The head measurement on Rem 6.5x55 brass measures .473 whereas Norma brass measures 4.80. Does anyone have any info on this?

Also has anyone resized 30-06,270 or the likes to 6.5x55 since it seems the undersized head is arguably acceptable?

257 roberts would probably work better than the longer brass.

quote:

Originally posted by unique:
Also has anyone resized 30-06,270 or the likes to 6.5x55 since it seems the undersized head is arguably acceptable?

First off American made 6.5x55 brass is undersized.

Much of the brass with the 06 head diameter can measure as low as .466". You get about the same buldge using it in a 6.5x55 as you do using it for the 7.7 or the 7.5 MAS.

The base of Winchester 6.5 x 55mm brass measures .476". As for reforming '06 or even 8 x 57mm brass to fit the Swede, why do it when you can get 6.5 brass from various sources, including Graf & Sons (is on sale now). Btw, if you do reform '06, etc., be prepared to reduce the outside neck diameter quite a bit.

I had a fit about this when I got a 6.5x55, and started using Winchester brass for it.

It turns out that Winchester brass (the only one I have checked) is undersized alright, but the dimensions are within the specification limits for the case.

It isn't on target, but it is within spec.

FWIW, Lapua brass is right on. Yes, it's priced higher than Winchester, but I think the quality is much better. I usually pick it up when it's on sale at MIdway- about 44 dollars per hundred I believe.

Jim

It`s not just 6.5x55 brass that`s undersize. I`ve got some Remington 708 brass that goes .467" on the rim and a batch of 270 Winchester stuff that`s .464".
I think the spec in the loading manuals is the max allowed, the same as the figure for case lenght.

quote:

Originally posted by JimD:
FWIW, Lapua brass is right on. Yes, it's priced higher than Winchester, but I think the quality is much better. I usually pick it up when it's on sale at MIdway- about 44 dollars per hundred I believe.

Jim

Jim,
Not to start a argument but I just measured three 6.5x284 unfired Lapua case rims and all were 0.470". Spec in the manual calls for 0.473"
Still a bit short, but they are closer then I find in Winchester and Remington brass.

Just took home a bag of Remington 6.5X55 Swede brass the other day and was very very pleased.

Yes, the case head is 'undersized' but you expect a company that makes 20 different types of .473 brass to get new forming equipment just for one caliber? Economically that would not make sense.

IMO there is no practical difference whatsoever between using .480 and .473 brass.

All the cases I had, which is Remington's claim to fame, were very CONSISTENT. All the primer pockets were the same size and all the necks were nice and straight.

-Spencer

quote:

First off American made 6.5x55 brass is undersized.

That's one way to state it.....I like to say that european brass is oversize.

The Remington and Winchester brass works fine and also fits standard shell holders.....I tossed my S & B brass for Winchester brass and love the stuff. I could only resize half the S & B brass because it wouldn't fit my shell holder. My gun shoots the Winchester brass like a charm.

The american brass does have the same head size as the 30-06, but then again, so do the American made rifles. The Euro brass causes issues in my Winchester featherweight. I measured the bolt face and sure enough, 30-06 spec.

I use lapua for the correct head size. I also had to get the #2 shellholder to size the brass.

winchester has the correct case head size of 0.479 - 0.480. very nice brass to reload, too.

I noticed the same thing a few weeks ago when I recieved a bag of 100 new 6.5x55 Remington cases so I guess I'm not alone. Another thing and not to hijack the thread but in the bag of 100, 7 of the cases had split necks. Is this common from a shit eating joke of a company called Remington ? I swore their shit off and like an ass went back on my word. Never again will I buy shit with a Remington label on it. My fault, sorry to vent, sorry to change the subject.

quote:

Originally posted by BighornBreath:
I noticed the same thing a few weeks ago when I recieved a bag of 100 new 6.5x55 Remington cases so I guess I'm not alone. Another thing and not to hijack the thread but in the bag of 100, 7 of the cases had split necks. Is this common from a shit eating joke of a company called Remington ? I swore their shit off and like an ass went back on my word. Never again will I buy shit with a Remington label on it. My fault, sorry to vent, sorry to change the subject.

If I buy a bag of 100 brass from Winchester I expect to throw away a couple as well.....seven is excessive IMO.....but so is two!!!

Still, in the end it's cheaper to throw a few than pay double for Norma or Lapua.

quote:

Originally posted by Ol` Joe:

quote:

Originally posted by JimD:
FWIW, Lapua brass is right on. Yes, it's priced higher than Winchester, but I think the quality is much better. I usually pick it up when it's on sale at MIdway- about 44 dollars per hundred I believe.

