When I was assembling reloading tools for the new 7/6.5 PRCW caliber, I saw that the tools were quite expensive. I also discovered that I could reasonably adapt other well-known tools and save a little money. Let me describe a few of these adaptations. (Some of this material was explained in an earlier post.) This is a long post so pour yourself a cup of coffee or light up a 7 minute cigarette…
The 7/6.5 PRCW is simply a 6.5 PRCW case that has been necked up to accept a 7mm bullet. I purchased an LE Wilson 6.5 PRC case and a .310 bushing, knowing that the neck opening would need to be relieved. First I opened up the die with a 5/6 inch bit. Then I cut a little more with an 8mm bit (.315). My first fired cases had a neck diameter of .318 and I saw a little bit of galling on the necks when they were sized, so I ordered an 8.1mm drill bit from America’s favorite online retailer and increased the opening to .3188. Now even a loaded round will fit through the opening. Finally, I added a .310 Wilson bushing. There is enough spring-back in my ADG cases, that the final neck OD is .312. This gives me neck tension of .002 on my factory ADG cases.
On to the seating die: I called Forster to see if they would make me a 7/6.5 PRCW Ultra Micrometer Seater die. It turns out they had made a limited production run of these dies and I was able to purchase one of these. I have an older Bonanza press with the shorter wishbone handle that didn’t have enough clearance for the seating stem. I chopped about a quarter of an inch off the stem to allow the die to fit my press. Now I am back to my normal routine.
I have gotten used to measuring distance to the lands with a Hornady modified case. Hornady does not make a modified case for 7/6.5 PRCW, so I set about to make my own. I purchased a 6.5 PRC modified case and opened up the neck with a Hornady 7mm neck sizing die with expander ball. The chamber was too narrow to accommodate the magnum case so I screwed the expander ball out so that it was completely exposed. Then I was able to open up my modified case to about .282. I shopped around and found some inexpensive pin gauges from MSC and ordered three of them - .285, .286 and .287. I pressed the .285 pin gauge into the neck, but this did not provide enough clearance for my Berger 180 HT bullets to slide freely. Then I pressed the .286 ping gauge through the neck and after a small amount of spring-back, this gave a perfect fit for my .284 bullets. If I had it to do over again, I would order .284, .285, and .286.
I am in the habit of using a Lee collet die so that expansion is the last operation I make on my cases (aside from trimming). Lee had stopped doing custom work during the pandemic but they have resumed that offering. I sent them two fired cases and a sample bullet and they are making me a custom collet die (set).
Lee quoted me a 12 week delivery time on my collet die, but even without it, I am able to make quality cartridges that chamber easily in my new rifle. I look forward to my first F-class match with this rig – probably in September.
The 7/6.5 PRCW is simply a 6.5 PRCW case that has been necked up to accept a 7mm bullet. I purchased an LE Wilson 6.5 PRC case and a .310 bushing, knowing that the neck opening would need to be relieved. First I opened up the die with a 5/6 inch bit. Then I cut a little more with an 8mm bit (.315). My first fired cases had a neck diameter of .318 and I saw a little bit of galling on the necks when they were sized, so I ordered an 8.1mm drill bit from America’s favorite online retailer and increased the opening to .3188. Now even a loaded round will fit through the opening. Finally, I added a .310 Wilson bushing. There is enough spring-back in my ADG cases, that the final neck OD is .312. This gives me neck tension of .002 on my factory ADG cases.
On to the seating die: I called Forster to see if they would make me a 7/6.5 PRCW Ultra Micrometer Seater die. It turns out they had made a limited production run of these dies and I was able to purchase one of these. I have an older Bonanza press with the shorter wishbone handle that didn’t have enough clearance for the seating stem. I chopped about a quarter of an inch off the stem to allow the die to fit my press. Now I am back to my normal routine.
I have gotten used to measuring distance to the lands with a Hornady modified case. Hornady does not make a modified case for 7/6.5 PRCW, so I set about to make my own. I purchased a 6.5 PRC modified case and opened up the neck with a Hornady 7mm neck sizing die with expander ball. The chamber was too narrow to accommodate the magnum case so I screwed the expander ball out so that it was completely exposed. Then I was able to open up my modified case to about .282. I shopped around and found some inexpensive pin gauges from MSC and ordered three of them - .285, .286 and .287. I pressed the .285 pin gauge into the neck, but this did not provide enough clearance for my Berger 180 HT bullets to slide freely. Then I pressed the .286 ping gauge through the neck and after a small amount of spring-back, this gave a perfect fit for my .284 bullets. If I had it to do over again, I would order .284, .285, and .286.
I am in the habit of using a Lee collet die so that expansion is the last operation I make on my cases (aside from trimming). Lee had stopped doing custom work during the pandemic but they have resumed that offering. I sent them two fired cases and a sample bullet and they are making me a custom collet die (set).
Lee quoted me a 12 week delivery time on my collet die, but even without it, I am able to make quality cartridges that chamber easily in my new rifle. I look forward to my first F-class match with this rig – probably in September.
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