I recently assembled a Grendel AR-15 style rifle, using a Radical Firearms upper.
I'm starting to regret my decision to go with the 6.5 Grendel caliber. Bullets are scarce and brass for reloading even more difficult to find. I've been able to find a small supply of Prvi Partizan (PPU) 120 gr ammo and saved the casings for reloading.
I started to work up loads using Hornady 123 gr 6.5 SST and the PPU cases. When I went to set the bullet depth the first case I tried crushed...and another...and another. Zero success in setting a bullet without crushing each of five cases.
Using a caliper I measured the ID of the case neck; the OD of the bullet; and the OD of the neck expander in the sizing die - all seemed to check out. I tried lubing the mouth of the case and the bullet. Nothing worked. The attached image shows the five cases that crushed, with the bullet still in the last one. All went in about half way between the bullet base and cannelure before crushing. I included two 'normal' cases in the pic for reference.
The cases were full-length and neck sized with a Lee sizing die. I've successfully loaded .308, 5.56 and 30-30 before - all using Lee equipment - and have never seen this problem before.
The only thing I can think of is that the PPU brass is too thin-walled for reloading. However I've found their brass for sale. How can they sell the stuff if it can't be reloaded successfully? Word would have gotten out by now.
Before I go out and spend more money on more brass to ruin, is it the die or the PPU brass? And, if it's the die (not expanding the mouth enough), what can I do about it?
Thanks in advance for any insight you can share (except "I'm an idiot for going with 6.5 Grendel").
I'm starting to regret my decision to go with the 6.5 Grendel caliber. Bullets are scarce and brass for reloading even more difficult to find. I've been able to find a small supply of Prvi Partizan (PPU) 120 gr ammo and saved the casings for reloading.
I started to work up loads using Hornady 123 gr 6.5 SST and the PPU cases. When I went to set the bullet depth the first case I tried crushed...and another...and another. Zero success in setting a bullet without crushing each of five cases.
Using a caliper I measured the ID of the case neck; the OD of the bullet; and the OD of the neck expander in the sizing die - all seemed to check out. I tried lubing the mouth of the case and the bullet. Nothing worked. The attached image shows the five cases that crushed, with the bullet still in the last one. All went in about half way between the bullet base and cannelure before crushing. I included two 'normal' cases in the pic for reference.
The cases were full-length and neck sized with a Lee sizing die. I've successfully loaded .308, 5.56 and 30-30 before - all using Lee equipment - and have never seen this problem before.
The only thing I can think of is that the PPU brass is too thin-walled for reloading. However I've found their brass for sale. How can they sell the stuff if it can't be reloaded successfully? Word would have gotten out by now.
Before I go out and spend more money on more brass to ruin, is it the die or the PPU brass? And, if it's the die (not expanding the mouth enough), what can I do about it?
Thanks in advance for any insight you can share (except "I'm an idiot for going with 6.5 Grendel").