wasted well over 100 lapua 6.5 x 47 cases using Redding bushing dies in an attempt to form 6x47 Lapua brass. Donuts from the sizing operation were the primary result, which wrecked seating pressure - causing random fliers in a 600 yard F-open prone match.

The Forster 6x47 die was perfect, and no donuts!

BTW the Forster FL die is $37!

My 2 cents!

Thanks for the info. At $37 it may just be the way I go. Just curious what is the outside neck diameter after sizing with the Forster FL die? I am hoping for a .003" smaller than a loaded cartridge with 105 Hybrids and no neck turning.

 

[Scott Harris]

Necking down converts part of the neck into shoulder....so donuts "should" not be a problem. One way to neck down successfully is to get intermediate bushings so the transition from 6.5 neck size to 6.0 neck size can be done in steps. I have crushed/collapsed the necks of 300 WSM brass when trying to neck them down to 7-300 WSM in one step. I ended up doing it in three steps and this worked well.

For example, you could get a .284 bushing and a .274 bushing that can be used with your 6.5x47 die. Also get a standard non-bushing 6x47 L die. Neck the cases down progressively using the non-bushing die last and I bet you will not crush/collapse any necks. This can be done very quickly on a progressive press. You might be able to get away with necking down in just 2 steps instead of 3, but you'll have to try it and find out. But going directly from 6.5 to 6.0mm neck is likely to collapse cases.

Now, if this seems like a lot of work.....6XC is essentially the same cartridge without the case forming.

 

[SG4247]

My Forster die with the factory .241" ball expander provides the following dimensions on new Lapua 6.5x47 brass formed to 6mm x 47:

Neck OD: .2693" (mitutoyo digital 5 place mic)
Neck ID: .241" (tight on a .2412" pin gauge)
Wall thicknes: very thick - approx .014" (Redding thickness gauge)

 

[Milo 2.0]

What I cannot understand is why would I crush my cases when necking the cases down to 6mm in a 6x47 FL bushing die? Essentially it is honed to the same specs as a standard die but with the option to adjust what they call "Neck tension" or basically outside neck diameter. Why is there an issue using this method?

Like Scott Harris said, need to step it down in stages with bushings, known fact use a reg die for necking down.

 

[JBM_DC]

Necking down converts part of the neck into shoulder....so donuts "should" not be a problem. One way to neck down successfully is to get intermediate bushings so the transition from 6.5 neck size to 6.0 neck size can be done in steps. I have crushed/collapsed the necks of 300 WSM brass when trying to neck them down to 7-300 WSM in one step. I ended up doing it in three steps and this worked well.

For example, you could get a .284 bushing and a .274 bushing that can be used with your 6.5x47 die. Also get a standard non-bushing 6x47 L die. Neck the cases down progressively using the non-bushing die last and I bet you will not crush/collapse any necks. This can be done very quickly on a progressive press. You might be able to get away with necking down in just 2 steps instead of 3, but you'll have to try it and find out. But going directly from 6.5 to 6.0mm neck is likely to collapse cases.

Now, if this seems like a lot of work.....6XC is essentially the same cartridge without the case forming.

I have an experimental reamer from Hugh Hendrickson for 6XC, the last barrel it chambered lasted 3,000 rounds and was only pulled because the rifle was headed to a big match. I have access to plenty of 6XC brass, but I am so invested into the lapua cartridge at this point I might as well shoot it for a few more years until I can wear out the brass. (Which I don't see happening anytime soon) I appreciate everyones help, I think I have enough information to begin this process once my barrel and reamer arrive.

 

[SG4247]

I love the 6x47, and have lots of 6.5x47L brass from shooting it for many years prior - like you do. The 6mm is very easy to load for and gave me excellent performance at 600 yards - right from the very first match.

I thought the 6x47 forming operations would be relatively easy...for me it was not. Now, I expected to have very good match quality brass dimensions resulting from the forming operation i.e. good consistent seating pressure and very low runout.

What I now have is: no donuts, very straight necks, and good consistent seating pressure, but runout is high - as much as .006" on half of the brass.

Once the new brass is fired, the runout variation is eliminated, but the runout on the fired zero brass has no doubt, cost me some match points.

I am perhaps constrained, because I refuse to ream the neck ID, like my competetiors do. I simply do not have the equipment needed to ream necks properly.

I turn the necks twice, once before necking down, and then once after. The initial wall thickness of .014" is very problematic in itself, almost forcing one to turn the necks no matter what.

Good luck - and enjoy the cartridge, I certainly do!

 

[mikecr]

I turn the necks twice, once before necking down, and then once after. The initial wall thickness of .014" is very problematic in itself, almost forcing one to turn the necks no matter what.

This brings up a good point: make sure your planning for loaded neck diameters either after necking down, or after neck turning.

 

[lbran]

Thanks for the info. At $37 it may just be the way I go. Just curious what is the outside neck diameter after sizing with the Forster FL die? I am hoping for a .003" smaller than a loaded cartridge with 105 Hybrids and no neck turning.

Thanks for the info. At $37 it may just be the way I go. Just curious what is the outside neck diameter after sizing with the Forster FL die? I am hoping for a .003" smaller than a loaded cartridge with 105 Hybrids and no neck turning.

I shot the 6x47 for years! size it dowm from 6.5 to 6 with fl die,fire form them and then use your bushing die to get right neck tension!they wont shoot near as good till there fireformed in that chamber so the necks are straight, sizing them from 6.5 to 6 crooks the necks!!!!!

 

[alinwa]

Here's how I did it a buncha' years ago..... and haven't changed the procedure since

If'n ya' don't read so good......Just skip ahead a few pages to see how a STEPPED NECK BUSHING gives perfect results

This is the real deal...... cases can be loaded 100 times.

http://benchrest.com/showthread.php?58805-Al-s-6x47L