Finally got my own LR rig!

Crashman

Crashman

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Southeastern Ontario
Well it has been a long time coming, but I finally got my own LR rifle. I am going to use this rifle just for informal shooting and to learn how to shoot well beyond 300 yards. Here it is...

Savage action with Accutrigger
Shilen Select match barrel, chambered in 260 Remington, 1 in 8" twist
Bell and Carlson Gold Medalist stock
Precision ground recoil lug
20 MOA Rail
Caldwell swivel bi-pod
Vortex Viper 6.5-20X50 BDC scope for now, but I am waiting for rings so I can mount my Vortex Razor 5-20X50

I am going to do a range day tomorrow if the weather holds out, so I will throw some pictures up then--too dark now and I need to get in to the loading room to make some ammo!

Okay! Okay! Here are some pictures!

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Biggest problem so far is simply newby ignorance. I got the donuts when I tried down sizing some Norma 308 to 260, and it did not want to chamber. I did all right with the Winchester 243 brass sizing up, but I dimpled quite a few pieces at the shoulder probably due to excess lube.

Right now I have 24 pieces of 243 sized up to 260, trimmed, deburred and chamfered, polished and cleaned, primed, now I am just researching powders and charge weights.

I am going to try Hornady 140 grain A Max with H4350 for now as I have it on hand and I will see what it will do, however I expect H4831SC would be a slightly better choice. I will report back tomorrow with the results, and pictures!
 
With all that necking up or down, I would fireform your cases before worrying about load development. They will be pretty wonky right now.

I would use a light charge of pistol or shotgun powder behind some cornmeal.

That will smooth the dings, dents and get the case straight.

Now when you work up a load, it will tell you something.

Watch for the donut and remove as necessary.

Jerry
 
mysticplayer said:
With all that necking up or down, I would fireform your cases before worrying about load development. They will be pretty wonky right now.

I would use a light charge of pistol or shotgun powder behind some cornmeal.

That will smooth the dings, dents and get the case straight.

Now when you work up a load, it will tell you something.

Watch for the donut and remove as necessary.
Jerry
Click to expand...

How do I remove the donut?
 
You are more likely to have donuts with the .243 brass necked up since part of the shoulder (thicker brass) now becomes part of the neck making the portion just above the shoulder junction thicker than original neck when it was a .243 case.

When necking down .308, brass from the neck now becomes part of the shoulder making the necks a consistent thickness from opening to shoulder (or as consistent as your brass happens to be)

You will have to turn the donuts out to get rid of them. They are pushed to the outside of the neck with an expander mandrel and then cut with a neck turner.
 
That's interesting because I got the donuts with the Norma 308 brass, NOT the 243 brass. I don't have any turning equipment, is that something that could be made from a pre existing tool or is it pretty specific?
 
Okay guys, I am not the handiest fellow on the planet but I finally figured out how to post a pic, so here is one for all you guys. Like I said, the rifle is currently wearing a Vortex Viper 6.5-20X50 BDC, but I am waiting for my 35mm rings to mount the Razor that is also in the picture. I also threw in my Vortex Razor HD spotter and my Vortex Viper 8.5X50 binos. I hope you enjoy!

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horseman2 said:
Can .243 Win be fireformed directly to .260 Rem. Looking at the measurements of both I was unable to determine if it was possible.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. You'd have to have a stiff enough plug in the end of the neck to cause the pressure to blow out the neck, but not so stiff that all the pressure blew up the case/gun. A balancing act I'd not be anxious to try. And still the neck probably wouldnt expand to full chamber size.
 
Crashman said:
That's interesting because I got the donuts with the Norma 308 brass, NOT the 243 brass. I don't have any turning equipment, is that something that could be made from a pre existing tool or is it pretty specific?
Click to expand...

You will have to buy the neck turning equipment and expander mandrels. The pilots and expanders are caliber specific 6mm, 6.5, 7mm, 30 Cal, etc.

If you have a lathe at home you could make a pilot and use the lathe to do the turning.
 
Crashman said:
That's interesting because I got the donuts with the Norma 308 brass, NOT the 243 brass. I don't have any turning equipment, is that something that could be made from a pre existing tool or is it pretty specific?
Click to expand...

I think what you are seeing is the formation of the secondary shoulder NOT a donut.

When you neck down 308 brass to 260, part of the orig 308 neck will become part of the 260rem shoulder.

So when you take the sized 308 case out of the 260 die, you will see a ring around the neck that is not touched. THAT IS CORRECT and should be there.

This will disappear when you fireform and cease to cause you further issues.

The donut as a thickness in the brass which can affect the seating of a bullet or release during firing.

This you can see when necking up 243 to 260 IF you use a brass with thick shoulders ie Lapua. This requires neck turning to remove or neck reaming.

Go to that link I have a few posts up and look in the last couple of pages. There is a wonderful picture that shows clearly what a donut from case forming looks like before and after neck turning.

I much prefer outside neck turning so as Cyan1de said, you will need a mandrel to push the defect to the outside.

Jerry
 
horseman2 said:
Can .243 Win be fireformed directly to .260 Rem. Looking at the measurements of both I was unable to determine if it was possible.
Click to expand...

If you have 'short' 243 brass and a long 260R chamber, it might work. In general, the slope of the 243 case should be too far forward and make chambering very difficult.

If I was going to use 243 brass to form, I would bump the shoulder just enough so that it would require firm pressure to chamber. Then I would fireform using the COW method - no bullet involved.

By sizing using a Lee collet neck die, it should force the donut to the outside where it can be removed with a neck turner.

I have to neck turn anyways so why not fireform the case while I am at it.

Now the case is ready for prep and full pressure firing.

Using 308 brass, the step is to squeeze down the neck through a 7mm neck sizer until a secondard shoulder is formed. Requires stiff bolt pressure to close. Fire form and then brass prep.

If the 308 necks are thin and the 260 chamber is generous, I may be able to not neck turn BUT I much prefer to just give a skim cut no matter what.

for the few seconds it takes, just makes sure everything is as consistent as I can possibly make it. Very important if I plan on using bushing neck dies.

Jerry
 
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