My 6BR is almost complete. I was serously giving thought to sending LEE a couple of fireformed cases to have a custom set of the collet dies made. Any opinions on that?? I also have the Redding catalogue. Very pricy, but they seem to be what a lot of shooters are using. For all you 6 BR shooters, what are you using and why?? Also where to order from??
Best option for 6mmBR dies
- Thread starter Barks
- Start date
The latest Precision Shooting magazine has an article on a custom rifle in 6mm BR Match, and the dies chosen were Hornady Custom, with bushings. Apparently they are really gong after the Br market and thier custom shop dies are aimed directly at that. Mine are old Bonanza dies, and have served me well over the years. - dan
Maximize the return on your investment: Wilson bushing dies (in an arbour press) or custom bushing dies. If your gunsmith chambered the rifle for you, he can make dies using the same reamer. Otherwise just go with Wilson: http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=REDIWI&type=store I'm assuming you want precision shooting off a bench. If you're blasting gophers, Redding, Forster or Hornady bushing dies will be fine.
As much as I like Lee, this is not the right application for their dies.
As much as I like Lee, this is not the right application for their dies.
I read the same article Dan has they are the new Hornaday dimension dies from the article they are favored over Redding and others the story is about Clay Spencer’s shop and he has a sold reputation for good work. The dies will accept Redding and Wilson bushings so you can tailor the neck tension to suit your need. NO personal experience with them.
If your looking for custom dies JLC precision (Jim Carstensen) has a good reputation for custom die work and starts with the Redding Body Die.
Don Nielson is another that makes hi end dies.
You may want to check out accurateshooter.com they are dedicated to 6mm br
If your looking for custom dies JLC precision (Jim Carstensen) has a good reputation for custom die work and starts with the Redding Body Die.
Don Nielson is another that makes hi end dies.
You may want to check out accurateshooter.com they are dedicated to 6mm br
The custom set of Lee dies will cost 50 bucks. They are a neck sizing collet, mandril application. I have a set for my .222 and my .308. They work well but I find if I size 75 or so cases, they bind up and I start crushing case necks. The chamber I am having reamed is a 6mm BR Norma with a no turn neck .272" For the bushings, how do you know what bushing to get?? Do I hope for the best and order one??Two??Three??
I will definately look into the Hornady dies. Thanks
I will definately look into the Hornady dies. Thanks
Tell them your finished neck diameter and they will tell you which bushings you need. - dan
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
For the money, a Lee custom set of collet dies is the best in the custom die game. Just look for an appropriate body die from Redding to bump the shoulder when things grow a bit and make chambering stiff.
The orig trend was for as little neck tension as possible (1 to 2 thou). The trend now is towards more tension like 3 to 5thou. I have never bothered playing with this and just go with whatever the neck dies gives (usually 3 to 5 thou). So far, no problems. I guess I prefer 'high' neck tension.
Confirm with the die maker but 1) decide how much neck tension you want (only matters if using a bushing die, get a few so you can play), 2) measure the neck wall thickness (decide if you will use a turn or no turn chamber and the clearance you need) 3) choose a bushing diameter that will size down the neck so that it is your desired neck tension PLUS 1 or 2 thou to account for brass spring back.
Example. Cal is 243, case neck is for a turned case with 12thou thickness. The chamber should have at least 1.5thou clearance each 'side' so you need to get that info from the smith or reamer maker.
243+12+12 = 267. You want 4 thou neck tension so the sized neck should finish at 239 internal diameter, 263 external diameter. Bushing would be 4+1 thou smaller then the finished diameter so bushing size is 262.
Then you just buy bushings 1 thou larger and smaller if you want to muck around.
With the collet die, the mandrel defines the internal diameter of the neck so neck thickness doesn't matter.
Jerry
The orig trend was for as little neck tension as possible (1 to 2 thou). The trend now is towards more tension like 3 to 5thou. I have never bothered playing with this and just go with whatever the neck dies gives (usually 3 to 5 thou). So far, no problems. I guess I prefer 'high' neck tension.
