Help with 6.5 Grendel reloading dies

[MDStroup]

I assume this has been covered here before, but using Google I can't find answers to all of my questions. So I will ask then here.

I have most of my basic reloading set up together. The main thing I need is a set of dies and a way to trim the brass. I was going to get either the Hornady or Lee dies from Alexander arms. But first I wanted to see if either had any glaring problems.

It seems the Lee dies had dimension problems a bit back. Did that ever get fixed? I don't have to tools to properly fix it to spec.

With the hornadys, what shell holder do you use, the number 6? Also, what is up with the hornady dies? The versions from Alexander arms sells are almost $20 more expensive then everywhere else. But hornady dies everywhere else are "hornady custom grade new dimension dies". Are the Alexander arms versions some custom versions or something?

I believe I will be using Lapua brass the most, so I will be getting a Lee universal depriming and decapitated die. Which leads me to problem two, triming the brass. Because I have been told Lapua 6.5 Grendel brass doesn't play nice with the Lee case length gauge, which suckered as it looks pretty handy, and Lee doesn't make their 6.5 Grendel ez trim die anymore,which sucks because I have a Lee ez trim, what is the best way to trim 6.5 Grendel brass?

Thank you to everyone who can help me with my questions. Have a nice day.

[VASCAR2]

The Lee dies over work the brass which shorten the life of the brass. To my knowledge Hornady Custom dies are the same but Alexander Arms has a higher mark up. With Hornady Custom dies it is recommended to use a Hornady shell holder. The 6.5 Grendel needs the shoulder bumped back during sizing. If the shell holder and dies don't match you might encounter chambering issues.

I bought the Hornady case trimmer which works and is inexpensive. Fortunately I don't have to trim many rifle cases as it is a boring process! There are case trimmers which attach to hand drills which speed up the process but I personally haven't used them.

My Hornady dies needed a different adjustment when going from Lapua brass to Hornady or PPU brass. I have always used RCBS dies so I bought a set of RCBS 264 LBC dies which are FL (full length) SB (small base) TC (taper crimp). I really like these dies and haven't used my Hornady dies since aquiring the RCBS. Redding and Forster 6.5 Grendel dies also get great reviews.

[Rickc]

Buy you a forster full length sizing die. Measure your fired brass with a Hornady headspace gauge and set the die up for a .004 shoulder bump. Lock down the lock ring and don't mess with it again.

[Younger]

Hornady shell holder #6
RCBS shell holder #32

[JASmith]

I use this trimmer: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/74...mer-65-grendel.

The WFT indexes off of the shoulder, meaning that one must use full length sized brass or accept longer Case legths unleas one adjusts it to qccommodate your as-fired brass configuration.

If you are OK with the default trim length, the Lee Zip Trim should work well. This one indexes off of the inside of the case head, so primary differences will result from how thick the case maker made the web. Those tend to be rather small and can be ignored if one sorts brass by brand.

I used their case length trimmer with a power drill, wich was a lot easier than using the knob. The Zip Trim might unit might a good compromise because no power drill is needed. One pull of their cord should be enought to get you there!

[Rickc]

Trimming brass is a necessary evil. I hate trimming brass.

You will be surprised how seldom it is required with the Grendel case. Those fat sharp shouldered cases just don't grow like others. I do not trim until it is necessary. I like my necks long. When I trim I trim a whole batch of cases together. That way they are all the same.

I have several trimmers. A 40+ year old rcbs that works just fine. A forsters that I power with an electric screwdriver. Several Giraud tri-trims.

My newest addition is the PMA Tools Micro-Adjust trimmer. PMA makes lots of high quality reloading equipment.

http://www.pmatool.com/pma-micro-adjust-trimmer/

[MDStroup]

Thank you everyone for your suggestion. I am a college student right now, so i am not looking to spend hundreds on just the dies or trimmer alone. Since the RCBS dies were mentioned, how about these?
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/r...95-113364.aspx - AR Series 2-Die Set 264 LBC-AR

Are there any other case trimmers for the 6.5 grendel?

[Klem]

Lyman has their economy Accutrimmer trimmer on sale on Brownells at the moment for $50. Use the '.26' pilot.

Those RCBS dies will work.

[SSK shooter]

As others have said Hornady shellholder #6 is the one you want. I use the Hornady stuff and am getting sub moa groups from both my Grendels. A word of caution on the Lee universal decapping die. I have two of them and both decapping stems are too big to fit thru the flash hole in Lapua brass. You need to get a decapping die that will take a small pin. I have filed one of my lee pins down so they fit in lapua brass but it makes it weak and easily broken. Im thinking of switching to a Hornady decapping die and small pins.

[Rickc]

As others have said Hornady shellholder #6 is the one you want. I use the Hornady stuff and am getting sub moa groups from both my Grendels. A word of caution on the Lee universal decapping die. I have two of them and both decapping stems are too big to fit thru the flash hole in Lapua brass. You need to get a decapping die that will take a small pin. I have filed one of my lee pins down so they fit in lapua brass but it makes it weak and easily broken. Im thinking of switching to a Hornady decapping die and small pins.

Yep

Those tiny flasholes are a pain. I have bent several of the pins. Don't go jamming a standard size pin through there.

I too use the universal decapping die. I have Lee, redding and forster. For small pin I like the redding best. Buy a pack of pins when you buy the die.

[Rickc]

Thank you everyone for your suggestion. I am a college student right now, so i am not looking to spend hundreds on just the dies or trimmer alone. Since the RCBS dies were mentioned, how about these?
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/r...95-113364.aspx - AR Series 2-Die Set 264 LBC-AR

Are there any other case trimmers for the 6.5 grendel?

Unless you are planning to do a bunch of shooting any of.the inexpensive hand trimmers will work just.fine. make sure you have the right pilot.

You might find you will never have to trim grendel brass for the life of the case. Those short fat sharp shouldered cases don't grow like many others. Stay away from hot loads. It will increase the life of the brass

[LRRPF52]

I have yet to trim a single one of my Lapua or Hornady cases. None of them have gone to 1.530" length, which is the chamber length to the mouth per SAAMI.

I'll probably get a trimmer for the Grendel in the future, but so far, I haven't needed it.

I had some PPU brass that exceeded 1.530", but the base had ballooned out as well, so they weren't capable of being safely reloaded. That brass is soft, and I see why they recalled it.

[HawgHunter]

extra set of hornady dies for 6.5 Grendel with tapper crimp by lee.contact me at 210-854-4065 will discuss price. ronnie

[MDStroup]

Yep

Those tiny flasholes are a pain. I have bent several of the pins. Don't go jamming a standard size pin through there.

I too use the universal decapping die. I have Lee, redding and forster. For small pin I like the redding best. Buy a pack of pins when you buy the die.

Thanks! That is very helpful! I didnt know that universal decapping die didnt fit it. I thought you were suppose to use the universal decapping die to deprime Lapua 6.5 grendel because of the small flash hole.

Do you have a link to any of the decapping dies you listed?

[MDStroup]

Unless you are planning to do a bunch of shooting any of.the inexpensive hand trimmers will work just.fine. make sure you have the right pilot.

You might find you will never have to trim grendel brass for the life of the case. Those short fat sharp shouldered cases don't grow like many others. Stay away from hot loads. It will increase the life of the brass

I do plan on shooting it as much as possible, but right now i am a college student so that wont be as much as i want to. Do you have a recommendation for a hand trimmer? The only hand trimmer that i knew about for the 6.5 grendel was the Lee case length gauge with the cutter and stud. But because of the pilot diameter it doesn't fit through the flash-hole.