necking up cartridges / making custom reamers

R

runs-w-scissors

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I have 6.5mm Grendel dies and brass and 6X47 Swiss Match dies and brass. I want to take some of the extra brass and a set of extra dies in both calibers and neck them both up to .30 caliber.

Problem is, I don't know the first thing about how to go about doing this. Is there a custom die service that can do all the number crunching and produce the necessary chamber reamers, die reamers and reloading dies for me? I don't have much in the way of spare time and have more money than brains (believe me, that ain't saying much!) and was hoping someone out there specializes in this sort of thing.

Thanks!
 
http://www.pacifictoolandgauge.com/

Dave can help you with the reamers.

As far as the Grendel case necked up to .30, he is finalizing this very thing for me right now, I talked with him about it on Sat. Just ask him about the .30 Walker if you are wanting this for VFS with the 110-118g FB bullets.

http://www.neiljones.com/

Neil Jones should be able to make dies right off the reamer print as well.
 
Your best bet is probably to take the time to post your dimensions/questions right here and over the course of a week or so you can get 'er dialed PROVIDED you have or can get some measuring tools..........take copious notes and print off these posts.


Once you've become conversant with the terminology, once you KNOW and CAN EXPLAIN what you want you then call Dave Kiff at PPG. Have a pen and paper handy and your notes.......ask him to tell you what you need to measure. As he lines out his questions you can be ready with answers. I've found it invaluable to have a fax machine close to hand and then Dave can fax you blank prints which you can fill in, also he'll fax back prints with dimensions/suggestions, or he may decide early on that he already has a print on file that's matching up with your wants and he'll send it on over.


This all takes time but it's worth the effort IMO. The only cartridges on EARTH for which this work has already been done is the 6PPC and even then it is interpreted differently depending upon the gunsmith..........to a lesser extent the BR case has been similarly mapped out, you can generally order what you need given enough information.


I can help you and will, right here on the board so that folks can learn from it.

I've been doing exactly what you're trying to do for 18+ years. I've NOT had a lathe, I've NOT been an active gunsmith but instead I've been mailing stuff all over the country to several different gunsmith's as well as using several local fellows. I've gotten adept enough that I wouldn't have anyone else run my numbers.


For starters can you specify your brass more clearly? What brands of brass? Lapua I hope for the Grendel???? And the Swiss Match, RWS?? Or are you actually referring to the new 6.5X47 Lapua brass, or do you have some Lapua in 6X47 Swiss Match?


Please be specific as I've never seen either the Grendel or the old 6X47 Swiss Match so you'll have to bear with me as I come up to speed..

My way will not be quick and dirty but I can guarantee that it will be RIGHT plus it'll be out here in the open where all and sundry my critique the method at will.


hth


al
 
OOOPS, Walker you beat me ;) nothing in my post refers to yours as I was typing mine as you posted.


al
 
thanks!

Many thanks, WTR!

By the way, what does VFS mean? Any idea when the reamers and dies will be ready?
 
6x47 Swiss Match - RUAG

Thanks for all the help! The 6x47 Swiss Match brass I have was bought once fired from Neal Johnson. The brass is made by a company called RUAG. It's really nice looking stuff, I just don't need another 6mm these days.
 
Ok, so for starters you have to decide "is this RUAG brass good enough and available enough for me to build a rifle around it".............if the answer is YES :) then the easiest thing to do is to send some brass off to Kiff (or any good reamer mfgr who has an optical comparator) and have him spec right from it.

Later you can fireform using the "C.O.W." or "Bullseye" method.


al
 
runs-w-scissors said:
Many thanks, WTR!

By the way, what does VFS mean? Any idea when the reamers and dies will be ready?
Click to expand...

Varmint for Score. My question is about what bullets do you plan on shooting with the necked up Grendel case (which by the way you cannot call it a .30 Grendel cartridge as the word Grendel in this sense is copyrighted). My reamer is set with zero freebore designed specifically for 110-118 grain flatbase bullets.

My reamer will be done in the next couple of weeks. I already have custom a sizing die (long story), and will just be converting a Redding Comp Seater that I already have.

Al is right in what he said. I am not sure I would build a rig around the 6x47SM brass as it is a bit rare, and difficult to get. You will want to go ahead and neck up the case, then neck turn it to see how it comes out so Kiff has something to measure. This "ready made" case is what you will want to send to him.
 
WalkerTXRanger said:
Varmint for Score. My question is about what bullets do you plan on shooting with the necked up Grendel case (which by the way you cannot call it a .30 Grendel cartridge as the word Grendel in this sense is copyrighted). My reamer is set with zero freebore designed specifically for 110-118 grain flatbase bullets.

My reamer will be done in the next couple of weeks. I already have custom a sizing die (long story), and will just be converting a Redding Comp Seater that I already have.

Al is right in what he said. I am not sure I would build a rig around the 6x47SM brass as it is a bit rare, and difficult to get. You will want to go ahead and neck up the case, then neck turn it to see how it comes out so Kiff has something to measure. This "ready made" case is what you will want to send to him.
Click to expand...

Walker, I would call Dave and ask him what the difference is in the 30 walker and my 30 Major zero freebore caliber. He already has my reamer dimensions.
Mine is done with a .330 neck. I can tell you that it is a real shooter and I think that it is potentially the best choice for VFS. The 30BR is already well rooted in this game but when more people start to shoot the 30 Major, or Walker, or BW, or whatever you want to call it, I truly believe that many will change from the BR to this case. I am ecstatic with the results that I am seeing so far. It's giving me great accuracy with the same velocities as my 30BR with considerably less recoil. There may be room to improve upon it still so I encourage you to do what you are doing and lets see what this cartridge will morph into. It certainly does seem to be picking up a following and I think deservedly so. ---Mike Ezell
 
expanding necks, which die is used?

ok, so I have the 6.5 Grendel brass and dies, and the 6x47 Swiss Match brass and dies. How do I go about expanding the necks on the brass to get it to .30 caliber? Do I use a completely different die or just parts of the original dies?

For whatever reason, when I purchased the 6x47 Swiss Match I bought brass by the hundreds. Not even sure how many bags of hundreds I bought but it's a lot and I'd rather use that good brass than have it go to waste.
 
There are a couple of ways to go about it. You can use an expander die or you can fire form them. Before using the fireforming method, I would do some more research on the subject. There have been numerous posts on here about it. Just do a search for "cream of wheat".---Mike
 
Sinclair Expander Body and Mandrels

Found the Sinclair Expander Body and Mandrels. Picked up a set to go from 6mm to .30 caliber. I'll try to post results as I get them.

Many thanks for all the tips and help!

RWS
 
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