5.6x57RWS reload data

[freddygotarf]

Does anyone have some reloading data for a 5.6x57RWS that they could share?
I just picked up a nice Krico M700 In this interesting calibre.

 

[Muir]

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Common%20European%20Cartridges.pdf

Look here.~Muir

 

[VIGILAIRE]

Congrats! I have a Krico stutzen in 5.6x57 also, managed to get a couple of hundred RWS factory loads which should see me out. My pal who loads for his maintains it needs to be loaded hot for best results.

 

[freddygotarf]

I'm still looking for ammo or brass for it. Not very common on this side of the pond.

 

[Heym SR20]

Have a look at the Hornady manual. I think that has 5.6x57 data. Can you form brass from 7x57?

 

[freddygotarf]

I only have an older Hornady manual,not sure what edition. There is nothing in the one I have.
I printed out the info Muir posted, Thanks. I'm not sure what case would work the best, perhaps 257Roberts would be the closest in size.

Have a look at the Hornady manual. I think that has 5.6x57 data. Can you form brass from 7x57?

 

[takbok]

They're not cheap (price is for 20) but here's a reliable source for brass:

https://www.arms24.com/RWS+56+x+57.html

 

[Heym SR20]

I only have an older Hornady manual,not sure what edition. There is nothing in the one I have.
I printed out the info Muir posted, Thanks. I'm not sure what case would work the best, perhaps 257Roberts would be the closest in size.

I have the latest eBook edition and its in there. The 257 Roberts is based on the 7x57 so I suppose it might work - need to check shoulder lengths etc. I think the 257 Roberts ahs been shortened as well as necked down.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/5-6x57.htm

 

[VIGILAIRE]

I'm not sure but I seem to remember that it is not just a case of necking down as the neck on the 5.6 is quite thick. The reason being it makes it possible to fit a sub calibre insert in the chamber for shooting .22LR or .22WMR. I think these are made by Lothar Walther. I once saw some 5.6x57 made from cut down .270 Win cases that had thick enough necks to chamber correctly and not give 'sooty' necks upon firing which by the way you also get with factory cases if they are not loaded to factory power.

 

[Muir]

From "The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions" Donnelly/Towsley

5.6x57 RWS
Make from 270.
Anneal.
FL resize.
Trim to length.
Chamfer.

Man! Don't you guys get any good books over there??!?? ~Muir

 

[freddygotarf]

I had a member on another forum mention that 270Win brass would work. Nope, I don't have any good books like that.
That's why its great with these forum's. If 270 win works would it not be better with 25-06 as it is smaller already?

 

[Muir]

If it would work better, this guy would have suggested it. I can't give you a reason though.~Muir

 

[VIGILAIRE]

Muir is right, it has to be .270 like the ones I've seen. Walther also make an adapter in .22 Hornet as well as .22LR and .22 WMR. Chris.

 

[takbok]

If it would work better, this guy would have suggested it. I can't give you a reason though.~Muir

It might be that the .270 brass will give the required neck thickness, whereas it would be less with .25-06 brass.

 

[Heym SR20]

From "The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions" Donnelly/Towsley

5.6x57 RWS
Make from 270.
Anneal.
FL resize.
Trim to length.
Chamfer.

Man! Don't you guys get any good books over there??!?? ~Muir

Nope, but given that your new President already owns quite large swathes of the UK (to keep golfers out of the way of the rest of mankind - which is probably a good thing)and that his new best friend is Mr Farage, we might just become the 52nd state and that will improve the book availability.

 

[freddygotarf]

thanks for all the input guys. Its been very helpful. Do I need a special die to form the brass?

 

[Sinistral]

From "The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions" Donnelly/Towsley

5.6x57 RWS
Make from 270.
Anneal.
FL resize.
Trim to length.
Chamfer.

