Forming 6.5-06 brass from 30-06??? QUESTION?

Full-choke · January 28, 2008, 05:17 PM

Okay, so I am looking into getting a 6.5mm-06...but the trouble is finding brass to reload. There isn't much of it out there and it's kind of expensive. But, knowing that it's parent cartridge is the 30-06 (almost identical specs) can I form it easily? If so, what all is involved?

Is it something as simple as using a full length sizing die and a little lube or is it going to be a lot more involved and more work then necessary?

F-C

Shoney · January 28, 2008, 06:11 PM

It would be far easier to run a well lubed 25-06 into the 6.5-06 die, one pass.

A single pass of the 30-06 thru a 6.5-06 die may be difficult and may ruin some of the 06 brass. The 30-06 case may require running it first through a 270 die then through a 6.5-06 sizing die. This case will have a thick neck that would have to be turned and trimmed.

Full-choke · January 28, 2008, 08:26 PM

Yea, but the 25-06 actually has a smaller mouth then what the 6.5mm would need. The 25 accepts .257 bullets while the 6.5 is actually .264. Would it still form out and open the neck and hole up or would I have to size the head?

F-C

hodaka · January 28, 2008, 09:24 PM

I tend to use 270 brass for my 6.5-06 since I have 30 and 25-06's but don't have a 270 and this helps segregate the brass. I have used all three cases and they all work just fine. 25-06 is the easiest since the difference is slight and it only needs to expand a smidge. The 270 needs significant trimming. It is quite simple. Let me know what loads you like. My rifle likes 120 Sierra's and H-4831SC best.

Full-choke · January 28, 2008, 09:49 PM

Well, see the thing is that I'm looking into the 6.5-06. But the one concerning factor is that if brass ever becomes more expensive/short supplied, I want to be able to keep the rifle shooting. I knew it could be formed out of something, but I didn't know how hard it would be...either way it's not going to be a huge extensive amount of work if I were to use 270 or 25-06 brass to form, right? I'm even willing to buy cheaper brass and put work into myself...but I don't know what all is involved in forming brass as I have never done it.

F-C

Scorch · January 29, 2008, 12:58 PM

When I owned a 6.5-06, I tried using 30-06 to form brass, but I eventually just used 25-06 brass to form brass. That way you don't have to worry about neck thickness or buckling shoulders. And opening the neck up .007" is a breeze. If you start with new brass, you are going to want to resize and trim before loading anyway. Never used 270 brass, but it is a lot longer than 30-06 brass, so you would have to trim it.

I used to use 25-06 loading data, but now Hornady has 6.5-06 loading data in their manual.

rgitzlaff · January 29, 2008, 05:00 PM

I use 7.62x39 to size into 6.5 Grendel. I neck it down in one operation and there is no issues. That is essentially the same necking operation.

taylorce1 · January 29, 2008, 06:23 PM

It is expensive but you can buy properly head stamped 6.5-06 brass.
http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe...*670***9013***
I have several 06 based calibers and I like properly head stamped brass. Right now I'm using nickle plated 06 brass in my 8mm-06 but all my other cartridges use properly head stamped brass. Doesn't guarntee against chambering the wrong round but every little bit helps.

hodaka · February 1, 2008, 07:01 PM

Yikes, I'll keep trimming those 270's.

January 28, 2008, 05:17 PM	#1
Full-choke Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 617	Forming 6.5-06 brass from 30-06??? QUESTION? Okay, so I am looking into getting a 6.5mm-06...but the trouble is finding brass to reload. There isn't much of it out there and it's kind of expensive. But, knowing that it's parent cartridge is the 30-06 (almost identical specs) can I form it easily? If so, what all is involved? Is it something as simple as using a full length sizing die and a little lube or is it going to be a lot more involved and more work then necessary? F-C __________________ TC Encore -6mm Rem Rifle; Ruger 10/22; Ruger 10/22 Ultimate; Stoeger Condor 20; ; Remington 1100 12; Stoeger 22 Luger; Taurus PT1911; Ruger SR40c God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible. - Ted Nugent

January 28, 2008, 06:11 PM	#2
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	It would be far easier to run a well lubed 25-06 into the 6.5-06 die, one pass. A single pass of the 30-06 thru a 6.5-06 die may be difficult and may ruin some of the 06 brass. The 30-06 case may require running it first through a 270 die then through a 6.5-06 sizing die. This case will have a thick neck that would have to be turned and trimmed. __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

January 28, 2008, 08:26 PM	#3
Full-choke Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 617	Yea, but the 25-06 actually has a smaller mouth then what the 6.5mm would need. The 25 accepts .257 bullets while the 6.5 is actually .264. Would it still form out and open the neck and hole up or would I have to size the head? F-C __________________ TC Encore -6mm Rem Rifle; Ruger 10/22; Ruger 10/22 Ultimate; Stoeger Condor 20; ; Remington 1100 12; Stoeger 22 Luger; Taurus PT1911; Ruger SR40c God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible. - Ted Nugent

January 28, 2008, 09:49 PM	#5
Full-choke Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 617	Well, see the thing is that I'm looking into the 6.5-06. But the one concerning factor is that if brass ever becomes more expensive/short supplied, I want to be able to keep the rifle shooting. I knew it could be formed out of something, but I didn't know how hard it would be...either way it's not going to be a huge extensive amount of work if I were to use 270 or 25-06 brass to form, right? I'm even willing to buy cheaper brass and put work into myself...but I don't know what all is involved in forming brass as I have never done it. F-C __________________ TC Encore -6mm Rem Rifle; Ruger 10/22; Ruger 10/22 Ultimate; Stoeger Condor 20; ; Remington 1100 12; Stoeger 22 Luger; Taurus PT1911; Ruger SR40c God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible. - Ted Nugent

January 29, 2008, 12:58 PM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	When I owned a 6.5-06, I tried using 30-06 to form brass, but I eventually just used 25-06 brass to form brass. That way you don't have to worry about neck thickness or buckling shoulders. And opening the neck up .007" is a breeze. If you start with new brass, you are going to want to resize and trim before loading anyway. Never used 270 brass, but it is a lot longer than 30-06 brass, so you would have to trim it. I used to use 25-06 loading data, but now Hornady has 6.5-06 loading data in their manual. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

January 28, 2008, 09:24 PM	#4
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	I tend to use 270 brass for my 6.5-06 since I have 30 and 25-06's but don't have a 270 and this helps segregate the brass. I have used all three cases and they all work just fine. 25-06 is the easiest since the difference is slight and it only needs to expand a smidge. The 270 needs significant trimming. It is quite simple. Let me know what loads you like. My rifle likes 120 Sierra's and H-4831SC best.

January 29, 2008, 05:00 PM	#7
rgitzlaff Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 524	I use 7.62x39 to size into 6.5 Grendel. I neck it down in one operation and there is no issues. That is essentially the same necking operation.

January 29, 2008, 06:23 PM	#8
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,242	It is expensive but you can buy properly head stamped 6.5-06 brass. http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe...6709013* I have several 06 based calibers and I like properly head stamped brass. Right now I'm using nickle plated 06 brass in my 8mm-06 but all my other cartridges use properly head stamped brass. Doesn't guarntee against chambering the wrong round but every little bit helps.

February 1, 2008, 07:01 PM	#9
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	$37 for 20 pieces of brass Yikes, I'll keep trimming those 270's.