Jim

Jim,
Not to start a argument but I just measured three 6.5x284 unfired Lapua case rims and all were 0.470". Spec in the manual calls for 0.473"
Still a bit short, but they are closer then I find in Winchester and Remington brass.

Ol' Joe

No worries about starting an argument .

I went out to the shop and mic'd three brands of 6.5x55 brass Lapua- 0.4783, w/w -0.4721, R-P- 0.4709. I'm sure there is a variance lot to lot. Maybe not right on, but Lapua has been closer to spec. Not that it matters if WW or R-P work in your application, I just haven't been happy with WW or R-P for any of my 6.5X55's... WW gets the nod for just about everything else I use.

Jim

I have two commmerical 6.5 x 55s.....

One is a Ruger 77 Mk 2... with the claw extractor it will take either the Remington or the Winchester brass with no extraction problems...

The other one is a rebarreled Winchester Model 70 with a 28 inch Pac Nor barrel on it....It is common for me to have ejection problems with the Push feed on this rifle with that brass.... I use Remington 6.5 x 55 brass in that rifle and I have no problems at all....

So I think if you are using a push feed action on a 6.5 x 55, and it is American made... I'd go for the Remington brass....

someone mentioned above about reforming 6.5 x 55 brass out of 257 Roberts brass... Bad Idea....

I know a few guys locally who have had the brass come apart just below the shoulder doing that...

6.5 x 55 brass evidently has a wider web near the base than Roberts, 7 x 57, 6mm Remington, 8 x 57 brass does... same with forming out of 280, 270, 30/06 etc brass.....

cheers
seafire

Most reloaders try to use an American .308Win. shell holder for loading 6.5x55 cases. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. For those interested Forster makes a shell holder for the 6.5x55. It's the MU-4 and works very well. I've got other issues with Remington brass and no longer use it. Lapua makes excellent brass for the 6.5x55. Weigh a batch of it, and you'll see why it costs a little more. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

nny diameter measures .478" to .479" (Euro.)

CBC measures .474" to.476" (Euro.)

RP measures .470" to .472" (These aren't undersize ???????) I,m not sure what ill effect this creates if any at all.

Some RP .308s I just Measured = .465" to .466"

roger

Roge:

All I know is that on a push feed Winchester.. winchester 6.5 x 55 brass won't eject half the time and Remington brass always ejects....
This rifle was originally a 30/06....

Cheers
seafire

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
Roge:

All I know is that on a push feed Winchester.. winchester 6.5 x 55 brass won't eject half the time and Remington brass always ejects....:

Can't say for sure, John, but it might be related to to the head- groove geometrical configuration.BTAIM what is a surprise to me is that there are those that think that a cartridge base or head diameter differece of .008" to.010" is within some sort of tolerance band.

Are we looking here at a beautifully designed cartridge that is being Americanized? It my not mean a big rat's ass but what is the short and skinny on this? roger

Question for those who have undersized case heads. Especially you bartsche because .466 seems way off.

Is the brass you are using the bulk stuff Midway used to sell, or maybe still sells, or is it the new commercial stuff in the green bags of 50?

FWIW the bag of 6.5x55 I just took home measures .4730 on all 5 cases I measured.

-Spencer

I use lapua brass in my 6.5 x 55. I started with winchester and got excessive swelling just above the head. I determine pressures by how much swelling i get above the head. Rem and winchester use the standard 30-06 head and body measurements when building 6.5 brass. Lapua is more expensive but it is worth the money in my opinion. Try one bag of lapua and you will never go back.

Not hounding the manufactors and just accepting a few bad cases in an order is just the reason we will one day we will get 10 good out of every 50. Send the whole thing back and raise hell. It is the only thing that works. Been there , did that, received 100 good next time!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ShopCartRacing:
Question for those who have undersized case heads. Especially you bartsche because .466 seems way off.[/QUOT

Spencer the .308 RPs are brand new. The 6.5x55 RPs are perhaps 6 years old but little used as I have one hell of a lot of the stuff. The nny is old as is the CBC.

This thread is activated about every year and the the prose is pretty much the same.

Spencer ! Do you measure any 6.5x55 American made head diameters over .477"? There use to be a TV show called Mel's Dinner. I always liked the expression one of the gals on the show used*** "When donkeys Fly" roger