I just stepped off into the 6BR last month with a factory Savage Model 12 F-class. Initial testing looked good with 30.0 Varget with Berger 105 VLD Hybrids, Laupua brass, CCI 450 primers. I'm using LE Wilson dies & have been neck sizing only until now. I've discovered that by the 2nd reload I'm having a head space issue & are going to have to bump the shoulder back but the brass is not growing in length. Is this a normal occurrence or do I have a finicky rifle?
New 6BR shooter
- Thread starter cs700
- Start date
If it's shooting how you like/expect, then I would simply FL resize every time.
But first, make sure your cases are clean, and the chamber is dry. Cleaning solution and/or case lube can lead to conditions normally associated with high pressure loads.
You could try reducing the load a bit (try 29.5gr). Although I'd imagine you want to keep the velocity up since you're using 105's.
I gave up neck-sizing-only a long time ago because of the 'problem' you've described. After grinding my shell holder down to get more shoulder bump, I discovered that it wasn't a headspace problem at all... it was the case body swelling near the case head (just above the webbing), and my FL die wasn't sizing it enough. The solution there is a small-base sizing die. I'm not familiar with the Savage 6BR chambers, but if it's tight, this may be part of your problem.
just throwing out some ideas...
But first, make sure your cases are clean, and the chamber is dry. Cleaning solution and/or case lube can lead to conditions normally associated with high pressure loads.
You could try reducing the load a bit (try 29.5gr). Although I'd imagine you want to keep the velocity up since you're using 105's.
I gave up neck-sizing-only a long time ago because of the 'problem' you've described. After grinding my shell holder down to get more shoulder bump, I discovered that it wasn't a headspace problem at all... it was the case body swelling near the case head (just above the webbing), and my FL die wasn't sizing it enough. The solution there is a small-base sizing die. I'm not familiar with the Savage 6BR chambers, but if it's tight, this may be part of your problem.
just throwing out some ideas...
If you're not getting enough bump on the shoulder, then a small base die won't address that. In that situation, you need to grind down your current shell holder, or order a different one that's thinner between where the die touches, and the lip that holds the case in the extractor groove. Hopefully that makes sense. Another way to describe it, is the amount of material removed from the top of the shell holder, is how far the case can go higher into the die. That will give you more shoulder bump.
After a lot of head banging, teeth gnashing & hair pulling the problem was found. I was using a cheap Lee press & it was flexing. It now been replaced with a Rock Chucker & brass is being resized as it should be. I thought the Lee press would work but what I saved in cost I used up in alcohol & aspirins. Still wound up buying a Rock Chucker which is what I should have done in the beginning.
Rookie mistake.
Rookie mistake.
I bump mine ever time. And anneal ever 3rd time. If you remove the expander ball you can go longer without having to bump.
My target tells me that works the best for me. Larry
My target tells me that works the best for me. Larry
I love the Redding type s fl bushing die,,.002 neck tension and bump shoulder about .0015 ever cycle,,
I ran 40 cases through SB body die on new press last night. All went into Wilson case gauge & tested in rifle just fine. Since I only have about 1/2 lb. of Varget left, which is on the Ghost Hunters list these days, I worked up several loads with RL-15 to try out today. I'm also going to test the same load with 3 different primers, CCI 400, CCI 450 & CCI BR-4, to see what variance there is if any.
Im with Mr.Big I do the exact same thing .002 neck tension bump shoulders .0015 ish...prime load and shoot...very simple....I have a big pickle jar with acetone that I swirl my brass in for a few minutes and strain and clean....brass is very very clean never had an issue yet and thy dry super quick. I have heard of guys on here that say to not tumble 6BR brass so I use the acetone tornado method.
Very Respectfully
Very Respectfully
I don't understand why some shooters insist on neck sizing only......it is old school thinking. To provide ultimate accuracy, one must do everything exactly the same. This includes reloading cartridges that are as close to identical as possible. N.S. presents "issues" that compromise accuracy - those being headspace variations (brass from same lot will work-harden at different rates (even if subjected to the same pressures and fired the same number of times), increased wear on the bolt lugs and mating abutments.
If your goal is to wring out the maximum accuracy potential of your rifle and loads -you need to eliminate as many variables as possible. FLS everytime is also a lot simpler. The trick is to find a FL sizer that best accommodates YOUR chamber and this will yield maximum case life......most times better case life than NS and the occassional bump.
If your goal is to wring out the maximum accuracy potential of your rifle and loads -you need to eliminate as many variables as possible. FLS everytime is also a lot simpler. The trick is to find a FL sizer that best accommodates YOUR chamber and this will yield maximum case life......most times better case life than NS and the occassional bump.
Tim Singleton
Gold $$ Contributor
I've often wondered where the (neck size only for accuracy) came from?LHSmith said:
I heard it for years and years but the truth IMO is its just not at all the way to go.
Maybe it came about from factory chambers on the big end and people not understanding how to properly use a FL die and were over sizing and loosing brass to fast idk.
I readily admit I didn't really understand how to properly use a FL die for years
Based on the amount of powder & number of bullets on hand (skimpy for both) I only loaded up 3 rounds per charge between 29.0 & 29.9 of RL15 with 105 Berger VLDs. Testing day was fun with 10 to 20mph winds at 300 yards. It appears I may have found a couple of loads to test further with CCI 450 primers. Since 1st testing I lucked up on 5lbs of RL15. Here are the 2 loads at 300 yards I'm going to test further.
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