I need some recommendations on this. The vast amount of choices out there for dies have my OCD maxed out. I will be loading for my new HMR eventually and want to do it right the first time. I also would like to do it as efficiently as possible as far as expense. I have about 200 pieces of once fired Hornady brass (large primer pocket). Should I ditch these in favor of something better? I spent a small fortune getting my Grendel rounds where I wanted them to be and don't want to go round and round with the Creedmoor. All advice and opinions welcome!
New to reloading 6.5 Creed
- Thread starter Cerwinski
- Start date
For dies, I am currently using Forster full length sizing die with the neck honed to .288”. Also using the Forster Micrometer seater. This combo produces really concentric ammo for me and is not cost prohibitive. I’ve had equally good results with a Redding body die and Lee collet die with the Forster seater, but it adds one more step to the sizing process. You can buy the Forster from any retailer and send it in to have them hone the neck but it is probably quicker to just give them a call and order the honed die directly from them.
The Hornady brass will work fine but maybe is not quite as concentric in the necks as some of the other brands like Alpha or Lapua. I am currently using Alpha and it seems superb.
If I was going to use the once fired Hornady (and I have), I clean it good, and anneal it. I then start with a piece that won’t quite chamber in my rifle and adjust my sizing die so that piece of brass fits the chamber just right with the bolt closing on it so that there is barely noticeable resistance.
If going with new Alpha, I run it through my Forster FL die with expander ball so that it sets the neck nension to something useable. You could do the same with an expander mandrel if that’s how you roll. The Alpha brass is outstanding but it comes with the necks VERY tight.
John
The Hornady brass will work fine but maybe is not quite as concentric in the necks as some of the other brands like Alpha or Lapua. I am currently using Alpha and it seems superb.
If I was going to use the once fired Hornady (and I have), I clean it good, and anneal it. I then start with a piece that won’t quite chamber in my rifle and adjust my sizing die so that piece of brass fits the chamber just right with the bolt closing on it so that there is barely noticeable resistance.
If going with new Alpha, I run it through my Forster FL die with expander ball so that it sets the neck nension to something useable. You could do the same with an expander mandrel if that’s how you roll. The Alpha brass is outstanding but it comes with the necks VERY tight.
John
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My 6.5cm Lapua necks have super tight too. Ran them all through and expander mandrel as well.
Premium brass is nice but I was still able to maintain a 6-7 SD with the hornady brass I used briefly. If your loading skills are capable of low SD/ES then you might benefit from premium brass. Last time I checked SD/ES I was like high 3s and 11 ES with Lapua brass.
I use a Redding competition seater and FL sizer using neck bushings and a Sinclair’s expander mandrel.
Premium brass is nice but I was still able to maintain a 6-7 SD with the hornady brass I used briefly. If your loading skills are capable of low SD/ES then you might benefit from premium brass. Last time I checked SD/ES I was like high 3s and 11 ES with Lapua brass.
I use a Redding competition seater and FL sizer using neck bushings and a Sinclair’s expander mandrel.
