My next rifle will probably be a 6.5 Creedmoor. My question is: I understand that this caliber is an offshoot of the .308 Win. I have buckets of good .308 brass. What do I need to resize the cases to 6.5 Creedmoor? How do I do it?
AJ
I have never done it.
It can be done.
But the creedmoor case is shorter than the .308 case.
This puts the material that forms the neck of the new case on the transition between the neck, shoulder, and body of the old case.
Plan on turning or reaming the necks.
Mil spec 7.62 brass if often thick and tough.
I have made 6mm creedmoor cases from .243.
Some brass can come off the the .308s, and trimming is easyer before annealing.
Anneal the neck, shoulder, and about 1/4 of the body of the cases.
Clean the cases, I like to use dawn dish soap and lemi-shine in a wet tumbler.
Dry the cases, the climate here is pretty dry. Experience shows that an afternoon in the sunshine is not enough drying time before priming and charging cases, So now I just give them a week.
Lube the cases well, and slowly run them into a full lenght 6.5 creedmore resize die. When forming the cases, brass flows, things just work better going slow than ramming and jamming.
If there is no way you can run the 308 case into the 6.5 creedmore die, a die with more taper may be required. (I used a .22-250 die as intermediate in the .243to 6 creedmoor project)
The taper of a 7mm Mauser die might make a good intermediate for this project.
Trim the cases to maximum length.
Turn or ream the necks to remove excess brass. If you choose to ream your cases, the cases will need sized again in the resizing die.
Find a safe fireforming load for your rifle and bullet.
Load them up, and head to the range for practice with your new rifle.
If you want to talk on the phone, send me a PM.
All you could ever want to know on 6.5 creedmoor reloading and resizing.
http://www.65creedmoor.com/index.php?board=6.0
Thanks for the replies, after careful thought I arrived at the conclusion that while a rifle chambered in 6.5 creedmoor is still in my future, the less thorny path to take is to buy the cases for that caliber and then handload.
aj
Research the brass you buy carefully. I have read very disparaging things about certain companies brass from people I trust.
One of the companies is a major supporter of the 6.5 C.
Gotcha; thanks.
aj