First of all I never played around with bushing dies so just bare with me. I am looking at a new
barrel for my encore 6mm-250 (base on the 250 savage another words this brass just necked down).
I am going to be using 444 brass so I get a rim case. Can I size this case for the final step by
just using the right bushing. This would save me
big money on custom dies.

PS: This will be a 21" barrel with 1-10 twist
shooting 60-85 grain bullets and if I can get
espectable velocity with a 95 grain my son may
use this one for his first deer gun but that will
be a couple of years he is only 9 right now.

kevin@maine

I just registered the other day but I been reading
the post for a long time.

Kevin, welcome! If you are the same Kevin from over at GGVG, I bought a 15" 7 BR Encore Barrel from you a while back.
As far as the bushing die question, I am also new to them and it may go against the grain of some here, but if it ain't broke don't fix it. This sounds somthing on the order of some of Mike B's chamberings of the 444? I think it wold work with the proper die body and bushing as long as you didn't need to bump the shoulder back?
Jeff

jsh thats me, hope the 7BR is working out for you.
It is pretty close to what mike does but he doesn't go to such a small cal. on the 444 case.
He sticks to the 222 mag or that small rimmed case what every he calls it. At least that what I understand.
The die thing I was thinking about the type-s full size bushing die and seating the bullets with a hornady seater that I already have for the 6TCU.
JSH I don't know if you remember but you gave me information on the 6TCU, well any ways I got my Bullberry 6TCU 9" barrel and it is shooting perfectly. off hand shooting is alot easier with the shorter barrel. I may of gave up some velocity but the 65 & 70 grain bullets are shooting great.

The bushing dies are pretty specific in application and can only be used for neck ( re) sizing a appropriately sized case. You can't use it to form cases or even to set the shoulder back once the case needs it.

I have not used the bushing dies yet, but I understood Redding makes both full length and neck size bushing dies. Full length dies should let you bump shoulders back I would think.

Eventually, I want to get set up with Redding as a dealer and will no doubt be taking a hard look at the bushing dies.

Few realize just how distorted/misaligned case necks are from standard size dies. In theory, the bushing dies should cure this very effectively. Anyone here spinning case necks against an indicator checking case neck runout using bushing dies?

Mike

One more thought on the 6mmx.250.... make sure of your chamber neck diameter requirements. Work a .444 case down to 6mm at the same point where the 6x250 neck will be, then seat a bullet to find out what your loaded case neck diameter will be. You must either specify a large enough chamber neck for your unturned case necks or thin the necks yourself by either neck inside reaming in a neck ream die or outside neck turn.

If you outside turn case necks, make certain you do not leave a tight ring where the neck and shoulder meet. If you seat a bullet down to the neck shoulder junction, you may find you have a neck diameter too large at that point that will jack up pressures badly, leaving you wondering why.

To avoid the ring, you have to push the shoulders back too far, neck turn down to the shoulder, then blow the shoulders forward again.
This means you must also have the rim counterbore depth in the barrel kept pretty close to minimum so you can headspace on the rim without unduly stretching cases when you blow the shoulders forward.

You are not going back as far as I do with the 1.4" long .30 Bellm cartridge, but at that point, .30 cal. and all, I am reaming .026" from the insides of these reformed .444 Marlin cases. I think you will be in for some case neck thinning.

Mike

Mike is correct. Redding offers bushing dies that either neck size only or full length size. Personally, I like the option of using the competition neck sizer which theoretically does a better job of keeping the case aligned and supported for my neck sizing and using their body die when I want to bump the shoulder. I'm sure that the next guy could get by just as well with the one full length bushing die, but I like the two stage process.

Kevin, the 7 BR is working good, just need more time to play with it. The 6 TCU is a dandy round, I really like mine even though it is an old factory "14. Have you tried any of the 55 grain 6mm bullets? I have not chronoed any but they are a screamer.

Brett, I need to get with you some time so I can see that die and how it works. Hands on is better than words. I am kind of thick beteween the ears somtimes. LOL
Jeff

I have a set of Redding .17 HeBee full length dies that have been machined to use the bushings for sizing the neck while also sizing the body and shoulder. Have the name of the guy who did it somewhere but couldn't find it. Seems to work just fine.