Reloading

[Ray R]

I just got 300 - new 6mm ARC cases made by Star-Line Brass.

I ordered them from a place called "Druid Hill Armory". The price was $0.65 a case in that quantity. It would have been $0.75 a case for a bag of 100 cases.

I'm going to get started on them today, trimming to length & chamfering the inside and outside of the case mouth. I'll be reloading with Hornady 6mm 105 grain BTHP bullets and 26.8 grains of RL-15. I use CCI primers.

I found that after 5 reloads, my Hornady cases would no longer maintain adequate neck tension. I neck size only but do not anneal.

I hope the Star-Line brass will give me more reloads. Time will tell.

[CZ527 Guy]

I just got 300 - new 6mm ARC cases made by Star-Line Brass.

I ordered them from a place called "Druid Hill Armory". The price was $0.65 a case in that quantity. It would have been $0.75 a case for a bag of 100 cases.

I'm going to get started on them today, trimming to length & chamfering the inside and outside of the case mouth. I'll be reloading with Hornady 6mm 105 grain BTHP bullets and 26.8 grains of RL-15. I use CCI primers.

I found that after 5 reloads, my Hornady cases would no longer maintain adequate neck tension. I neck size only but do not anneal.

I hope the Star-Line brass will give me more reloads. Time will tell.

Neck size only? I have to ask what rifle are you working with & how is your bolt closing? Have to ask as Head space tends to grow with each firing. My understanding is most folks who neck size only, (A minority of us reloaders) find they need to full length resize by the 3rd firing in order to get the bolt to close. Feel free to correct me if needed.

I would expect similar performance from the starling brass VS the Hornady offering.

You may find this link interesting even if controversial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLG2kSrD40g

[CZ527 Guy]

Think you will be doing yourself a favor if you learn to anneal your brass. Anneal 1st, then full length resize just enough to push the shoulder back .003'. Your retired brass, should be good brass to learn with little or nothing to loose with your 5 times fired brass.

Search candle annealing & cordless drill annealing for starters.

This vidio touches well on over annealing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiIrLvAUh6o&t=554s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LrvUUC_98U&t=2944s

[CZ527 Guy]

If you should consider FL resizing you just may learn something from this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htvk1UYOXm8

[Ray R]

I just got 300 - new 6mm ARC cases made by Star-Line Brass.

I ordered them from a place called "Druid Hill Armory". The price was $0.65 a case in that quantity. It would have been $0.75 a case for a bag of 100 cases.

I'm going to get started on them today, trimming to length & chamfering the inside and outside of the case mouth. I'll be reloading with Hornady 6mm 105 grain BTHP bullets and 26.8 grains of RL-15. I use CCI primers.

I found that after 5 reloads, my Hornady cases would no longer maintain adequate neck tension. I neck size only but do not anneal.

I hope the Star-Line brass will give me more reloads. Time will tell.

Neck size only? I have to ask what rifle are you working with & how is your bolt closing? Have to ask as Head space tends to grow with each firing. My understanding is most folks who neck size only, (A minority of us reloaders) find they need to full length resize by the 3rd firing in order to get the bolt to close. Feel free to correct me if needed.

I would expect similar performance from the starling brass VS the Hornady offering.

You may find this link interesting even if controversial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLG2kSrD40g



I am shooting a Savage AXIS II bolt action rifle. I haven't had any problem with my bolt closing. I load to an OAL of 2.220", just like Hornady's 105 grain BTHP ammo. The receivers chambering is 2.240", so I have plenty of head space. I may play with that later, after I develop a bit more consistency shooting at 100 yards.

I have just finished neck sizing my new brass prior to use, to ensure I get the same neck tension with all my reloads. I had to lubricate my cases after one got stuck in my Lee neck sizing die. I use Hornady's Hot Shot. It's easy to apply and really works well.

My next step will be trimming the cases to length and chamfering the inside and outside of the neck's opening before I hand prime the cases. After that I will load 5 boxes of ammo (100 rounds) and see how well they shoot. I use Hornady 105 grain BTHP 6mm bullets because I'm trying to duplicate the Hornady's commercial ammo.

I have found that shooting 100 fps slower than the commercial ammo gives me more accuracy at 100 yards. I use 26.8 grains of RL-15 to achieve this. That load fills my fireformed Hornady cases up to about the beginning of the cases bottleneck. It will be interesting to see if the Starline brass fills to the same level with the same charge and gun powder.

If everything goes well, I'll try reloading the 108 grain bullets. I'll test with BL-C(2), Varget and RL-15 at an OAL of 2.220"

---

Think you will be doing yourself a favor if you learn to anneal your brass. Anneal 1st, then full length resize just enough to push the shoulder back .003'. Your retired brass, should be good brass to learn with little or nothing to loose with your 5 times fired brass.

Search candle annealing & cordless drill annealing for starters.

This vidio touches well on over annealing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiIrLvAUh6o&t=554s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LrvUUC_98U&t=2944s

I did see an inductive annealer that I really liked. 

