The 6.5 Remington Magnum project - case forming

[CATTLEMAN]

I was fortunate enough to get a great deal on a real 6.5 rm forming die recently. If you can get access to one they are the way to go. I lightly anneal the neck and shoulder of the small batches of belted mag brass I come across. Then I lube them with imperial wax and run them through the die, trim to length and check the necks. So far I have made 6.5 rm from 7mm rm, 300 wm, 300 weatherby and 375 h&h without any headaches.

It is a great cartridge that arrived before its time. If it was new today and offered in a pretty rifle I think it would be very popular.

[TxPhred]

I agree, I shoot two 6.5 RM's with great success. I have an older Model 600 Mohawk. Shoots wonderfully well with 100 TTSX and 85 GR Speer Varmint Bullets. Built this stock myself from a roughed in blank.

[TxPhred]

Here is my custom build on a Eliseo Tube Gun Chasis with a Custom Pierce Tube gun Long action and a Bartlein Med Palma 5R Barrel with 1:8 Twist. Did this to overcome the deep seating issues on the Mohawk short action. , This shoots 130 GR Accubonds wonderfully well and 120 GR TTSXs equally as well all seated way out to 3.1 COAL.

[Gunners Mate]

I know old thread and all but some great info here, I just finished up forming some 6.5 Rem mag from 7mm mag brass, Thanks for posting this it was great help

[Texas by God]

I'll throw $0.02 in. I built a 6.5 Rem mag on a Siamese Mauser with a 26" ER Shaw barrel. It was fast & accurate. I chrono'd 140's at 3000 fps and 85's at 3500. Until the recoil wore you out it was a prairie dog laser. Good times. Best, Thomas.

[Gunners Mate]

So I should say this is a slow and meticulous process. The steps I used are as follows;
1. deprime your 7mm mag brass (done with an RCBS decapping die)
2. Clean your cases (Done with a STM wet tumbler 3 tbls of dawn/ 1/4 tbls of lemishine / 1 tbls of cream of tartar)
3. Anneal the 7mm mag brass where the new shoulder will be for the 6.5 mag. (Done with Giraud Case annealer)
4. Lube with imperial sizing die wax
5. Run 7mm mag brass through Redding Form Die #1-Custom 6.5 Rem Mag (Part # 90231)
6. Lube case again with sizing die wax
7. Run case through Redding Form & Trim Die Series D 6.5 Rem Mag ( Part # 83231)
8. Trim Excess length of neck with a dremmel tool and cut off wheel while still and die and then file to correct length wile brass is still in die remove and chamfer and deburr case mouth
9. remove decapping and sizer mandrel from Redding FL die and resize (Die Set Part #84231)
10. Lube case mouth and run through 6.5 mandrel and die
11. loaded with 20 gr Unique topped of with cream of wheat and paper wad filler (spitball)
12. fire formed at range (cleaned barreled every 3 shots with bore snake and CLP)
13. checked the cases on the Redding Form & Trim Die Series D 6.5 Rem Mag ( Part # 83231)
14. Ran them through FL Redding Die
15. Ran through expander mandrel and die
16. Turned the necks down with a 21st century neck turner (part# 30) I would emphasize that the necks will need to be turned as the neck wall will be to thick for loading. Failure to turn necks to correct Saami Specs will lead to unsafe chamber pressures.
17. run them through the STM tumbler
17. Ready to load.

If anyone has any corrections / suggetstions, I would appreciate the input

[tygar]

I have done a lot of case forming over the years & have a 6.5 RM, but wonder why you don't just use RM brass? Is it hard to get? I was just loading up some yesterday & was thinking I could use some more.

I looks like making it is a pain.

ps just looked on Midway, Natchez & Midsouth & didn't even see it listed!!!

