That's true. I do it in one pass with a .249 bushing in a 6BR FL Redding die.
Eric Miller @ Aem Uses a max bore forster fl non bushing 22br die for first neck down, then recommend a 6br fl bushing die with bushing to achieve desired neck tension.
CFE233 in the 22 Dasher.
I fireformed a bunch of this today at a local match I was MD'ing. It was good fun shooting a bulk Hornady 75gr BTHP at 2770fps with a whopping .180 BC. It was like an underperforming 223
I'm still in the "playing with it" phase. I still have a couple barrels for my BR.
Curious to see how it does. I've never played with that bullet before.
I’m new to the 22 BR so thanks to all who have posted on here with lots of great knowledge. I have 300 pieces of brand new Lapua 6 BR on the way and Redding 22 BR FL bushing die so I’m planning on doing exactly what you’ve suggested here @Birddog6424. I’ll follow up with a K&M mandrel as well after resizing. Are you doing any neck turning afterwards? Seeing any issues down the road with doughnuts forming?
Awesome, thanks! Stepping down in two sizes sounds like a good idea, definitely what an article on Accurate Shooter suggests. Guess I won’t know how much neck my chamber has until I produce a piece of fired brass. It’s a SJA 1:7 barrel with 0.050” freebore. Is that a bit short on freebore? I seem to recall some preferring all the way out to 0.130”.
I don’t know the reamer specs but I’m guessing you’re correct on it being an original 22 BR reamer. If my calculations are close, with 0.002” neck tension, I should be somewhere around 0.248” to 0.250” with Lapua brass which will hopefully be just under the 0.252” chamber neck. I’ve measured neck thickness on Lapua brass to consistently be 0.013” in 6.5 CM brass, but with sized down 22 BR, I imagine it’ll be thicker. (0.222” + 0.013” + 0.013” = 0.248”). Being new to a wildcat, does having that tight neck chamber necessitate neck turning? A looser chamber prevents that?
i had hundreds of old 6BRA brass that i had pulled. in one pass with the SAC die (.247 bushing) they became 22BR. i didn’t lose a piece of brass. I’m running 88eld’s in a bartlein 7.75-7.0 gain twist. as my practice rifle i’m running 33.0g or Staball at .020“ off. shoots very well.
I had good luck with my first barrel with a standard 22BR reamer, .050 fb and .252 neck. The next barrel I had chambered with the same reamer, I had stiff bolt close and open due to the tight neck. There is a local smith that has a .100 and .253 reamer. I am tempted to have him set back my original barrel that has 1800 rounds on it and see if .253 is big enough. If I were to order a new reamer, it would be .100 and .254 or .255.
I think Padom pretty much got most of that. And pretty spot on.
@Deep South Tactical has mine, 0.255 neck and 0.130 FB. Reamer’s brand new, they’re gonna cut my chamber soon but happy to loan it out for a minor wear-and-tear fee.
What’s the turn around time at Deep South Tactical? I definitely like to take you up on on the reamer offer. Happy to pay a wear & tear fee, shouldn’t be too hard to open up an existing chamber a bit. Maybe I could get my barrel down there while they still have your reamer on hand.
It was a couple weeks awhile back, I'm waiting to hear from them on the lead time but don't worry about the reamer leaving their shop; I'm just gonna leave it with them, they cut all my barrels right now and I'm not getting another spun for awhile. I'll shoot you a PM about it, but they've got a very nice lady who always answers the phone, she might have info on lead time.
