Reloading
Here is a video of my brass conversion method
To start off the parent case is the 6.5x47 Lapua case. When forming the cases from the parent cases you will need to do the following.
Another question you may be asking is: since it is a 308 case head can i use 308 cases? The short answer is yes you can but the long answer is they are much harder to form and have less case capacity so all the data posted is not good for 308 brass. You can also use creedmoor cases case capacity is good with them but i have a loss rate of right at 10% when converting them. They also want to crease at the shoulder when forming and they are softer so they don't handle the pressure as well. In short the best case for longevity, ease of forming is the 6.5x47 lapua. It is what I designed the round to use any other case you have to work up and get your own data. If using any 308 brass i would drop at least 3 grains from my data and work up.
- Lube cases
- Pre-trim cases with reloadmizer jig and mini saw if wanted to save work on the trimmer
- Run cases through die with out the guts -- no expander or expander rod. set the shoulder on fresh brass to 1.305 with the 375 adapter from the hornady head space kit or 1.297 with the tool supplied with the whidden dies.
- expand with T26 expanding mandrel -- i added this step because the reamer was taking too much brass off the inside of the neck.
- Ream necks and trim to length 1.596-1.6 - i use a Forster lathe with the 257 neck reamer - I lube the reamer with my case lube every 3 or so cases it makes it cut easier.
- Now you expand to 7mm i use the e28 expanding mandrel in the Sinclair expander die but you can just put the guts back in the die and run the expander through
- Turn necks -- I use the 21st century lathe with the 30 deg cutter it cuts a perfect neck/shoulder union to aid in chambering, i use the T28 turning mandrel. The new hornady lathe also has an angled cutter and works good also. Any neck turn tool will work you just have to pay close attention to the neck shoulder union. You want to turn the necks to .0135 or under most lapua ends up around .012 when you get it cleaned up.
- Anneal
- Tumble lube off
- Chamfer/debur
Another question you may be asking is: since it is a 308 case head can i use 308 cases? The short answer is yes you can but the long answer is they are much harder to form and have less case capacity so all the data posted is not good for 308 brass. You can also use creedmoor cases case capacity is good with them but i have a loss rate of right at 10% when converting them. They also want to crease at the shoulder when forming and they are softer so they don't handle the pressure as well. In short the best case for longevity, ease of forming is the 6.5x47 lapua. It is what I designed the round to use any other case you have to work up and get your own data. If using any 308 brass i would drop at least 3 grains from my data and work up.
Converting 308 brass to 7mm VAR
By Keith Barker
Detailed example of my process of making 7VAR brass from 7.62 NATO
useing a .260 Rem die to pre-form the case before forming to 7VAR.
Steps:
- Anneal Brass -- flame at approx 1.6 inches up from base
- Form with 260 rem die
- Form with 7 VAR die with out expander
- Cut case to 1.65 inch +/- form with 7var die with t26 expander
- Ream necks with 257 reamer trim to 1.596-1.6
- Form with 7 VAR die with expander
- Turn necks to .0125-.0135
- Tumble clean
- Anneal
Powders
The Powders that are working for the Valkyrie are the following. These are not the only powders just the ones we have tested and know work.
130 grain to 168 grain bullets
100 grain to 130 grian bullets
130 grain to 168 grain bullets
- Leverevolution has the highest velocity to this point with these bullet weights
- CFE223 a close second
- Imr 8208 xbr
- Benchmark -- 140 class
100 grain to 130 grian bullets
- Imr 8208 xbr
- Benchmark
- H335
- AA2230
- xterminator
- N530
- Imr4895
Bullets
There are a lot of bullet choices for the Valkyrie. In general terms if you want to run at 2.3 or under the bullets will have to have a length 1.34 inches or shorter there are some exceptions. If you want to window a mag and run 2.34 inches you can get up to about 1.4 like the 150 nosler long range accubond and 180 berger they just barely fits at 2.35 oal and they are 1.398 inches and 1.52 long respectively. The 180 is not recommended for the AR15 bolt gun they can be made to work because they can be loaded longer.
In this chart it shows how the bullets compare in my rifle and recommended starting seating depth with jump to the lands.
In this chart it shows how the bullets compare in my rifle and recommended starting seating depth with jump to the lands.
