Okay, I had a thread in the rifles section I inherited a gun in this caliber and plan on re-loading. I have looked for dies and found them to be around $300 through RCBs for a two die set. Could I buy a hornaday neck sizing die and not sure what to buy to seat the bullet or do I need a full length die? The cases will be fire formed and shot from only the one gun. Also any advice on a bullet for mule deer. I shoot 160 accubonds in my 7 mag with great results. This will be my first 6.5 mm experience. Twist is 1 in 9. Any other advice?
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6.5-280 improved RCBS
- Thread starter Rjrhino88
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Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
personally I'd buy once and cry once on the dies...
others may have ideas on things you can do but this is the rcbs version not ackley so you are likely at a 28 degree shoulder, not 40 like the 280 ai...
My kid's 6.5 creedmore is on a 8" twist bbl., and it does very well with 143 eld-x... I might think about the 130 AB with a 9" twist bbl...
others may have ideas on things you can do but this is the rcbs version not ackley so you are likely at a 28 degree shoulder, not 40 like the 280 ai...
My kid's 6.5 creedmore is on a 8" twist bbl., and it does very well with 143 eld-x... I might think about the 130 AB with a 9" twist bbl...
el matador
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Since you can't buy ammo for such a gun the original owner must have had dies. I would try to locate them. If you can't find them I would do the following:
Buy a set of cheap RCBS dies for 264 win mag. These should cost $30-40, and will allow you to get some ammo loaded up. The sizing die will basically neck size your brass and the seating die will get the job done. Take at least 3 pieces of brass and fire them. Reload and fire again. Now take the 3 pieces of twice-fired brass (don't resize them) and send to a custom die maker such as Whidden. A full length sizing die thats customized to your chamber will cost you $115 plus shipping. I would get the custom seating die as well for another $165 (it's a benchrest style seating die with the micrometer and sleeve). The 264 win mag seating die would still work for seating bullets but may not produce the most concentric ammo because the case won't be supported very well. It just depends on what kind of accuracy you're looking for.
Total cost for the 264 win mag dies and custom Whidden dies would be around $325, which is a much better deal than spending $300 on the set from RCBS. You could even sell the 264 dies afterward to get a few bucks back.
Buy a set of cheap RCBS dies for 264 win mag. These should cost $30-40, and will allow you to get some ammo loaded up. The sizing die will basically neck size your brass and the seating die will get the job done. Take at least 3 pieces of brass and fire them. Reload and fire again. Now take the 3 pieces of twice-fired brass (don't resize them) and send to a custom die maker such as Whidden. A full length sizing die thats customized to your chamber will cost you $115 plus shipping. I would get the custom seating die as well for another $165 (it's a benchrest style seating die with the micrometer and sleeve). The 264 win mag seating die would still work for seating bullets but may not produce the most concentric ammo because the case won't be supported very well. It just depends on what kind of accuracy you're looking for.
Total cost for the 264 win mag dies and custom Whidden dies would be around $325, which is a much better deal than spending $300 on the set from RCBS. You could even sell the 264 dies afterward to get a few bucks back.
orch
Well-Known Member
If it is based on a 280 improved case you could get a redding 280 improved bushing die and use the proper bushing and you'd be set for resizing.... could probably used a redding 280 improved seater die in a pinch to seat the bullets but would probably be better off using a Hornady 6.5mm seater die ( I may be wrong but I think all the Hornady seater dies are basically universal in their caliber, ie: a Hornady 7mm seater die will work for a 7mm R.E.M. Mag, 7-08, 280, 284 etc...)
Can't argue with El Matador, whidden custom dies would also be a very good option... their micrometer seater dies are really good...
As far as bullets in 6.5 for a Muley sized animal, I have found both the 140gr Berger hybrid or 143gr Hornady eldx have performed well...
Orch
Can't argue with El Matador, whidden custom dies would also be a very good option... their micrometer seater dies are really good...
As far as bullets in 6.5 for a Muley sized animal, I have found both the 140gr Berger hybrid or 143gr Hornady eldx have performed well...
Orch
el matador
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I don't know the exact shoulder angle of the RCBS design but I do know its less than 40 degrees. So a regular 280 improved die won't work for bumping the shoulder. Orch makes a good point about the Hornady seating dies though - the die body has a large opening to accommodate just about any cartridge. So a Hornady 264 Win Mag die set would work for neck sizing and bullet seating.
A 1:9 twist is borderline for 140s. If you have a certain bullet in mind you can use a stability calculator and see where you end up.
A 1:9 twist is borderline for 140s. If you have a certain bullet in mind you can use a stability calculator and see where you end up.
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
so your rifle doesn't like the 140 ablr, eh??
8" twist is enough to do well even in the moderate capacity 6.5mm's... Nearly every 6.5 creed on the planet is eating some 140'ish grain pill with 4350 under it... Ours included; we are using the 143 eld-x...
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I have a 6.5-280 RCBS. 280 Ackley dies won't work. I have used 264 WM dies to size the neck. I use a Vickerman inline seater for bullet seating. best bet for a sizing die is have someone like Widden, Hornady, or CH-4D. Will be cheaper in the long run. I think I was getting 1/2" 5 shot groups at 100 with a shillen barrel. Set it down several years ago and haven't shot it in a while due to other caliber interests.
