Reloading brass 7.62 x 39

[Old Bob]

I've converted around a 125 7.62x39 brass cases to 6.5 Grendel more as an experiment rather than for use as range fodder. Just wanted to see what it would take for the conversion. Most of the brass I used was from Winchester ammo fired in my Norinco SKS (100 cases). The other 25 were range pick-ups fired in who-knows-what. The die I used was my Hornady Grendel die. The Winchester brass was the easiest brand to convert. I had only a few problems with them like neck crushing. 90 out of 100 were good to go for reloading. Out of the range pick-ups, Lapua, PMC & Remington brass converted well but some of the unknown brands were not usable. Besides some crushed necks, like my SKS fired brass, they had what looks like the belt on magnum brass after resizing. I suspect those cases were fired in 7.62x39 chambers that were oversized. Of the 25 I started with 15 were good. There was only one GECO case that made it through the conversion. I don't recall how many I started with... maybe 3 or 4. I converted those 15 good cases again to 6mm ARC.