Unfortunately, it cost $1,400.00, so I will pass on annealing for this year.

---

If you should consider FL resizing you just may learn something from this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htvk1UYOXm8

I do have a lee full-length resizing die, but using it reduces case life compared to neck sizing.

After I become much more accurate as a shooter, and brass becomes more readily available I'll re-consider full length sizing due to its better accuracy results.

[CZ527 Guy]

"Unfortunately, it cost $1,400.00, so I will pass on annealing for this year."

Thus I was thinking cordless drill & torch or fingers & a candle.

You have the Virgin brass to work with for now so no hurry.

[grayfox]

SixFive outfitters on this forum, has 6mm ARC brass available now, starline in 100 ct bags.
Couple other places too, and some Hornady bags of 50 are also available from places, ammoseek.
So right now is the time to get some if you want more.

[pavementends]

I just got 300 - new 6mm ARC cases made by Star-Line Brass.

I ordered them from a place called "Druid Hill Armory". The price was $0.65 a case in that quantity. It would have been $0.75 a case for a bag of 100 cases.

I'm going to get started on them today, trimming to length & chamfering the inside and outside of the case mouth. I'll be reloading with Hornady 6mm 105 grain BTHP bullets and 26.8 grains of RL-15. I use CCI primers.

I found that after 5 reloads, my Hornady cases would no longer maintain adequate neck tension. I neck size only but do not anneal.

I hope the Star-Line brass will give me more reloads. Time will tell.

Neck size only? I have to ask what rifle are you working with & how is your bolt closing? Have to ask as Head space tends to grow with each firing. My understanding is most folks who neck size only, (A minority of us reloaders) find they need to full length resize by the 3rd firing in order to get the bolt to close. Feel free to correct me if needed.

I would expect similar performance from the starling brass VS the Hornady offering.

You may find this link interesting even if controversial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLG2kSrD40g



I am shooting a Savage AXIS II bolt action rifle. I haven't had any problem with my bolt closing. I load to an OAL of 2.220", just like Hornady's 105 grain BTHP ammo. The receivers chambering is 2.240", so I have plenty of head space. I may play with that later, after I develop a bit more consistency shooting at 100 yards.

I have just finished neck sizing my new brass prior to use, to ensure I get the same neck tension with all my reloads. I had to lubricate my cases after one got stuck in my Lee neck sizing die. I use Hornady's Hot Shot. It's easy to apply and really works well.

My next step will be trimming the cases to length and chamfering the inside and outside of the neck's opening before I hand prime the cases. After that I will load 5 boxes of ammo (100 rounds) and see how well they shoot. I use Hornady 105 grain BTHP 6mm bullets because I'm trying to duplicate the Hornady's commercial ammo.

I have found that shooting 100 fps slower than the commercial ammo gives me more accuracy at 100 yards. I use 26.8 grains of RL-15 to achieve this. That load fills my fireformed Hornady cases up to about the beginning of the cases bottleneck. It will be interesting to see if the Starline brass fills to the same level with the same charge and gun powder.

If everything goes well, I'll try reloading the 108 grain bullets. I'll test with BL-C(2), Varget and RL-15 at an OAL of 2.220"

---

Think you will be doing yourself a favor if you learn to anneal your brass. Anneal 1st, then full length resize just enough to push the shoulder back .003'. Your retired brass, should be good brass to learn with little or nothing to loose with your 5 times fired brass.

Search candle annealing & cordless drill annealing for starters.

This vidio touches well on over annealing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiIrLvAUh6o&t=554s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LrvUUC_98U&t=2944s

I did see an inductive annealer that I really liked. 

Unfortunately, it cost $1,400.00, so I will pass on annealing for this year.

---

If you should consider FL resizing you just may learn something from this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htvk1UYOXm8

I do have a lee full-length resizing die, but using it reduces case life compared to neck sizing.

After I become much more accurate as a shooter, and brass becomes more readily available I'll re-consider full length sizing due to its better accuracy results.

RR, You are aware that OAL and head space are not the same thing? A comparitor will really help with cast life and proper sizing.  They are not expensive and help solve many issues

[popgun]

You have to anneal to get any more life out of your brass. I have 8 firings on my Hornady brass. I anneal and full length size with a Mighty Armory die. I've lost probably 15% to primer pockets getting loose and those were probably from testing some hotter loads. Keep the charge weights down a little, anneal and full length size and you'll probably get 10 firings on your brass, maybe more.
BTW I use a propane torch and drill to anneal, even my 6x47 L brass and get .25" groups, usually less. .3 MOA at 300 yards. The AMP annealer is nice and would probably shrink my groups out past 600 yards, but it's definitely not a must.

[CZ527 Guy]

I used a drill & propane torch in a dimly lit space for years. Watch for the fastest red glow in the dimly lit room and remove from flame & let cool to room temp.

This summer I finally upgraded to an ugly annealer with a torch in a dimly lit room. Am quite pleased. Six seconds in the flame & into a cake pan to cool & neck tension & brass life are vastly improved.

