Resizing 6.5 bullets (.264 to .262)

[jambrdly]

Hello: I am looking to purchase a British sporter in 6.5x57r (aka .256 Mannlicher). The problem is, the cartridge requires .262 diameter bullets as opposed to the standard 6.5mm diameter of .264. These would be jacketed bullets, not lead.

How can one do this economically? I contacted Corbin and it got pricey pretty quick. Does anyone make a simple hammer die for this sort of thing?

 

[jsn]

Has someone slugged the bore to determine the actual diameter?

Whose barrel, built where?

If Lee Precision is still making custom sizing dies, you might be able to get by with one of their cast bullet sizers if you're only sizing .002". There might be some springback as well.

 

[RegionRat]

I would do more research to learn if resizing the modern bullets is really even necessary.
I would also slug the barrel as @jsn is saying and research who made that barrel and what pressure is safe.

The designs go back well over 100 years and some barrels were exposed to corrosive ammo.
There is a following for them in Europe and those Gibbs sporter rifles are collector's items with aficionados that know all the tricks to run them. I won't claim your barrel will, but there are examples of these that just run regular 6.5mm bullets as is. Play it safe and good luck.

 

[jambrdly]

Thanks. I remember seeing a hammer-swaging die a long time ago but I think that may have been just for lead bullets.

 

[RegionRat]

In the world of cast bullets for Bullseye, it is common to spend energy on trying to "size" their cast bullets to the nearest thousandth using a die.

In many examples it pays off, but remember their X ring is 2" at 50 yards from offhand with a 1911.

For a majority of shooters, the bullets get shot the way they drop from the molds because their accuracy expectations and distance expectations are not high to being with.

When pushing cast bullets above 1500 fps in rifles, there are many other things to think about in addition to the diameter. Breach loaded cartridge rounds are one thing, and muzzle loaded are another.

When it comes to modern smokeless centerfire with jacketed bullets, performance in situations where the barrel diameters are all over the map is usually poor or a matter of luck.

I would add the "for 256 Mannlicher" to the post tile and see if anyone with firsthand experience shows up. I would also search the web for specialists since these are still alive and well in Europe.

 

[Intheshop]

Big difference in .001,and .002 when discussing this. So it may be .262",or it could be .263?

I don't swage jacketed being lead only here. But within the realm of high velocity cast "rabbit holes".... I find a Case backhoe is the efficient way to dig. Sayin we have a full on machine shop backing up this operation,with range/s out the shop door.

So,getting you to .263, from the std .264 is one thing. Going to .262 creates some issues that "may"( means just that,not will) become a $$ roadblock.

One way to look at this.... does this rifle purchase,from a collector standpoint,make sense? Meaning,if you take the whole .262 thing out of it.... would you buy it. Or,is the dimension thing WHY it's being offered? And you do need to consider the backhoe thing.... if you have resources,this is not that big of deal. In anycase,good luck with your project.

 

[Herzo]

Years ago, I used a drill-reamer bushing (readily available in 0.0005" increments) to resize 1000 surplus 7mm bullets from .286" to .284". They worked well shooting handgun shiloutte in my XP-100.

 

[Herzo]

Has someone slugged the bore to determine the actual diameter?

Whose barrel, built where?

If Lee Precision is still making custom sizing dies, you might be able to get by with one of their cast bullet sizers if you're only sizing .002". There might be some springback as well.

Spring back should not be a problem with lead core bullets.

 

[jambrdly]

Thanks for all the sound advice! I contacted Corbin and they can make a bullet reduction die for not a lot of money. Yay!

 

[Zero333]

I thought the 6.5x57 R uses .264" projectiles.
If it's an old barrel that's worn out and was originally .262", then .264" bullets will work just fine.

I've shot .312" SP 150 gr bullets through a .3105" barrel ( I slugged the bore ) from an SKS, and accuracy was good and no pressure signs.