I remember something about turning down brass from one caliber to another. But, I know nothing about it.

I'm specifically thinking about 243 down to 6Br or maybe 6PPC.

Where can I learn about that?

No, you want to use a 243 Win case. The BR and PPC case is too small to form down from a 243 Win, plus it has a large primer pocket. Check out some of the bench rest websites (6br.com) on brass selection and sizing. I remember there were a few articles about it. I don't shoot that dicipline, so I don't fully know.

It has to be in the same family, ie. .308, .243, 22-250. PPC's are off the .220 Russian based on 7.62X39. Head size is way different. If my memory is holding up 6BR is off of the 1 1/2" .308 that was experimental. If I was loading benchrest I'd spring for Norma or Lapua brass. Case life and consistency are hard to beat.
If changing neck size I always go down. Turning necks isn't hard and splitting thin necks isn't fun.

It's mostly an academic question to me. I have a 6Br that my Brother built before he died. I've never fired it. However, I'm curious about the procedure.

Chad, I looked on 6Br.com but didn't find anything about it. I also tried YouTube. The info might be out there and maybe I need to keep looking.

Edit: OK, I found something on YouTube. I was missing the key word Reforming.

Thanks

Dave, best way to do it is buy brass direct from Lapua. It's not worth it to do it any other way. Beyond that, only thing you'd want to know is if it was a Rem BR or a Norma. The latter has a longer leade/freebore for running longer bullets. It'd be easy enough to figure out once you've got some components but it's something to take into account. You'll also want to know what the barrel twist is that that will be a limiting factor on which bullets you'll want to run and can run. Other than that, it's just like handloading any other rifle round. Only difference will be that it'll probably shoot much better, much easier.

Another route for 6mm br brass is to use 7mm br brass and neck it down, u will most likely need to neck turn after this depending on your chamber. Remington 7mm br brass is available from Midway as well as others.

I remember that my Brother told me that he had reformed some 220 Russian to 6PPC. So, I'm trying to figure out just how this is done. He passed away 5 years ago so it is too late to ask him.

I'm not worried about how to build 6BR loads. I know the barrel is 1/14 twist. I can figure that out.

Here's a solid writeup on making 6PPC from 220 Russian.

6PPC from 220 Russian

Keep in mind that as previously mentioned you're still talking about two different animals. The PPC's come from the 220 Russian and the BR's are basically a shortened necked down 308. They're dimensionally different in several areas, most notably the rim.

To form a 6PPC case, most use a 22 PPC and neck up. The only issue is the case donut from necking up, so you will want to inside neck turn, if you do this (It's a PITA). It is also formed from the 7.62x39 case (The AK-47 round). You will have to neck turn your brass, or have a custom neck dimension in the chamber. But most BR rifles have a custom chamber and neck size. So, it depends on what reamer is used to cut your chamber.

For a 6BR, Lapua makes 6 BR brass. I see it in stock, and can get this brass. This is what I would use if you were going 6BR.

I'm not a BR shooter, and honestly I don't know much about their case prep and case formations. But I understand how to get there and use existing rounds to form new one's.

That is a heckuva write up on 6PPC.

Chad, I have plenty of both Lapua and Norma brass. Thanks for the offer.

I had forgotten about the reamer situation. That is something to consider and I have no idea what he used.

BTW, I posted this on 6BR.com and those guys are lost.

Well most of those guys are BR geniuses, I've had great luck with info from those folks especially when I sat down to build my 6XC. Just make sure they understand the question and I'm sure they'll be able to help.

Dave, the cases you have now are they 6BR or something else that was formed?

I have some Lapua 6br cases.

I don't think most of them ever realized that I was interested in learning how to reform brass, not resize it.

One guy did and we PM'd back and forth.

Awesome. Just wanted to make sure. There's a lot that can be done in terms of forming cases, but it also comes with it's own set of problems. Sometimes you have to do it in steps, and use an intermediate die. If you go down in caliber a long ways you're probably either going to have to neck turn or neck ream or both. Necking up comes with it's own troubles like thin necks and splitting, or having to create a false shoulder for headspace... that are all kinds of in's/out's when case forming. Which ones you encounter just depends on what you're using to get to what.

I read your link on 220 Russian to 6PPC. It looks like a lot of steps. I'm still interested in building my own 6br's but it will have to wait until about January. Too much on my plate at this time.