I am going to have one built on a Rem vls platform. The Smith said that I would wiser to buy lapua or norma brass than case forming win brass. My next step is load info. The rifle will have a 1:8 twist and I will be focusing on 139-142 g bullets. This is my first time at a custom rifle, and my goal is long range targets and varmints at any range. So what powders work well with this piece?
Jim

Tell your smith that W-W brass forms just fine, even down to the 6mm/284. It's quite a bit cheaper than Norma, Lapua and Hornady. Some of mine are on their 15th and 16th reloadings.

For the 6mm and using 100/105 gr bullets, Hodgdon H4831SC with CCI BR2 primers are working great.

I am going to have one built on a Rem vls platform. The Smith said that I would wiser to buy lapua or norma brass than case forming win brass. My next step is load info. The rifle will have a 1:8 twist and I will be focusing on 139-142 g bullets. This is my first time at a custom rifle, and my goal is long range targets and varmints at any range. So what powders work well with this piece?
Jim

The reformed Winchester brass will work fine, but the Norma (what I bought) and the Lapua are dramatically tighter dimensionally. I have measured up to 0.008" runout in Winchester .308 brass at the web/casehead junction and about half that at the neck. Enough to show up at long range. The Norma lots I have (two) have all measured out by no more than 0.0015" at the web/head and 0.0005" at the neck.

At the Long Range Firing School taught by Middleton Thompkins at Camp Perry most years, Mid said he uses H4350 exclusively in 6.5-284. He reloads for himself, his wife, and two step daughters, all of whom are national and international champions. The 142 grain Sierra MK is the bullet he uses.

Nick

Hello Jim, Great choice on the 6.5 284,of the two I've owned both powders mentioned are frist rate.Have not tried the Norma brass but the Lapua brass I've used is very consistent. You might want to check out 6mmBR.com and click on 6.5 285,lots of good info.All the luck with your project. David

I have a 6mm/284, a 6.5 /284 and a 35/284 and I have never had a problem sizing the brass with just plain old Winchester brass. I open the brass in the 35 with a single pass with absolutly no problem. I use a lot of lube in either direction of sizing and have never had a single case fail to form well. It just might be the Gunny's opinion and not based on actual experience.

Ruger
Where did you get your dies from? Were they custom made, I mean did you send in once fired brass? Not my first rifle but certainly my first not off the shelf one.
Thanks
Jim

My dies are RCBS, nothing special.

Jim, Have a set of 6.5 284 dies that I don't need,Forster Ultra seater and full length die also Redding neck die.looking for a good set of 25 06 dies.Any intrest let me know.

Davidsan
Sorry I don't have a 25-06 dies have 30-06 that I don't use. I am partial to the RCBS comp seating die, it loads threw a side window, use it for 223 and 243 bullets.
Jim

Jim,The dies are there if you need them.Like others have mintioned I have used Winchester brass with good results,just prefer the Lapua.Don't have a dog in this fight but I'm a little excited to find out how your new project turns out.