Converting 6.5x55mm swed to 7.5x54 french?

[RooftopKorean]

I have some brass for my MAS36 which are stamped 6.5x55mm Swedish which were obviously converted to 7.5x54mm french.

How do you convert 6.5x55mm swedish brass to make it work for 7.5x54mm french? Is there a tool and/or technique involved?

 

[kev74]

I've converted quite a bit.

Lube the cases well, especially the necks, then run them through the 7.5 sizing die. Then trim to length.

 

[RooftopKorean]

Oh, I didn't know it was that simple.

 

[RooftopKorean]

I've converted quite a bit.

Lube the cases well, especially the necks, then run them through the 7.5 sizing die. Then trim to length.

You converted all that brass you gave me?

 

[kev74]

You converted all that brass you gave me?

If its stamped 6.5, it was converted.

I think I mentioned when I gave it to you - look everything over bfore you use it.

There might be a few cases in there converted from berdan to boxer primers too.

 

[RooftopKorean]

Now that you mention it I do recall. If there are berdan primer pockets in some of the brass is it safe to use boxer primers or must they be modified prior?

 

[kev74]

Now that you mention it I do recall. If there are berdan primer pockets in some of the brass is it safe to use boxer primers or must they be modified prior?

If there are berdan primers, you won't be able to deprime them without drilling out the flash hole. The berdan primers are also a tiny bit bigger diameter.

If any look sketchy, toss 'em in the scrap pile. When I got the rifle, 7.5 French ammo and cases were impossible to find. I tried to use what ever I could get my hands on that would work. Now, most gun shows will have at least 6.5 Sweedish brass, if not 7.5 French ammo.

 

[meketrefe]

if it is fired anneal the necks a bit and will minimize the splits during sizing or there after.
Also there are resizing buttons that have a tad longer taper to assist with this type of operations.
for lube I use 2-4 percent canola oil in alcohol and sonic wash anyway after brass prepping/trimming.
just use caution as the french brass is designed to work at higher pressure than the swiss that is not by
much so if you stick to modest loads you will be fine.
It also depends on who makes the brass (hard vs soft, civilian vs. surplus, etc..) and actual case h2o
capacity that you can verify anyway.
If you want to pump up the loads for more speed there are other ways to make brass from 30-06
and the strongest and eaasiests would be the 284 winchester that will have to resize at the base about
6-8 thousands but only one step in the neck from 7mm to 30 bore.
The 284 is not cheap brass is one of the best and stronger cases ever developed even for being slightly
rebated on the rim.
One could also use 7.62x55 swiss rubin but this for the same type of loads of the 6.5 swiss not so hot
and with the caveat that the rim will have to be rebated with a tool or a mini lathe. Now the advantage
of that is that one could make a perfect fit for the actual bolt of the mass that is a bit larger than all the
others including the swiss.
The 30-06 is narrower at the base like the swiss but there are cases out there a tad over 2-4 thousands that
would be plenty. this will require cutting and more work but it is also plentiful.
I have not tried all those but based on my experience I think you could make a couple of those work
with the 284 being the strongest and pretty easy too.
If the gun can take it a quality 284 will.
Btw if you cannto find the 284 there is the more popular 6.5-284 in norma and lapua brands.

I hope this helps.

Have fun and be safe!