I've seen people talked about it and did it but I haven't seen a step by step process of how they did it... My coworker gave me some 1x fired Lapua brass a while back and I just hate seeing it on the shelf collecting dust, so here's what I did to them...
things you need:
Press (I used Lee Classic Cast)
Lapua brass (I used 1x fired)
1 to 5 test 308 cases (I used federal as they are soft and I have plenty to spare)
6.5 Creedmoor FL die (I used RCBS)
Lee case holder #2 x2 (one sacrificial)
Case lube (I used 0w20 synthetic motor oil)
Cream of Wheat
Toilette paper (I used Kirkland double ply :D )
Gun powder funnel
Gun powder (I used Titegroup)
Decapping rod
Large rifle primer
RCBS hand neck turner
RCBS #25 collet
Digital caliper
flash hole uniformer
case trimmer (I used forster case trimmer)
forster case trimmer collet #25
forster case trimmer collet #24
Chamfer and Deburring tool
Lee 308 case holder
Drill
1000 grit sand paper
Torch
6.5 Creedmoor rifle
Step 1
Set the FL die without the decapping pin
Step 2
you will have to sand ONE of the Lee case holder #2 .006" off. Once you done this you will no longer use the case holder for any other purpose besides from bumping the case shoulder back. I measured the case holder at .500" and you may have to sand less or more depending on your rifle chamber tolerance...
Step 3
Lube the 308 cases and wipe off excess lube. I suggest to use the cheap cases first for practice. Too much lube will cause some bumps on the case shoulder and it looks ugly :D
Step 4
use #24 collet to trim the case to 1.914" then chamfer and deburr. Chamber each and every case to your rifle to make sure it chambers with a little to no effort to manipulate the bolt.
(I ANNEALED THE BRASS AFTER STEP #4 your choice)
Step 5
I used Winchester LRP. Cut the TP into 8 pieces, charge the case with 10 grains of Titegroup, then place the TP in the case and do your best to flatten the TP evenly to keep the powder from moving and mixing with the COW.
Push it with a rod or something (I used the Lee decapping pin)
it should look like this
dump some COW in it up to the case neck
place another TP on top to keep the COW in the case to prevent it from spilling
Step 6
Fire em up!!!
Step 7
Use collet #25 on the forster case trimmer and trim to 1.911" (I prefer trimming to this length) Then chamfer and deburr.
Step 8
Use collet #25 on RCBS hand neck turner. Use the case holder and drill to make the process run faster and smoother. The Hornady case mouth thickness I measured at .15" and the Lapua to .18"
(video yet to be uploaded on youtube)
Step 9
FULL LENGTH SIZE the case and chamber the empty case in your rifle to make sure it chambers correctly. Load your favorite 6.5CM load combo. I used the low node of 40.5 grains of H4350 (range training 1400y and closer) and 140 grain AMAX.
Step 10
Shoot em!!! :scsniper3:
here's the case after 17th firing (18x fired if counting when it was a 308 ammo), one tough SOB won't even break after so many firings where the Hornady case fails no more than 15 firings and I'm pushing my luck of letting the brass completely separate from the case body.
I'm a half MOA guy on a good day so I'm happy with these results. I've noticed after the 3rd firing that the case seems to settle/formed perfectly, based on the concentricity readings... Although it is not Benchrest quality/accuracy, there's definitely some room for improvement, my marksmanship to be included :D
I only carried 20 powder charges since my Hornady brass life ends between 12th to 15th firing whenever I see the base case head separation signs. I screwed up on the first 3 firings after resizing and damaging the case and I have to restart...
I'll shoot the case some more by next week or two... :thumbup:
EXPENSES:
Lapua brass - $70-$80 per $100 BNIB, $40-$50 1x fired & $30-$40 for the 1x fired LC brass(I got mine for free)
Large Rifle Primers - .04 per = $4.00
Cream of Wheat - $5 (it's good for atleast 1,000 cases) so .50 cents/100
Pistol Powder - .03 per case = $3.00
So I'm looking at $90 per 100 NEW cases or cheaper if you can find some cheap 1x fired Lapua brass.