6.5 saum, am I thinking about this right?

[Rugger7622]

I have some 6.5 GAP 4S head stamped Hornady brass, for a new to me gun. Can I used a Hornady 7saum FLS die with the expander ball removed and a 6.5 bushing (.291ish) for setting the shoulders back and getting the neck sized down? I would then use a 6.5 turning mandrel to open the necks back up for bullet seating? I have a universal bullet seater, but could I used the 7saum seating die as well? So?

1. Can I used 7saum FLS die to bump shoulder back on 6.5 GAP brass with the right bushing?
2. Either no expander ball, or a 6.5 expander ball?
3. Can I use the 7saum seating die or do I need to use my universal?

Tim

 

[Shooter264]

1. Yes
2. 6.5 expander ball or no ball if using a mandrel
3. You can but you may have some issues with the seating stem contacting the meplat or the tip of your bullet. Can use that die and put a 6.5 cal seating stem in it.

 

[Rugger7622]

Thanks! For 2&3, can use a stem from another die like an RCBS or does it have to be from Hornady?

 

[Shooter264]

Thanks! For 2&3, can use a stem from another die like an RCBS or does it have to be from Hornady?

If it fits I don't see why not but they may have different threads

 

[BBob]

with the right bushing?

Yes but in my experience you may need to bring it down in two steps with two different sized bushings. It was a long time ago when the 6.5 first came around and I believe that's what I had to do back then using my 7 SAUM dies to keep it from mal-forming the shoulder. Some bushings do not have a large enough radius to size down too far. Edit: My bad, I missed the part where you are starting with 6.5 brass. I did not use an expander or mandrel. I just used the appropriate bushings to get the ID of the neck where I wanted it. I used the Redding Comp 7 seater for a long time before GAP had the Redding 6.5 GAP dies made. In reality the 6.5 specific dies did no better than my 7 dies. I didn't use an expander or mandrel with the 6.5 dies either.

 

[Rugger7622]

Anyone have any better or worse luck with Redding or Hornady (match grade) dies for the Saum?

 

[BBob]

Anyone have any better or worse luck with Redding or Hornady (match grade) dies for the Saum?

I for the most part have used Redding for most everything for decades. I do have one set of Hornady Match PRC dies. They work fine and are nice but I like the Redding's better likely just because of the familiarity more than anything.

 

[Rugger7622]

Thank you. I’ve used several brands of dies as well, wondering if for the 6.5 if there’s much difference in brands? I appreciate the responses.

 

[wind gypsy]

I used Redding 7 saum FL bushing and micrometer seating dies for 6.5 saum before they had 6.5 saum dies on the shelf. They work fine.

Here’s a blast from they past covering how those dies were used to neck down 7 saum brass and load 6.5 saum ammo before 6.5 saum brass was made.

Care And Feeding Of A GAP 6.5 SAUM.....

Starting with Remington 7MM SAUM brass, You'll need: Redding 7MM Saum Competiton dies(Type "S" match) .295 and .291 bushings .264 Expander mandrel Feeler gauge Neck turning tool Neck trimmer Caliper Deburring tool Priming tool NECO case neck lube kit Use the .295 bushing and run the...

www.snipershide.com

 

[Rugger7622]

Wind Gypsy, thanks for the link, I read and now reread it. Since I’m starting with 6.5 brass and not going down from 7 or 300saum, Im hoping no neck turning and simple bushing neck sizing down using 7saum dies is all I need?

 

[wind gypsy]

Wind Gypsy, thanks for the link, I read and now reread it. Since I’m starting with 6.5 brass and not going down from 7 or 300saum, Im hoping no neck turning and simple bushing neck sizing down using 7saum dies is all I need?

Yep, you're fine with just the final bushing size you want in the 7 SAUM die. It's been some years but I think a 0.291 or 0.290 bushing is what i used with the first run of hornady 4S brass.

 

[Rugger7622]

Thanks for all the replies, I got .291 and some other bushings so we will give this a whirl!

 

[Kimber7man]

Why do you need to set the shoulders back and size the neck down? Unless you do that with virgin brass?

I've had no issues with just loading the Hornady 6.5GAP4S straight out of the box to shoot in my rifle. 6.5GAP4S and 6.5 SAUM are same thing.

 

[Rugger7622]

Using a 7saum die

 

[Kimber7man]

Using a 7saum die

Is it fired brass?

 

[Rugger7622]

Yes sir

 

[Kimber7man]

gotcha, now I'm on board...

 

[Kimber7man]

Made me go look in my stash, I had a box I forgot about. If you want some new, it's in the classifieds.

 

[Rugger7622]

Thanks, I do have another question, my is a Tikka action in a KRG Bravo chassis, I have a 10 round metal mag, what would be a better option for a polymer 5 round? I would even take a 3 round flush fit, but from what I read there really isn't any that work well with the Tikka inlet.