[rockrat]

You can get it @ $1 each, at least you could last December, don't remember where

[C. Latch]

So I should say this is a slow and meticulous process. The steps I used are as follows;
1. deprime your 7mm mag brass (done with an RCBS decapping die)
2. Clean your cases (Done with a STM wet tumbler 3 tbls of dawn/ 1/4 tbls of lemishine / 1 tbls of cream of tartar)
3. Anneal the 7mm mag brass where the new shoulder will be for the 6.5 mag. (Done with Giraud Case annealer)
4. Lube with imperial sizing die wax
5. Run 7mm mag brass through Redding Form Die #1-Custom 6.5 Rem Mag (Part # 90231)
6. Lube case again with sizing die wax
7. Run case through Redding Form & Trim Die Series D 6.5 Rem Mag ( Part # 83231)
8. Trim Excess length of neck with a dremmel tool and cut off wheel while still and die and then file to correct length wile brass is still in die remove and chamfer and deburr case mouth
9. remove decapping and sizer mandrel from Redding FL die and resize (Die Set Part #84231)
10. Lube case mouth and run through 6.5 mandrel and die
11. loaded with 20 gr Unique topped of with cream of wheat and paper wad filler (spitball)
12. fire formed at range (cleaned barreled every 3 shots with bore snake and CLP)
13. checked the cases on the Redding Form & Trim Die Series D 6.5 Rem Mag ( Part # 83231)
14. Ran them through FL Redding Die
15. Ran through expander mandrel and die
16. Turned the necks down with a 21st century neck turner (part# 30) I would emphasize that the necks will need to be turned as the neck wall will be to thick for loading. Failure to turn necks to correct Saami Specs will lead to unsafe chamber pressures.
17. run them through the STM tumbler
17. Ready to load.

If anyone has any corrections / suggetstions, I would appreciate the input

If you haven't bought those expensive forming dies yet, consider buying Lee sizing bodies in .350RM and .300WM (you'll have to chop it) to use as intermediate dies. They won't work any better, but they'll be cheaper.

What brand of cases are you using to start with? You MAY not have to turn or ream necks. I did not, with most of the brass that I used.

[Gunners Mate]

Already bought the forming dies and I used a mix of federal WW and RP brass for the first round ( R&D ) but I have an ammo can full of Frontier Brass, Fed & WW brass had to turn all the Necks RP Brass was within spec

[oldblinddog]

Wow! This is available! But not 6.5 from Midway.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/66...gnum-box-of-20

Qual-Cart has it in stock however: http://www.qual-cart.com/264%20cal.htm

I like 6.5's but have never had a 6.5 Rem mag.

[Gunners Mate]

I will stick with reforming alreadycommitted the train has left the station, besides I can get new Norma 7mm Mag brass and start from there for 1.27 PP

[tygar]

I already checked with Quality & they had it for $39 per 20. $2 ea is pretty spendy.

[Texas by God]

Try Huntington all you guys that ain't forming them. Best, Thomas.

[tygar]

Try Huntington all you guys that ain't forming them. Best, Thomas.

What Huntington? Are you talking RCBS? They don't have brass. If other, give us some more info.
THanks
Tom

[EDG]

https://www.huntingtons.com/store/home.php?cat=108

What Huntington? Are you talking RCBS? They don't have brass. If other, give us some more info.
THanks
Tom

[tygar]

Checked, they didn't show it.

[C. Latch]

Already bought the forming dies and I used a mix of federal WW and RP brass for the first round ( R&D ) but I have an ammo can full of Frontier Brass, Fed & WW brass had to turn all the Necks RP Brass was within spec

I'm glad it's working out for you. Should be a fun caliber to play with.

[JSH]

I always take the expanded out when reforming up or down.
It is messy but lube dents got to zero, use powdered graphite.
I have the 350RM. The Lee dies have a vent hole and it is located right at the shoulder. When sizing it gouges out a little sliver that I am not happy with.
I have quite a few odds and ends of junk dies. I am going to make some trim dies as soon as I get this lathe set up and running.
Jeff

[Gunners Mate]

I have a 350 RM also and that is the DRT rifle