.22 br

[CaptArab]

I have no doubts you could get 2850fps out of that barrel in a 22BR. It would hold that velocity better over the long run in the GT though.

Nick has cut a lot of 22BRs and GTs. He's a great route to go for either. Myself and a couple buddies stay at his place outside Evanston when we go over for the Hornady PRC, so I know him pretty well. I think either round will treat you good. My good friend runs a 22GT for PRS that Nick cut, he uses ATips and 33grs of SW Long Rifle at about 3130fps. He runs the 88s for local stuff and ATips for Pro Series matches. Same load. Its an impressive round. The BR uses a little less powder, but with 88gr ELDs, both are fairly inexpensive to run.

Barrel life is better on the BR. I ran north of 3000 rounds on my last one. It was still bugholing when I pulled it. I wish it would have been the off-season so I could have seen just how many rounds it would go. My buddies GT had the first barrel make it to 2500, but the second one took a dump pretty quick. Mostly weather related I suspect, as I lost .110 off the throat in my 6GT in 1500 rounds shooting through the NW heatwave this summer.

Cliff's Notes; either would work great for your intended purposes.

Wow, solid info Birddog.

Thanks for the detailed response. For my usage (non-match) roasting chambers probably wouldn't be a huge concern. Sounds like I could probably be mindful of temps and get 2500.

Your buddies load is a bit milder than I was anticipating as well. Decision decisions.

 

[stello1001]

I'm stuck between 22 GT and BR for my tikka build. 16-18" / Bravo / ultra 7. Steel, yotes, whitetail etc. 88s primary with occasional atips.

Creedmoor looks fun I just can't get past the barrel life on principle, even if I can afford it.

Keeping cost per round low makes shooting more fun IMO.

Not sure the BR has enough case capacity for a shorty. Not looking for light speed, but 2850 + or so would be sweet.

Considered a 22 BRA but the GT seems easier if I could get 2500 rounds out of it.

Called straightjacket yesterday asking about 22 BRA. They steered me towards 22GT. With the appha brass it's probably gonna get the nod.

You and I are exactly in the same boat. I want the 22BRA so bad but at 16-18 inches, it's not gonna have the MV or energy I want. I too want to hunt Texas whitetails with it so GT is what I'm considering. I want to go short barrel so I can use it suppressed.

 

[CaptArab]

You and I are exactly in the same boat. I want the 22BRA so bad but at 16-18 inches, it's not gonna have the MV or energy I want. I too want to hunt Texas whitetails with it so GT is what I'm considering. I want to go short barrel so I can use it suppressed.

So the other side of the coin is that I'm getting 2850 with the 75 eldm out of a vanilla 223 16" Tikka right now which still carries 1800fps (minimum expansion velocity) well past 500 yards.

It's absolute freakin' lutely devastating on critters.

But I've got the need for speed as well. And hear good things about the 88s on larger mammals.

 

[beetroot]

I do love the 22BR. This last round of load development i had with it really found a sweet spot with a longer freebore and jump on the 85s.

I'm just tinkering at this point. I'd really like to find a fast moving wind gun with some decent barrel life and low recoil. Out here in the northwest we get some pretty heavy wind matches. I ran a 6 Creed for years, played around with heavy pill 6.5s. The 22 Creed experiment was very short lived. But I think a fast moving round with a medium sized case has a chance. Fat chance, I know. But maybe ill hit a sweet spot with 85gr hybrids or ATips running 3100 to 3150..

What magazines are you running the 22BR in? Seems like almost a toss up between the GT and BR (with pros and cons each way) but the lack of (potential) feeding issues with the GT is certainly an advantage.

 

[Birddog6424]

Wow, solid info Birddog.

Thanks for the detailed response. For my usage (non-match) roasting chambers probably wouldn't be a huge concern. Sounds like I could probably be mindful of temps and get 2500.

Your buddies load is a bit milder than I was anticipating as well. Decision decisions.

In a normal setting i could see a lot of barrel life from either of those rounds.

I think the BR and GT are both very efficient case designs. And I'm definitely impressed with the 22GT. SW Long Rifle lists a burn rate very close to 4166. So very close to the middle between Varget and H4350. In my experience however, it generates pressure and velocity almost lock step with H4350. I get 2840fps with no over pressure out of my 6GT with 115gr DTACs and 36.6grs SWLR. I get the same performance from 36.8grs H4350.

So the 22GT pushing heavy bullets at >3100fps with 33grs is pretty impressive.

What magazines are you running the 22BR in? Seems like almost a toss up between the GT and BR (with pros and cons each way) but the lack of (potential) feeding issues with the GT is certainly an advantage.

I run AIAW and the 12 round MDT in all my rifles. I have some mags set up with the HRD spacer kit, and some without. I run the AW for pretty much everything, and just crack out the 12 rounder for 12 round stages.

I enjoy the short AWs not ever being an issue of interfering with my position on a stage/barricade/prop, as longer mags can often do.

 

[CaptArab]

In typing rifle looney fashion, I choose the always correct answer and bought both -

Straight jacket 3b 16.5" 22GT for hunting/ field use, and a forum members used medium Palma 20" 22BR for whatever else.

I'm thinking velocities shouldn't be too far off between the two as I won't be pushing the gt too hard.

Thanks for the info folks- this thread has pretty sweet for starting loads, etc.

I enjoy swapping prefits and tinkering, so if I can get my hands on some powder I should be able to provide some good data points over the next few months.

 

[Forward543]

@padom i have a long neck PTG reamer as well, if you want to use it.
.22 BR is a good round, but i had trouble with my brass staying consistent when i got to the 1800-2k mark. I believe I had 200 pieces of brass, so somewhere in the 8-10 firing location. 7 twist is the ticket.

 

[padom]

@padom i have a long neck PTG reamer as well, if you want to use it.
.22 BR is a good round, but i had trouble with my brass staying consistent when i got to the 1800-2k mark. I believe I had 200 pieces of brass, so somewhere in the 8-10 firing location. 7 twist is the ticket.

Can you elaborate on the brass staying consistent issue? What exactly was happening with your brass?

 

[Forward543]

Can you elaborate on the brass staying consistent issue? What exactly was happening with your brass?

It did not want to size back well. The shoulders would be very inconsistent, even with annealing. This was leading to poor sd, and pretty good variation past 800 yards. It still shot well at 100.

All the brass was annealed multiple times and neck turned after sizing down. I pulled that barrel at 1750 and have not made another yet.

 

[padom]

It did not want to size back well. The shoulders would be very inconsistent, even with annealing. This was leading to poor sd, and pretty good variation past 800 yards. It still shot well at 100.

All the brass was annealed multiple times and neck turned after sizing down. I pulled that barrel at 1750 and have not made another yet.

Yikes. Thats not good news....

 

[Birddog6424]

It did not want to size back well. The shoulders would be very inconsistent, even with annealing. This was leading to poor sd, and pretty good variation past 800 yards. It still shot well at 100.

All the brass was annealed multiple times and neck turned after sizing down. I pulled that barrel at 1750 and have not made another yet.

Is this Lapua brass?

I'm pretty much well into double digits on how many times I've reloaded my brass. I haven't had any issues. My most recent load after narrowing it down over a handful of barrels runs a low single digit SD. I'm on my 5th barrel with this same brass.

 

[CaptArab]

Is this Lapua brass?

I'm pretty much well into double digits on how many times I've reloaded my brass. I haven't had any issues. My most recent load after narrowing it down over a handful of barrels runs a low single digit SD. I'm on my 5th barrel with this same brass.

Wow - brass outliving multiple barrels - nice.
How many cases and how often are you annealing?

 

[padom]

Wow - brass outliving multiple barrels - nice.
How many cases and how often are you annealing?

Doesn't surprise me at all. I get 20+ reloads on 6br lapua...my buddy has over 35....

 

[Birddog6424]

Wow - brass outliving multiple barrels - nice.
How many cases and how often are you annealing?

Yep, as Padom mentioned, the Lapus brass is awfully good. Especially the low growth stuff like BR.

I started out with 700 pieces. I'm down to about 600'ish now. But I've gone through 4 barrels at an average of 2500 to 2700 rounds per barrel and have a little over 500 rounds on my 5th barrel.

I anneal and trim every 3rd firing. My Henderson trimmer barely touches though. It more just re-chamfers.

 

[Forward543]

All lapua. My 6BRA is the same brass. It is on 10+ now. No issue. For some reason the .22 started giving me distance shenanigans late in the barrel. BRA not so much.

 

[Baron85]

Anyone having luck with the 50-60gn bullets in the 22br chambers with the free bore for the heavies like 100-130FB?

My main goal is predator hunting with the light bullets but would be fun to pay with the heavies just trying to figure out if I can do both or if I would be better off sticking with a shorter free bore.

What would the group recommend for free bore with 53gn vmax?

 

[260284]

Anyone having luck with the 50-60gn bullets in the 22br chambers with the free bore for the heavies like 100-130FB?

My main goal is predator hunting with the light bullets but would be fun to pay with the heavies just trying to figure out if I can do both or if I would be better off sticking with a shorter free bore.

What would the group recommend for free bore with 53gn vmax?

The standard reamer with a .050 freebore was pretty accurate with the few 53gr V-Max that I shot out of mine.

 

[Potsy]

I love the 53 out of my AR, but out of my .22BR, 75ELD-M's have the edge, if distant coyotes were to be involved.
I'm not saving hides, so two holes is fine. Torn in half is fine. Smoking hole in the ground is also fine. Be aware that the 53 is also pretty rough on them.

 

[Baron85]

I’m planning on a 16-18” barrel to try and match my 24” 223ai. Should be under 300yard shots and hopefully fur friendly.

 

[lance2121]

I'm curious as to how one should run the 95gr SMK though, because Berger's stability calculator says it's marginal at 7-twist and only barely makes 1.5 SG at 3k and a 6.5 twist (332k RPM). That one appears to be tough, at least on paper.

I ran my 22 br and 22 bra with 7 twist. Br speed was around 2940. Bra speed was 2965. Both barrels are Hawk Hill .219 bore. Never blown a bullet. What I've gathered by research is guys that are blowing bullets are using a .218 bore or faster than a 7 twist, sometimes both.

 

[lance2121]

I looked at the GT but ended up leaning back to the BR because I wanted to run Lapua or Peterson brass and it seemed the simplest way to do that. I’ve heard of issues with Alpha brass, has that been addressed by now?

I started my 22 bra journey using Alpha 6 bra brass necked down and turned. Couldn't get the speed that I was getting with my regular br. Switched to Lapua brass and it all came together.

 

[S3th]

SAC Modular BR dies should be in this coming week. What is everyone running for Bushing/Mandrel size?

 

[Potsy]

Fwiw, I’ve not had stability issues with the 95 SMK at 2,850fps in a 1:7” at 1200’asl.
Everything hits the target pointy end on out to 1,000 yards, no problem.
I’m about to go back to 88’s though, as I’ve ran through all my 95’s and don’t see any out there (though I’ve not checked in the last week or so).

 

[CaptArab]

SAC Modular BR dies should be in this coming week. What is everyone running for Bushing/Mandrel size?

I went .248 bushing with .2225 mandrel, but I'm new so Im not the guy to follow.

my calipers read .2245 on Hornady 88s.

 

[S3th]

Thanks. SAC just posted their modular BR dies - ordered a .248 bushing with a .2220 mandrel. $415 but worth it, in my own opinion.

 

[CaptArab]

Thanks. SAC just posted their modular BR dies - ordered a .248 bushing with a .2220 mandrel. $415 but worth it, in my own opinion.

I'm not driving 10 and 25 year old Toyotas so I can save money on Lee dies

I think we'll be happy. Heard lots of good things. If not there's always the PX

 

[S3th]

First-time neck-sizing down any cartridge. One pass, .248 bushing w/ .222 mandrel on the way out. Is the donut too high up on the neck or looks good to go?

 

[Sbenc]

Looks like it should be good to me

 

[Potsy]

Might’ve already been covered, but what’s everybody running for a trim-to length?
I initially sized my 6br brass down via a couple of different ways, and my cases vary from 1.540” to 1.560” at the extremes, I do separate them by length, but I’d love to trim them all back to the same length.

 

[Sbenc]

I went with 1.545"

 

[4O6shootist]

@S3th after a trim chamfer/depur I bet they look right as rain.

 

[S3th]

Might’ve already been covered, but what’s everybody running for a trim-to length?
I initially sized my 6br brass down via a couple of different ways, and my cases vary from 1.540” to 1.560” at the extremes, I do separate them by length, but I’d love to trim them all back to the same length.

I recently sized mine down and trimmed to 1.55”

 

[S3th]

What COAL are y'all getting with 88gr ELDMs?

 

[padom]

So my smith has this 22BR reamer.. Only has .050" freebore and has a 0.252" neck. From what I understand from talking to others here in this thread is you want a 0.255" neck (0.254" minimum) for Lapua no turn neck??? I know one of you sent me your loaded Lapua neck and said it measured 0.253"... I like a minimum of .001 per side so that would mean a .0255" neck is what I want to run Lapua 6BR converted brass???

Freebore, I plan to only shoot the 90smk and maybe some 95smk... So after discussion here, it looks like I want .075" freebore???? I want to utilize the long neck of the BR case to maximize case capacity below the neck/shoulder junction.. What do you think?? Im gonna have Manson make me a reamer based off their below standard in house 22BR reamer, but modify the neck diameter and freebore...

Thoughts? Anything Im missing?

 

[padom]

Those of you using SAC sizing die.. What bushing are you using to size your Lapua 22BR necks?? 0.247? Does 0.247" give you your final .002 neck tension? or is that sizing your necks down more than .002 neck tension and your opening back up to final neck tension with a mandrel?? I typically size .004 below loaded neck diameter with a bushing, then use my 21st Century TiN turning mandrel to open the neck back up .002 to give me a final .002 neck tension. I want to do the same with this new 22BR, but not sure which bushing I need to get me down .004 under loaded neck..

 

[Sbenc]

So my smith has this 22BR reamer.. Only has .050" freebore and has a 0.252" neck. From what I understand from talking to others here in this thread is you want a 0.255" neck (0.254" minimum) for Lapua no turn neck??? I know one of you sent me your loaded Lapua neck and said it measured 0.253"... I like a minimum of .001 per side so that would mean a .0255" neck is what I want to run Lapua 6BR converted brass???

Freebore, I plan to only shoot the 90smk and maybe some 95smk... So after discussion here, it looks like I want .075" freebore???? I want to utilize the long neck of the BR case to maximize case capacity below the neck/shoulder junction.. What do you think?? Im gonna have Manson make me a reamer based off their below standard in house 22BR reamer, but modify the neck diameter and freebore...

Thoughts? Anything Im missing?

Correct, .255 is ideal. .252 you would for sure have to turn necks on sized down lapua. The rest of the questions i can't speak to from experience.

Those of you using SAC sizing die.. What bushing are you using to size your Lapua 22BR necks?? 0.247? Does 0.247" give you your final .002 neck tension? or is that sizing your necks down more than .002 neck tension and your opening back up to final neck tension with a mandrel?? I typically size .004 below loaded neck diameter with a bushing, then use my 21st Century TiN turning mandrel to open the neck back up .002 to give me a final .002 neck tension. I want to do the same with this new 22BR, but not sure which bushing I need to get me down .004 under loaded neck..

I use a 247 bushing (redding not sac however) then run a wilson .224 mandrel through to uniform the insides. My loaded rounds are .249 for use in my .252 chamber neck.

this is my first 22br so use this info at your own discretion

 

[260284]

So my smith has this 22BR reamer.. Only has .050" freebore and has a 0.252" neck. From what I understand from talking to others here in this thread is you want a 0.255" neck (0.254" minimum) for Lapua no turn neck??? I know one of you sent me your loaded Lapua neck and said it measured 0.253"... I like a minimum of .001 per side so that would mean a .0255" neck is what I want to run Lapua 6BR converted brass???

Freebore, I plan to only shoot the 90smk and maybe some 95smk... So after discussion here, it looks like I want .075" freebore???? I want to utilize the long neck of the BR case to maximize case capacity below the neck/shoulder junction.. What do you think?? Im gonna have Manson make me a reamer based off their below standard in house 22BR reamer, but modify the neck diameter and freebore...

Thoughts? Anything Im missing?

I sold my reamer that had the .252 neck and .050 freebore. It shot great with the 88 ELDM, but some of my Lapua brass must have had thicker necks as I could feel some resistance when chambering a round. I don't want to turn necks, so my next reamer will be .254-.255 and a .100-.130 freebore.

 

[padom]

I sold my reamer that had the .252 neck and .050 freebore. It shot great with the 88 ELDM, but some of my Lapua brass must have had thicker necks as I could feel some resistance when chambering a round. I don't want to turn necks, so my next reamer will be .254-.255 and a .100-.130 freebore.

Thx...so right in line with what I'm thinking


What does your lapua loaded neck measure that wasn't neck turned?? 0.253??

 

[260284]

Thx...so right in line with what I'm thinking


What does your lapua loaded neck measure that wasn't neck turned?? 0.253??

I will have to measure when I get home. I have some loaded from the last match I shot in October of 2019. I found a local smith that has a .253 reamer with a .100 fb. If all of my loaded rounds are under that, I may have him ream a barrel that only has 400 rounds on it.

 

[padom]

I will have to measure when I get home. I have some loaded from the last match I shot in October of 2019. I found a local smith that has a .253 reamer with a .100 fb. If all of my loaded rounds are under that, I may have him ream a barrel that only has 400 rounds on it.

Sounds good. Would love to know what lapua neck down and not turned necks measure when loaded.... @Forward543 is sending me his reamer I'm gonna chamber this barrel and see how it does...his gas a .254 neck and .160fb....see how that does with the 90smk otherwise ill have my own made

 

[Birddog6424]

So my smith has this 22BR reamer.. Only has .050" freebore and has a 0.252" neck. From what I understand from talking to others here in this thread is you want a 0.255" neck (0.254" minimum) for Lapua no turn neck??? I know one of you sent me your loaded Lapua neck and said it measured 0.253"... I like a minimum of .001 per side so that would mean a .0255" neck is what I want to run Lapua 6BR converted brass???

Freebore, I plan to only shoot the 90smk and maybe some 95smk... So after discussion here, it looks like I want .075" freebore???? I want to utilize the long neck of the BR case to maximize case capacity below the neck/shoulder junction.. What do you think?? Im gonna have Manson make me a reamer based off their below standard in house 22BR reamer, but modify the neck diameter and freebore...

Thoughts? Anything Im missing?

I think that was what the standard reamer print was in the infancy of this round. Thats the same as my first reamer. Its not very functional without tweaking it.

The .050 jump actually shot pretty well with 88s, but they were down in the case a fair bit. The .252 neck was unusable though. It didn't extract worth a damn. I bought a .2555 neck reamer from Manson and hand turned mine out. It was fine after that.

Your freebore at .75 isn't nearly enough for the 90, or especially the 95gr SMK. If you want the bullet out of the case you'll need about .130 freebore at minimum. Thats what my last two barrels have been and its treated me very well. I jump both the 88gr and the 85gr LRHT at .040. They shoot very well.

I use a .249 bushing, my mandrel bumps me to a .250, and I finish with a loaded OD of .252

Edit; I tinkered quite a bit with the 95gr SMK in a 7" twist barrel. I used a throating tool and ran rounds at .120", .150", and .180" freebore. The last one shot the 95gr the best. But I ended up not really caring for it. I was hitting pressure around 2900fps. My usuable load was at 2820fps. I like my 88gr at 3k better. And I love my 85gr Berger LRHT at 3040fps. Its a little one hole laser beam.

 

[padom]

I think that was what the standard reamer print was in the infancy of this round. Thats the same as my first reamer. Its not very functional without tweaking it.

The .050 jump actually shot pretty well with 88s, but they were down in the case a fair bit. The .252 neck was unusable though. It didn't extract worth a damn. I bought a .2555 neck reamer from Manson and hand turned mine out. It was fine after that.

Your freebore at .75 isn't nearly enough for the 90, or especially the 95gr SMK. If you want the bullet out of the case you'll need about .130 freebore at minimum. Thats what my last two barrels have been and its treated me very well. I jump both the 88gr and the 85gr LRHT at .040. They shoot very well.

I use a .249 bushing, my mandrel bumps me to a .250, and I finish with a loaded OD of .252

Loaded round is 0.252 with neck down lapua not turned right?

Alright so how far down the neck is the boattail/bearing surface junction on a 90smk using .130fb when it's touching lands???right at the shoulder/neck junction?? Or half way down the neck??

 

[padom]

Your freebore at .75 isn't nearly enough for the 90, or especially the 95gr SMK. If you want the bullet out of the case you'll need about .130 freebore at minimum.

So it looks like this 0.160fb reamer with 0.254 neck @Forward543 is sending me to use should be perfect for 90/95smk's with no turn, neck down lapua then?


Also, you sizing Lapua 6br down with the .249 bushing in one pass??? Or sizing them down with say a 0.257 or so then final size down with the .249 ???

 

[padom]

Edit; I tinkered quite a bit with the 95gr SMK in a 7" twist barrel. I used a throating tool and ran rounds at .120", .150", and .180" freebore. The last one shot the 95gr the best. But I ended up not really caring for it. I was hitting pressure around 2900fps. My usuable load was at 2820fps. I like my 88gr at 3k better. And I love my 85gr Berger LRHT at 3040fps. Its a little one hole laser beam.

Interesting information and I wonder why your hitting pressure that low with the 95... Ive run 1000's of 90smk in my 220TB with a super conservative 28.6gr Varget @ 3000fps out of 26" 1:7 Bartlein. On my 3rd barrel shooting that combo.. tiny little groups, 0.5moa at 1000 the last time I tested it at 1000. The brass availability is the issue, which is why Im chambering a 22BR as its the closest to the 220TB capacity wise.. I took the 90smk up to 3100 without pressure but stuck with 3000 for long brass life and easy on the barrel....

I didnt think slinging 90's at 3000 was going to be remotely an issue. I thought it would actually be easy to sling them faster without any issues than I am now with 22BR.


Here my 220TB 90smk Varget OCW - 26" barrel




Seating depth test on the high node, zero pressure.




Low node, 28.6gr 3012fps..








300yd low node 28.6

 

[260284]

I got the 88 ELDM up to 3150 with Rl16, but brass won't last long at that velocity. The best nodes and accuracy I found with H4895, Varget, and Rl16 were right around 3000-3050.

 

[just browsing]

Sounds good. Would love to know what lapua neck down and not turned necks measure when loaded.... @Forward543 is sending me his reamer I'm gonna chamber this barrel and see how it does...his gas a .254 neck and .160fb....see how that does with the 90smk otherwise ill have my own made

I have the .253” BRA chamber from GAP. With turned necks, loaded rounds are measuring right at .249 (using a .249 bushing).

Unturned brass does also fit in this chamber, but with very little room to spare. Loaded rounds measure in around .252, but it definitely does not feed as smoothly as the turned necks do. Also using a .249 bushing.

You can go straight from 6BR down to .249, but it’s definitely not as smooth stepping it at .255. Use plenty of lube, especially on the interior necks… you may crush some shoulders in the process but it does work. I wanted the false shoulder for fireforming anyway so the 2-step process was the way to go for me.

Regarding velocities, it’s obviously not apples to apples, but my fireforming loads were right at 3k fps with 88ELDs over 29gr of Varget. I wouldn’t see any issues getting to the speeds you’re looking for with the 90-95s.

 

[Birddog6424]

Loaded round is 0.252 with neck down lapua not turned right?

Alright so how far down the neck is the boattail/bearing surface junction on a 90smk using .130fb when it's touching lands???right at the shoulder/neck junction?? Or half way down the neck??

Yes, that's brand new brass, box to press, .252 loaded OD.

I confess I havent played much with the 90gr Sierra,, all my experience is with the 77gr RDF, The 85gr LRHT, the 88gr ELD, and 95gr SMK. If I recall, you can get the boat tail shoulder junction lined up at .130 freebore. To get it out of the case a bit I went to .180". I'm not sure why I had so much pressure with that bullet. I've heard of people getting better velocities. But my Varget load just wouldn't cooperate.

So it looks like this 0.160fb reamer with 0.254 neck @Forward543 is sending me to use should be perfect for 90/95smk's with no turn, neck down lapua then?


Also, you sizing Lapua 6br down with the .249 bushing in one pass??? Or sizing them down with say a 0.257 or so then final size down with the .249 ???

I think those reamer dimensions should work out very well. There's very good versatility there.

I actually used to size them down in a couple of passes till I accidently resized a 6BR brass that someone handed me at a match. I felt more resistance, but it was smooth. I pulled it out, realized it resized perfectly, and haven't stepped it down since. I actually just did 300 new pieces of Lapua about a month ago and loaded them on my 650 in one pass. I just use Hornady One Shot and honestly can't recall ever losing one.

I have the .253” BRA chamber from GAP. With turned necks, loaded rounds are measuring right at .249 (using a .249 bushing).

Unturned brass does also fit in this chamber, but with very little room to spare. Loaded rounds measure in around .252, but it definitely does not feed as smoothly as the turned necks do. Also using a .249 bushing.

You can go straight from 6BR down to .249, but it’s definitely not as smooth stepping it at .255. Use plenty of lube, especially on the interior necks… you may crush some shoulders in the process but it does work. I wanted the false shoulder for fireforming anyway so the 2-step process was the way to go for me.

Regarding velocities, it’s obviously not apples to apples, but my fireforming loads were right at 3k fps with 88ELDs over 29gr of Varget. I wouldn’t see any issues getting to the speeds you’re looking for with the 90-95s.

29grs of Varget has gotten me 2990 to 3000fps the last two barrels using 88gr ELDs.

That load is money for the life of the barrel.

 

[padom]

Yes, that's brand new brass, box to press, .252 loaded OD.

I confess I havent played much with the 90gr Sierra,, all my experience is with the 77gr RDF, The 85gr LRHT, the 88gr ELD, and 95gr SMK. If I recall, you can get the boat tail shoulder junction lined up at .130 freebore. To get it out of the case a bit I went to .180". I'm not sure why I had so much pressure with that bullet. I've heard of people getting better velocities. But my Varget load just wouldn't cooperate.

I think those reamer dimensions should work out very well. There's very good versatility there.

I actually used to size them down in a couple of passes till I accidently resized a 6BR brass that someone handed me at a match. I felt more resistance, but it was smooth. I pulled it out, realized it resized perfectly, and haven't stepped it down since. I actually just did 300 new pieces of Lapua about a month ago and loaded them on my 650 in one pass. I just use Hornady One Shot and honestly can't recall ever losing one.

29grs of Varget has gotten me 2990 to 3000fps the last two barrels using 88gr ELDs.

That load is money for the life of the barrel.

Excellent info..thank you! I have that reamer coming, just ordered bushings for my SAC sizer and gonna have Keystone chamber a 1:7 GM blank. They have over 50 224 1:7 GM arriving next week. Time will tell

 

[padom]

So I forgot I had a Redding Competition Micrometer 6BR Neck Sizing die on the shelf. I have all the Redding TiN bushings from 240-268.. So I grabbed 2 pieces of 4x Lapua 6BR, lubbed them up and neck sized them down with a 258 bushing then a 249 bushing.. Turned out great, no issues, sized like butter with Imperial.

The part Im confused about is why my neck measurements are so far off from you guys.... After running my 4x 6BR Lapua through the final .249 bushing...my sized neck measures .246.... I measured it 3x with both Mitutoyo calipers and my Mitutoyo micrometer... I then took 1 of the pieces of brass and ran it through my 21st Century TiN turning mandrel which brought me to .247... I left the other piece of brass sized with just the .249 bushing..

I loaded both pieces of brass with a 90smk... I get a measurement of .248 loaded neck diameter... So with the .249 only bushing, that leaves me .002 neck tension... With the mandrel, leaves me with .001 neck tension. So Ill size the rest of the 100pc box of brass down with a .247 bushing then use the mandrel to open back up .002 to give me a final neck tension of .002....

I dont get how you guys Lapua no turn loaded rounds are measuring .252-253 necks..???

Either way, Ive got dummy rounds made up right now and I got the numbers I need, no more wondering.








Right now I have the 90smk seated for max case capacity right here. A bearing surface is seated a little more than half way down the neck... Buts the base of the bullet right at the Neck/Shoulder junction..

Thoughts? Too far out?? Move the base of the bullet down to the Body/Shoulder junction and get all the bearing surface on the neck??

 

[padom]

Yea im gonna make a 95smk dummy round and seat bearing surface same amount into neck and compare difference in base to ogive between the 2 to make final reamer freebore decision before sending to manson