New to the 6.5G. Build commenced

[Paringa]

Hi all. I'm in SE Australia, about an hour from the capital, Canberra.

We are on 60acres in some nice country for fallow and red deer, pigs and goats.

I've traditionally been a SAKO man, and have 85s in 223, 30-06 and a 243 varmint in the safe, along with a Finnfire II 22.lr.

Wanted something to sit between the 223 and 30-06 with enough punch for afore mentioned target animals, but super light and low recoiling. Between cousins' kids and mine it also needs youth appeal...6.5G seemed to fit the bill without going down the path of a custom wildcat build, so here I go.

Howa Mini Sporter 22". Don't feel I'm gunna crop it as I want all the velocity I can get.

Stock considerations will be the Stocky's CF (told arriving in Oz early 2022) or a Pendleton Drop-in if thats available sooner and isn't too cost-prohibitive on shipping.

Floorplate and internal mag from Oregun or Jefferson

1.5lb trigger spring upgrade

Talley Lightweights

Meopta MeoPro 3-9x42 MMD

I'll be running Norma brass, Rem 7.5s, ADI BM2 and 100gr NBTs. Hoping to get them touching 2800.

Forster Micrometer and FLS dies. 2thou bump and 2though neck tension, although I haven’t received the dies yet to measure the expander ball.

I typically run a chrono only test for powder charge first, looking for an ES node, then seating tests for groups. Cold bore POI repeatability then touching 3 shots is the goal with hunting rifles.

Looking forward to bouncing questions off you all

A couple of the locals below....

[Klem]

G'Day Paringa,

Welcome.

I've used BM2 with the 100NBT and settled on 28.6gn in a Lapua case at 58mm OAL. 2,505fps out of a 19" barrel. BM2 is fast, even for the light 6.5 bullets and I only used it because we had no 8208 in the state at the time. I recommend 8208 for bullets up to 120gns and 2206H for 120 and above. the heavier bullets are good for range but if you're shooting game then light and fast is what I would do (and you're obviously already doing it).

I like the 100and 120NBT's.

I use a 6mm expander ball in a Forster FL die. So, for all but the most dinged cases the ball never touches the inside neck.

Klem

[Paringa]

Thanks. BM2 on hand but if there’s 8208 I’ll grab some.

[Paringa]

Klem can you explain your methodology on the 6mm expander ball? I’ve removed mine from my 243 dies as I run them through a 241 mandrel, but from memory it’s 2415. So you’re running 0.0225 neck tension????

[Klem]

Mate,

The deal is fired cases are only getting sized on the outside of the neck. Without the expander ball you get more neck tension than if the expander ball is used. With outside neck sizing the necks still come out nice and round. A Forster FL sizer without the ball it is .004" of neck tension. With the ball it is .0035" so not much difference.

With a Redding die, without the ball it is a whopping .009 of neck tension, but with the ball it is only .0005" so a huge difference between using the ball and not.

Not necessary for bolt guns but in semi-autos the gorilla grip is preferred.

Sometime back I bent the depriming pin and stem and had to get a replacement. BRT Supplies did not have a Grendel decapping unit so I got a 6PPC which uses the same stem but smaller ball. I only need the stem to decap so I may as well leave the 6mm ball on it even though it doesn't touch the inside neck of the cases. If ever a case has a decent ding in it the 6mm expander ball will round it out enough that the bullet being seated will act as a mandrel.

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[Paringa]

Still confused bud. Am I understanding that you are running a 6.5G sizing die, but with a 6PPC stem and ball? So you are only contracting the necks and not expanding again? Im guessing from the photo, top is sized, so ur running 4thou neck tension?