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Revisit Redding bushings sizes for 6,5x47 lapua

Advokaten

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 8, 2007
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Malmö, Stockholm, Sweden, Europe
Ok

due to me being a indecisive person and a bit of scattered info,

I would like to get some advice about bushing sizes for a 6,5x47 Lapua, Redding tool,

no turn necks and so forth.

I have found advicce to get 288", .289" and .290", however I have been getting some info from a prominent shooter here in Sweden that 6,5 bullets like a higher degree of neck tension, at least in his rifles and that it would be advisable to go one bushing tighter perhaps,

any input to all of this.

The upside is that I am getting a 6,5 mm barrel for my 308 and that I am finding this really exiting.

Best regards Chris
 
Re: Revisit Redding bushings sizes for 6,5x47 lapua

Well, simple enough. Just measure the neck thickness of your brass, add the bullet diameter, and subtract .002" for neck tension, and an additional .001" for brass springback.

For example (using Lapua brass):
+.016" Lapua brass neck thickness #1
+.016" Lapua brass neck thickness #2
+.264" 6.5mm bullet diameter
-.002" desired neck tension
-.001" brass spring back
=.293" target bushing size

From there if you want more tension, just change the "desired neck tension" variable above to determine what you want.

I hope that helps. BTW .288" sounds much too tight. You will at some point be too tight and could gouge the bullet. You will also stretch out the brass with the bullet as well overworking your brass if loaded multiple times. I tend to max out at .004" neck tension on the tightest of rounds and find that if I need tighter, will use a bullet crimping setup.
 
Re: Revisit Redding bushings sizes for 6,5x47 lapua

I started with a .290 for mine mostly because I couldn't get a .289 (sold out everywhere) and felt after a few firings I wanted to try a bit more tension. I finally received my .289 and put it in. The groups I've shot since are no better or worse than before so I left the .289 in the die. For some reason I'd rather have more neck tension than less within reason, probably because they get run from the magazine instead of being single loaded alot of the time. I also load vld's jammed into the lands which would help explain why the change in neck tension did not change groups. Perhaps jumping a scenar or other would be more affected by the neck tension.
 
Re: Revisit Redding bushings sizes for 6,5x47 lapua

I don't currently have any brass that ins't loaded but IIRC, the .290 gave .003 tension and the .289 gave .004. The neck walls are .0145 on all my Lapua brass and I think that is still the only brass you can get.
 
Re: Revisit Redding bushings sizes for 6,5x47 lapua

For the .0145" thick brass, a modified example.

For example (using Lapua brass):
+.0145" Lapua brass neck thickness #1
+.0145" Lapua brass neck thickness #2
+.264" 6.5mm bullet diameter
-.002" desired neck tension
-.001" brass spring back
=.290" target bushing size

I personally haven't played around with Lapua 6.5x47 brass to know the thickness but if .0145" is correct, then a .289"-.290" looks about right.
 
Re: Revisit Redding bushings sizes for 6,5x47 lapua

Bumping this up, as I am currently getting geared up to load, and my first caliber will be 6.5x47 Lapua. I don't have a ball micrometer yet, but has .0145" proven to be stock 6.5x47 lapua neck thickness?
 
Re: Revisit Redding bushings sizes for 6,5x47 lapua

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wwbrown</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.289" bushings for the 6.5 L has worked great for me for about 3,000 rounds.

wade </div></div>Good to know. I'm planning on ordering 2 or 3 in stainless, and then upgrading whichever one produces the best accuracy to tungsten. I was thinking a .289, .290, and then what, a .288 or a .291?
 
Re: Revisit Redding bushings sizes for 6,5x47 lapua

bm11,

I think you will find that the 6.5 L is about the most forgiving rounds in terms of loads that will shoot great, the only cartridge that I reload and has bigger sweet spots is 6mm BR. My reamer has been used to chamber about 6 other barrels in the area and all I here is great things about the chambering.

I think 0.291 will be a little light on tension if your brass is the same thickness as mine. A .288 is probably the next bushing I would try, but I think you will find .289 or .290 to work outstanding.

I found a very competitive load within 70 rounds down a fresh barrel, this was early when little load data was out there.

wade
 
Re: Revisit Redding bushings sizes for 6,5x47 lapua

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wwbrown</div><div class="ubbcode-body">bm11,

I think you will find that the 6.5 L is about the most forgiving rounds in terms of loads that will shoot great, the only cartridge that I reload and has bigger sweet spots is 6mm BR. My reamer has been used to chamber about 6 other barrels in the area and all I here is great things about the chambering.

I think 0.291 will be a little light on tension if your brass is the same thickness as mine. A .288 is probably the next bushing I would try, but I think you will find .289 or .290 to work outstanding.

I found a very competitive load within 70 rounds down a fresh barrel, this was early when little load data was out there.

wade </div></div>Thank you sir, I will be ordering up the rest of my supplies tonight!
 
Re: Revisit Redding bushings sizes for 6,5x47 lapua

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wwbrown</div><div class="ubbcode-body">bm11,

I think you will find that the 6.5 L is about the most forgiving rounds in terms of loads that will shoot great, the only cartridge that I reload and has bigger sweet spots is 6mm BR. My reamer has been used to chamber about 6 other barrels in the area and all I here is great things about the chambering.

I think 0.291 will be a little light on tension if your brass is the same thickness as mine. A .288 is probably the next bushing I would try, but I think you will find .289 or .290 to work outstanding.

I found a very competitive load within 70 rounds down a fresh barrel, this was early when little load data was out there.

wade </div></div>

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