6.5 grendel

Daleo8803

Move along, move along
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Does anyone reload for it? I'm going to order dies soon. I normally buy Lee dies but is there any advantage to buying rcbs or others? Do I need a micro adjustment seating die to get the most consistent bullet depth?

What bullet should I try first? I'm leaning to the 123gr SMK or the Lapua 120gr. My barrel HATES hornady black 123gr ELD factory ammo but should I try the bullet in my reloads?

Is there any real difference between hornady and starline brass?

I have IMR 8208 xbr and varget, any others I should try?

Thanks
 
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Never loaded for the 6.5 Grendel. But, coming from my limited experience loading 223 for AR platform, with precision in mind, here is what I would do if buying 6.5 Grendel dies.

I recommend the Redding sizing die, with the optional carbide expander. The carbide expander makes sizing operations easier, and lubing inside the case necks is not critical. I have toyed with the idea of using the Redding body die, which bumps the shoulder and sizes the body but not the neck. I would then use the Lee collet neck sizing die to size the neck. I believe this would work the brass less, similar to a bushing die, but would not require turning necks or sorting brass based on wall thickness.

Use the sizing die along with the Redding competition shellholders. These shellholders are in .002" increments over the standard shellholders, so that bumping shoulders will be very consistent and not depend on the sturdiness of the press. I typically use the +.006" shellholder, this allows all the rounds I produce to chamber in all my guns, and reduces the brass stretching every shot so that trimming every time is not needed.

To get the least amount of runout, use either the Wilson chamber style seating die (with arbor press) or use the Forster seating die. I bought the Forster micrometer seating die, and love it. The micrometer aspect does not make the die more accurate, it just makes it much easier to adjust the seating depth, and to change the depth when switching bullets, as you simply return to the same setting that you record for your load.

One advantage of the Wilson die is that you can seat bullets with nothing more than a mallet. This means you can take prepped brass (primed) to the range, along with a powder measure, and you can work up loads on the spot.

I also use a Lee collet crimper, but I just barely touch the rim with it. I mainly do this because I use a universal expander to apply a slight flare that helps with seating flat base bullets. I'm basically just removing the flare.
 
Does anyone reload for it? I'm going to order dies soon. I normally buy Lee dies but is there any advantage to buying rcbs or others? Do I need a micro adjustment seating die to get the most consistent bullet depth?

What bullet should I try first? I'm leaning to the 123gr SMK or the Lapua 120gr. My barrel HATES hornady black 123gr ELD factory ammo but should I try the bullet in my reloads?

Is there any real difference between hornady and starline brass?

I have IMR 8208 xbr and varget, any others I should try?

Thanks
I use AR-comp, 8208 is good no so much with Varget. The 6.5 Grendel forum has a really good reloading forum. A very fun round to shoot.
 
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