I'm ooking to order up some dies but ahad a question about them. I ordered up several hundred lapua cases which measure .478" at he base. Now, I don't have any US made brass but have heard that it typically is sized the same as .30-06 brass and the like at about .470". My question is twofold: First, is this true. Second, are the dies cut to size a .480" case or .470"? If there are dies that are sized differently which are setup for CIP spec brass?

Call Redding to confirm this, but the set I got from them work well with the European brass. I would recommend their type "S" full length sizer and match seater die combo. I ran out of money before I could order some of that brass from Champions Choice . I have measured the ass end of several different brands of 6,5x55. the American stuff usually runs .473-.474". The European stuff runs .476-.478"
Those Northern Europeans worked out all the cartridges we could ever need between 1894 and 1915. It has all been silliness and marketing since then.
lawndart

The base of a 6.5x55 is .4803 in the speer book and .479 in the nosler book.
I have Redding 6.5x55 dies and I have only loaded Lapua,Norma and a few PMC . Im not certain but I think my dies are .480 . I only neck size mine .So there is no problem. I have the shell holder for the real 6.5x55 cases. The 06 size shell holder fits tight.

Id say call redding if you worried about it.

Just checked my Redding die with calipers .479.

Anything marked 6.5x55 should work fine. I understand that some die (and reamer) makers list a 6.5 SKAN, which I understand is basically the 6.5x55 formed using '06 brass.

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Originally posted by belaw:
Anything marked 6.5x55 should work fine. I understand that some die (and reamer) makers list a 6.5 SKAN, which I understand is basically the 6.5x55 formed using '06 brass.

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Not quite right. 6,5x55 skan are somewhat larger than 6,5x55 SwMauser.

As I remember the story, they were originally both produced as being 6,5x55 only. The Krag-Jörgenssen rifle had a wider chamber, close to the upper tolerance level of the old specs, whereas the Swedish Mauser/96 rifle was fitted with a tight chamber. The two variants later separated into Skan and SwMauser. Can someone perhaps verify my story?

I know people that use 6,5x55 SwMauser dies for 6,5x55 Skan chambers without any problems.

There is a difference between the head sizes in the brass. I use Lapua and Remington cases. You'll probably notice some difficulty getting the cases to fit in your shellholder. Your best bet might be to use the Forster MU4 shellholder. It'll handle both cases without a problem. I don't have my VihtaVouri loading manual with me at the moment, but I've noticed several differences between European and American cases, though they are slight. Once the case is fired in my rifle it's fire formed so there's no problem with the case itself. I also use the Redding NS bushing die for resizing. I get very concentric and acurate reloads this way. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal