Going to pick up the Redding Match dies for reloading 6.5 Creedmoor. I got some Lapua brass on order and would like to order the bushings now. I know I should be waiting until the brass arrives and then insert the bullet and then take a neck measurement. I’m hoping that someone else knows the size as I’m assuming that the Lapua brass is a standard thickness on the neck. I will not be turning the necks.
6.5 Creedmoor bushing size? Lapua brass
- Thread starter GMHVAC
- Start date
Wish I could help. I have 300 Lapua brass waiting to get used, but the 400 Hornady I have been using just won't give up. Some are on their 8th reload cycle and work as good as or better than new without annealing. From the remarks I heard here a year ago I thought they would have been dumped into a recycling bin and be melted down by now. Not so apparently. I will have to replace the barrel before I replace the brass.
Redding recommends to size the inside neck diameter .004 smaller than bullet diameter with a bushing die and use the expander if the necks are not turned.
Below is the Forster bushing bump neck sizing die in 6.5 Creedmoor and the bushings that come with the die. And these dies do not come with a expander like the Redding bushing dies do. So I assume that Forster wants you to turn your necks or use a separate expander die.
Forster 6.5 Creedmoor Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Die Kit
https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!l=FRS&i=BBK2271
Precision Plus™Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Die Kit with Bushings in dia. .288", .290", .292" for 6.5 Creedmoor. When you order a Precision Plus™ Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Die Kit, you receive: *A top quality, hand polished Forster die to match the caliber of your firearm.
Below is the Forster bushing bump neck sizing die in 6.5 Creedmoor and the bushings that come with the die. And these dies do not come with a expander like the Redding bushing dies do. So I assume that Forster wants you to turn your necks or use a separate expander die.
Forster 6.5 Creedmoor Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Die Kit
https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!l=FRS&i=BBK2271
Precision Plus™Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Die Kit with Bushings in dia. .288", .290", .292" for 6.5 Creedmoor. When you order a Precision Plus™ Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Die Kit, you receive: *A top quality, hand polished Forster die to match the caliber of your firearm.
I had Redding bushings for 7mm and they recommended .001-.002 below the measured neck thickness with the bullet insert d. I have never heard of .004. Maybe it’s changed now. I would think that would be a pretty tight fit for sizing.
Thanks for your feedback.
The .001 to .002 is for neck turned brass and not using the expander, the .004 is for necks that have not been turned and the expander opens the neck .002.
Bushing dies work best with custom tight neck chambers where the neck is reduced in diameter .004 or less during sizing.
I would recommend the standard non-bushing Forster benchrest die for the most concentric cases.
I live in the U.S. and order them from MidwayUSA, and I'm not sure where you get them in Canada.
Not sure what you mean by "searing dies"?
But both the Forster full length benchrest dies and the Forster benchrest seating dies greatly reduce bullet runout. The high mounted floating expander and spindle assembly on the Forster full length dies can not pull your case necks off center and induce neck runout. And the Forster seating dies insure straight in line seating that prevent the bullet from tipping during seating.
The problem with bushing dies is the amount of case neck expansion in a standard SAAMI chamber when fired. When you reduce the neck diameter with a bushing die .004 or more it will induce neck runout. And at the Redding website they tell you to reduce the neck diameter in two steps when reducing the diameter .004 or more. A bushing floats inside the die and can move from side to side and even tilt when sizing the case neck. They even tell you to shake the die and make sure your hear the bushing rattle. So again bushing dies work best with tight neck chambers and neck turned brass. And a Lee collet die will produce cases with less neck runout with a standard off the shelf factory rifle.
At the Whidden custom die website they tell you they get the most concentric resized cases using non-bushing full length dies. And they also sell expander kits with five expanders from bullet diameter to .004 under bullet diameter. And my main point being that there is nothing wrong with standard dies with expanders when setup and used properly. Meaning a centered and polished expander and lubing the inside of the case neck.
GMHVAC
Sorry for hijacking your post but I was very disappointed in the three type and make bushing dies I tried out in standard SAAMI chambers. And you stated you are buying the most expansive bushing die Redding makes. And if you do not have a custom tight neck chamber a Forster full length benchrest die is much cheaper and will make very concentric cases.
I use a .288 bushing with my neck turned to 11.5 thou Hornady brass. This gives me about 2 thou neck tension. I have yet to try my Lapua but I just measured them and from the factory they are about 14 thou wall thickness. I'm thinking .289 might be a little on the tight side and I would be more tempted to go with .290, but without actual fired brass data who am I to say.
