Vol423,
Just because I'm hardheaded and can't let something like this beat me, I piddled around with 7x57R cases this afternoon. They were RWS, instead of Norma cases, and my 6.5x57R dies are "Eagle" instead of RCBS.The first case wouldn't chamber, after FL sizing to 6.5x57.Also not when pushed as far as I could into the die(with pusher instead of shell holder)with the loading press.It didn't have enough power to move the shoulder back, and I didn't want to use hydraulics(most shops don't have it). I then sized the shoulder smaller in a 6.5x58 P. die, still didn't chamber.I then pushed it into what I call a "shaving" die(shop made)to reduce headsize-hardly any shsvings- and it still didn't chamber.I then checked the case length of 6.5x57R RWS case fired in my drilling. It was 2.234",Barnes shows case length as 2.23", case length of reformed 7x57R RWS case was 2.251". During all this, I noticed the rim of the reformed case was standing proud,so it was thicker than the factory 6.5x57R case. I shortened the case and thinned the rim, then it chambered easily. Since I had done so many other things to the case, I resized another case, shortened it, and thinned the rim(for reference-thinned enough to remove the headstamp). It chambered, although not as easily as the other one.This is common with reformed cases, but usually loosens up with fireforming.Usually, primers can still be seated in cases with rims thinned this much, but if not, Lyman makes a primer pocket uniformer that will deepen the pockets. With this, I'm satisfied I could make cases from 7x57R, if I didn't have 6.5x57R cases.
Mike
Last edited by Der Ami; 11/11/14 10:09 AM.
