220 swift conversion

[toot]

this may have been asked b-4 if so disregard. i have been making 6.5 JAP out of 220 SWIFT. works but not the best.has any one done it also? if so have you had any problems?

[cwtebay]

this may have been asked b-4 if so disregard. i have been making 6.5 JAP out of 220 SWIFT. works but not the best.has any one done it also? if so have you had any problems?

I think someone on here talked about doing that. I have used 270 Winchester brass with good success.

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[toot]

cwtebay, what is the process that you use in doing your forming with 270 brass?

[john.k]

Ive used 220 swift for making 6.5 Dutch cases/same diameter with a rim......worked OK,but only cause I had the Swift cases.......to use a .470" base case like 270,you d be doing some heavy duty forming....basically 470 down to 450 minus.(.447 quoted).....doable,but hard work .

[EDG]

The best case for making the 6.5 Jap is .303 Brit.

The 6.5 Jap chambers are oversize and easily accept the larger cases if you have a FL sizer that is polished out to make cases fit the Jap chambers correctly.
I was able to use either a Forster neck sizing die or a Pacific trim die to function as a FL sizer for the 6.5 Jap when using the .303 cases. They do require the rims be reduced in diameter but they do not bulge when fired like smaller cases do.

You can also reform 7.62 Nato cases to 6.5 Jap if you have an industrial press and dies to swage the case head down. If you try to swage the case head in your loading press you might break the press or split the dies like I did.

[cwtebay]

cwtebay, what is the process that you use in doing your forming with 270 brass?

I swage them in a hydraulic press to 0.447", run them through a 6.5 arisaka sizing die with the expander removed, trim, anneal, size with complete sizing die. But - the brass has been available now for around $30 for 50 from PRVI via Graf's.
I edited this because I believe what's in my notes is likely close to verbatim from Cartridge Reforming for the Handloader - so citation for that. Also, finding 220 brass was far more difficult than 270 when I began.
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[toot]

GUY'S, thanks for the great responses that you came back with!. this is a great help in re forming the brass.

[3leggedturtle]

The best case for making the 6.5 Jap is .303 Brit.

The 6.5 Jap chambers are oversize and easily accept the larger cases if you have a FL sizer that is polished out to make cases fit the Jap chambers correctly.
I was able to use either a Forster neck sizing die or a Pacific trim die to function as a FL sizer for the 6.5 Jap when using the .303 cases. They do require the rims be reduced in diameter but they do not bulge when fired like smaller cases do.
.

How oversize are some of the 6.5 chambers? Were youable to just size down the front half of the case and leave the rest of it alone.

[EDG]

You have to FL resize the entire .303 case to fit the 6.5 Jap chambers. The 6.5 Jap chambers actually measure about .455 at the back end.
I got that number from 3 Type I Carcanos which were made for Japan in 6.5 Arisaka. I also measured 1 Type 38 Arisaka and got the same number.

To use 7.62 Nato brass you have to swage the solid head from .464 down to .455 and that process requires very heavy duty dies and an industrial press. Then you have to full length size the case and trim it length.

How oversize are some of the 6.5 chambers? Were youable to just size down the front half of the case and leave the rest of it alone.

[3leggedturtle]

EDG, i meant the 303 brass. .455 diameter chamber by the case head. Think there is also 2-3 boxes of once fired Norma 6.5 Jap that i can measure. Gonna hafta measure some 303 also and see what i come up with. Interesting and curious as to what i find. Had one of those Italian made rifles come in. Friend got to it b4 I did. Thanks for info. Todd/3leg

[EDG]

Prvi Partisan .303 brass measures .454 to .455 just ahead of the rim. I do not use it for the 6.5 Jap.

RP, WW and FC cases measure .451 to .452. These cases work best with my chambers and dies.