Man! Don't you guys get any good books over there??!?? ~Muir

I think our American cousins sometimes forget how limited the shooting scene is in the UK, as we’re in the dark ages by comparison. I do have a copy of the latest 2011 edition Donnelly & Donnelly manual, but that’s only because of a specialist interest as an ECRA member, hand-loader and ammunition geek with a S5 collectors permit. While this book is available from Amazon it’s unlikely to be of any real use to anyone but folk like me.
Put plainly, that situation exists because nobody here can wander into a gunshop as you can Freddy, pick up a rifle in any chambering they fancy & walk back out the door with it. The burden of licensing and the lack of opportunity offers us choices which can be counted on a hand of amputated fingers. That’s why there are only half a dozen standard calibres in use, and the environment continues to be deeply discouraging.

If I can add some tech stuff from the RWS ammunition I have in 5.6x57 and 5.6x57R, the standard loading with the 74gr CP is 39.0 grs of what looks to me like Rottweil R907. The cases are unusually heavy & specially drawn with a thick neck section for .22LR/WMR adaptors which has already been mentioned. In fact the smaller cases weigh the same as the larger .300WM & .375 H&H, and the brass is as stout & hard as a harlots’ heart.

There is a visible step up to the outside neck diameter of .280” (as the .25 Remington) so it’s a fair bet that the correct dies will be configured accordingly. They won’t resize the thinner necks of a similar size case down to give enough grip on .22 calibre bullets. Even with sufficient neck tension, if the resulting neck section is too loose a fit in the chamber it will be unsupported during firing so could split lengthways. The only way in theory is to use a larger case of the default .30-06 type where the shoulder wall section is thick enough to form the 5.6x57 neck section. The .270 has the longest shoulder/neck length area, and the coincidence of the shoulder/neck L2 junction might be a factor in the conversion, but not sure about this.

The brass walls taper by design so either way the result won’t be parallel or uniform, and there’s a bit more trimming to do with the .270. I have no idea whether this works. Thickening neck walls isn’t a typical problem as it’s more common to have things the other way around. Personally, I would try to get some proper RWS ammo or cases first as it’s not an easy conversion.

There are no form dies I know of, and standard CH4D 2-die sets can be ordered from below although not cheap. If you let me know when you have these there is loading data & a few relevant tips in the Hornady Handbook 3rd Ed. (1983) I can PM you.

https://www.ch4d.com/products/dies/caliber-list?filter-col=caliber&filter=5.6x57

 

[freddygotarf]

I think our American cousins sometimes forget how limited the shooting scene is in the UK, as we’re in the dark ages by comparison.
Put plainly, that situation exists because nobody here can wander into a gunshop as you can Freddy, pick up a rifle in any chambering they fancy & walk back out the door with it. The burden of licensing and the lack of opportunity offers us choices which can be counted on a hand of amputated fingers. /QUOTE]

Well now I'm your Canadian cousin Yes, we are fortunate to have really no limit on how many guns we buy as long as you have a gun license.
But it do suck when you pick up that one rifle that there is no ammo for and your itching to try it out. There is a few gunshows coming up so I'm sure that I will find something eventually.
One option is to buy brass out of Germany but shipping and export permit was rather expensive.

 

[freddygotarf]

Thanks to amazon I have a good book coming now!
Also found dies on ebay. A little bit of progress anyway.

From "The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions" Donnelly/Towsley

5.6x57 RWS
Make from 270.
Anneal.
FL resize.
Trim to length.
Chamfer.

Man! Don't you guys get any good books over there??!?? ~Muir

 

[freddygotarf]

For those that are interested. Got my dies and a got my book from amazon. very interesting reading for sure.
Annealed some 270Win brass and resized. trimmed to length and it looked good.

How ever this does not work. Brass is to thin at neck to hold a bullet. Head stamp on brass was Hornady,R-P and FC.
Perhaps a Lapua would work, It usually has a little thicker brass. Found a dealer with permits to export from USA so there is some proper RWS brass coming.