Confirm with the die maker but 1) decide how much neck tension you want (only matters if using a bushing die, get a few so you can play), 2) measure the neck wall thickness (decide if you will use a turn or no turn chamber and the clearance you need) 3) choose a bushing diameter that will size down the neck so that it is your desired neck tension PLUS 1 or 2 thou to account for brass spring back.
Example. Cal is 243, case neck is for a turned case with 12thou thickness. The chamber should have at least 1.5thou clearance each 'side' so you need to get that info from the smith or reamer maker.
243+12+12 = 267. You want 4 thou neck tension so the sized neck should finish at 239 internal diameter, 263 external diameter. Bushing would be 4+1 thou smaller then the finished diameter so bushing size is 262.
Then you just buy bushings 1 thou larger and smaller if you want to muck around.
With the collet die, the mandrel defines the internal diameter of the neck so neck thickness doesn't matter.
Jerry
In regards to dies
there is a lot of talk which way to go. Threaded or hand dies with arbor press. I would say stay with threaded dies and a press. If your brass gets to the point where it needs to have the shoulder set back it is easier with a press than with the hand dies. Hand dies are nice for seating bullets as far as I am oncerned. Remember you do not require a expensive press. Put the money in the best dies you can get.
The drawback with getting custom made dies is if you do not have your own reamer. Remember the die will be made specifically for a chamber cut with that reamer. If you decide to rechamber and use a different smith you should get a new custom die done. If you have your own reamer that problem is non existant.
there is a lot of talk which way to go. Threaded or hand dies with arbor press. I would say stay with threaded dies and a press. If your brass gets to the point where it needs to have the shoulder set back it is easier with a press than with the hand dies. Hand dies are nice for seating bullets as far as I am oncerned. Remember you do not require a expensive press. Put the money in the best dies you can get.
The drawback with getting custom made dies is if you do not have your own reamer. Remember the die will be made specifically for a chamber cut with that reamer. If you decide to rechamber and use a different smith you should get a new custom die done. If you have your own reamer that problem is non existant.
Barks said:
It's beyond me why you want custom dies when you are building a saami spec chamber gun, any dies off the rack will work for your gun.
For your gun I would suggest two companies, Forster or Redding both with micrometer seaters. I would buy the Forster because for about $60 US you get a FLS and the micro-seater, they will give you what you need in accuracy. The other route to take is the bushing neck die/body die/seater combo, both are good options. I have not found Hornady dies to give as low a runout as the two above due to their loose seater guides that don't support the case body enough, same with the RCBS competition dies, also stick with the threaded dies for convenience.
bigbull
Thanks for all the great info guys. I guess I use the term "custom" dies a bit too literally. I was referring to the Lee collet dies. They do not list a 6MM BR collet die set on their website. I phoned them and they said they could make me a custom set referring to the fact they don't currently make any dies for the 6BR. I like the $50 price tag, but was unsure if this would give my rifle it's full accuracy potential.
I am indeed using Lapua brass. I am using a Lee press for my reloading right now. I don't mind spending the $$$ on a good die set. I am just unfamiliar with the brand names other than Lee, Hornady and RCBS.
Thanks again
I am indeed using Lapua brass. I am using a Lee press for my reloading right now. I don't mind spending the $$$ on a good die set. I am just unfamiliar with the brand names other than Lee, Hornady and RCBS.
Thanks again
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
I use Lee gear in almost every step of my reloading and have had no issue making superb ammo (I have stuff from most die makers too). I check my ammo on a Sinclair runout guage. The Lee collet die induces no runout. Seems that the good old floating Lee seater works just fine.
Read my 6.5 Mystic report (last pages) to see how this ammo shot at 345yds. Did well at the Kamloops match too.
Jerry
Read my 6.5 Mystic report (last pages) to see how this ammo shot at 345yds. Did well at the Kamloops match too.
Jerry
Last edited:
