Making custom brass 25x284 from 6.5x284

[merbeau]

I am in the process of building a 25x284 custom rifle and need to make brass for this wildcat. I found some once fired 6.5x284 brass that the seller said was Lapua that I could use to experiment with for making the 25 brass. Upon arrival out of 25 cases only 15 were Lapua the rest being a mix of Nosler and Norma. So I sorted out the Lapua brass.

I am using a Redding neck sizer die 25-284 to initially reduce the neck on the 6.5 brass. Then running through a full length Redding 25-284 die without the decapping pin and expander ball.

I then use a LE Willson trimmer to trim to length and Wilson chamfer tool to chamfer iinsde of neck.

I then use a Sinclair carbide neck expander system to expand the neck to 0.255 for a 0.002 neck tension.

I have attached three photos in which I do not see any bulging and the neck dimensions before the Sinclair expander were 0.2825 outside and 0.2505 inside. Only one piece of brass was 0.2820 and 0.250 which seems consistent.

Anyone see a problem or do these look decent.

Thanks
Robert

 

[SealT5]

Robert,

Those look really clean. Nothing wrong with your process.

Personally I would just run them straight through the FL Die. That's my preferred method for all wildcats. I then trim and perform all brass prep after fireforming

Goodluck with your venture

Joe S.

 

[merbeau]

Robert,

Those look really clean. Nothing wrong with your process.

Personally I would just run them straight through the FL Die. That's my preferred method for all wildcats. I then trim and perform all brass prep after fireforming

Goodluck with your venture

Joe S.

Thanks for replying . Given that I am going from 26 to $5 caliber, I wondered if the neck sizer was necessary. I may try that with the Norma brass.

 

[SealT5]

I go from 6mm-22 in my Dasher with a FL die and have had zero issues. I've also done 22x47L and 6x47L from 6.5x47L brass with zero issues. I believe the key is imperial sizing wax on the neck. Another thing I do is size half way, rotate case 180*, and finish. Works for me

Joe S.

 

[merbeau]

I like the idea of rotating the case. I do that when seating bullets. Thanks for the tip.

 

[crystalgayleguy]

when I neck down 284 brass to 25 I run through a 25 284 trim die

 

[merbeau]

when I neck down 284 brass to 25 I run through a 25 284 trim die[/QUOTE

I use a L.E. Wilson case trimmer and chamfer tools.

 

[newmexkid]

I see nothing wrong with your brass or process. You will like the 25-284. What length is the barrel and are you going to try the Blackjack bullets? RL 26 and BJ 131 gr. bullets were the magic load for my 25-284.

 

[merbeau]

I went with Pac Nor stainless match barrel at 27 inches long, 1:9 twist in heavy varmint contour with target crown. I re barreled a Rem 700 SA BDL and coupled the receiver with a one piece PTG oversize stainless bolt.

I went to the Blackjack bullet site and looks like in 25 caliber they offer a 133 grain match. Probably will not stabilize in a 1:9 twist. I have RL 23, H4831sc, N165 and Hodgdon hybrid 100V, CCI br2 primers, and Lapua brass. I have Sierra 100 SMK and Bib 110 gr to start with. This will be my intermediate range, i.e., 600 yard rifle.

I am really looking forward to shooting it. To hot for me now will wait til later in the fall to do load development. From all accounts very accurate and good velocity.

 

[436]

I really like the 25-284 Win cartridge; I had a hunting buddy who built a similar cartridge for Deer one year, it was a 25x55mm Swede which is superb .25 cal performer, someplace in or between the .25-06 and the .257 Wby Mag I'd say. As a side note, I've used .284 Win brass too make 7.5x55mm Swede rounds for my K31 Swede the brass works great. I would think; anything that a guy could do with the .284 Win cartridge they could do the same with the 7.5x55mm Swede or perhaps the 6.5x55mm Swede. Well, good luck on your build, and I really like Pac Nor barrels I've had quite a few barrels through them, they make some great barrels. Cheers.

 

[newmexkid]

Nothing wrong with PAC NOR barrels. I have 3 rifles with their barrels and they all shoot pretty darn good. I'm however not brand loyal as my last rifle got a Kreiger and my present build is getting a Bartlein. Gotta taste all the flowers!!

 

[SealT5]

As soon as a certain action maker comes out with a medium length action I will be possibly switching to 284 based rounds. What COAL are you going to have with the 131?

Joe S.

 

[IanCo]

As soon as a certain action maker comes out with a medium length action I will be possibly switching to 284 based rounds. What COAL are you going to have with the 131?

Joe S.

Jumping in to follow along since I had the same question. I have a short action that I'm thinking about using for one of these. I know the long action gives a lot of room for seating bullets out further but am really thinking the short action might do what I want it to.

 

[merbeau]

I really like the 25-284 Win cartridge; I had a hunting buddy who built a similar cartridge for Deer one year, it was a 25x55mm Swede which is superb .25 cal performer, someplace in or between the .25-06 and the .257 Wby Mag I'd say. As a side note, I've used .284 Win brass too make 7.5x55mm Swede rounds for my K31 Swede the brass works great. I would think; anything that a guy could do with the .284 Win cartridge they could do the same with the 7.5x55mm Swede or perhaps the 6.5x55mm Swede. Well, good luck on your build, and I really like Pac Nor barrels I've had quite a few barrels through them, they make some great barrels. Cheers.

This is my first Pac Nor mainly because the receiver was stainless and I am keeping with stainless. I have a Rem 700 LA that was custom built with a Douglas air gauged target barrel in 6.5x55 Swede SE that was chrome moly. My gunsmith made a nice blue finish. It is my thousand yard rifle and is very accurate. My other rifle is a REM 709 SA with another Douglas barrel blued in 243 Winchester. It is my 300 yard rifle.The 25-2854 will be for 600 yards. I am really looking forward to testing it.