If you are overly aggressive you could rune a lot of brass in short order w the ugly annealer. This is so simple now. I anneal every firing. give up a bit in the way of control over the AMP I am sure. though with a strong dose of common sense I am of the opinion this is way better than not annealing at all.

https://www.uglyreloadingusa.com/product...usa-stock/

[Ray R]

I just got 300 - new 6mm ARC cases made by Star-Line Brass.

I ordered them from a place called "Druid Hill Armory". The price was $0.65 a case in that quantity. It would have been $0.75 a case for a bag of 100 cases.

I'm going to get started on them today, trimming to length & chamfering the inside and outside of the case mouth. I'll be reloading with Hornady 6mm 105 grain BTHP bullets and 26.8 grains of RL-15. I use CCI primers.

I found that after 5 reloads, my Hornady cases would no longer maintain adequate neck tension. I neck size only but do not anneal.

I hope the Star-Line brass will give me more reloads. Time will tell.

Neck size only? I have to ask what rifle are you working with & how is your bolt closing? Have to ask as Head space tends to grow with each firing. My understanding is most folks who neck size only, (A minority of us reloaders) find they need to full length resize by the 3rd firing in order to get the bolt to close. Feel free to correct me if needed.

I would expect similar performance from the starling brass VS the Hornady offering.

You may find this link interesting even if controversial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLG2kSrD40g



I am shooting a Savage AXIS II bolt action rifle. I haven't had any problem with my bolt closing. I load to an OAL of 2.220", just like Hornady's 105 grain BTHP ammo. The receivers chambering is 2.240", so I have plenty of head space. I may play with that later, after I develop a bit more consistency shooting at 100 yards.

I have just finished neck sizing my new brass prior to use, to ensure I get the same neck tension with all my reloads. I had to lubricate my cases after one got stuck in my Lee neck sizing die. I use Hornady's Hot Shot. It's easy to apply and really works well.

My next step will be trimming the cases to length and chamfering the inside and outside of the neck's opening before I hand prime the cases. After that I will load 5 boxes of ammo (100 rounds) and see how well they shoot. I use Hornady 105 grain BTHP 6mm bullets because I'm trying to duplicate the Hornady's commercial ammo.

I have found that shooting 100 fps slower than the commercial ammo gives me more accuracy at 100 yards. I use 26.8 grains of RL-15 to achieve this. That load fills my fireformed Hornady cases up to about the beginning of the cases bottleneck. It will be interesting to see if the Starline brass fills to the same level with the same charge and gun powder.

If everything goes well, I'll try reloading the 108 grain bullets. I'll test with BL-C(2), Varget and RL-15 at an OAL of 2.220"

---

Think you will be doing yourself a favor if you learn to anneal your brass. Anneal 1st, then full length resize just enough to push the shoulder back .003'. Your retired brass, should be good brass to learn with little or nothing to loose with your 5 times fired brass.

Search candle annealing & cordless drill annealing for starters.

This vidio touches well on over annealing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiIrLvAUh6o&t=554s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LrvUUC_98U&t=2944s

I did see an inductive annealer that I really liked. 

Unfortunately, it cost $1,400.00, so I will pass on annealing for this year.

---

If you should consider FL resizing you just may learn something from this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htvk1UYOXm8

I do have a lee full-length resizing die, but using it reduces case life compared to neck sizing.

After I become much more accurate as a shooter, and brass becomes more readily available I'll re-consider full length sizing due to its better accuracy results.

RR, You are aware that OAL and head space are not the same thing? A comparitor will really help with cast life and proper sizing.  They are not expensive and help solve many issues

Thanks,
I am aware of that. I use a comparator and a chamber gauge from Hornady.
My loaded ammo has an OAL or 2.220". My chamber headspaces at 2.240" using the same 6mm 105 grain BTHP Hornady bullet. Even with different datum points, by using the same bullet in both measurements I feel I can safely say that I have a significant amount of unused head space with the dimensions I have measured.

[CZ527 Guy]

Head space definition seems to be misunderstood here.

https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/202...-07-29.pdf

https://kurtthegunsmith.com/everything-y...headspace/

[grayfox]

Ray, having a bullet seated to 2.220, and hitting the lands at 2.240, this is called jump.
that 0.020 jump should be fine for the bthp. when you do a load ladder, use 0.2-0.3 gr increments, working up from a min.
"watch yore top knot..." ~ J. Johnson.

[Ray R]

Yes.
I recognize I have the big "jump". 

Thats why I was not overly concerned with measuring the OAL at the ogive of my assembled ammo. It's not precise comparison, but with that much jump space, I wasn't worried.

I use QuickLoad software to determine my maximum load and start about 10% below that for the bottom rung load of my teat load ladder. 

I use 0.3 grains step sizes for my initial ladder. Then I look at the two best readings and estimate the center point that seems to be the most accurate. Then I perform a 5-step ladder in 0.2 grain steps from 0.4 grains below this center point to 0.4 grains above this center point. 

The most accurate of those loads becomes my standard load.