Making 25-06 Cases

[D.B. Cooper]

Is it possible to make a 25-06 case from a 30-06 case...at home? What happens if you run a 30-06 case through a FL sizing die for 25-06? Does is downsize the neck or does it just mangle it? (Seems to me there will be extra brass to deal with at a minimum.)

Is it at all possible to do this at home? How and what tooling would I need?

Guy I hunted with last year has a 25-06 rifle, new to him, and no ammo for it. Brass is, of course, out of stock.

 

[FROGO207]

You can do it by sizing with a 25-06 die. I would aneal the neck first though. Also the neck might need turning if it ends up too thick. Probably a trim as well. I do not reload 25-06 so have not actually done this. Also 270 would be a closer caliber to neck and trim IMO.

 

[Stevenvalleyky]

Ive done it, works fine. As said, anneal first, size in 25-06 full length sizer and then trim to length. Could need neck reaming or the outside turned in a tight chamber but no problem for me with a rem 700 cdl. I didnt do but about 20 of them until I had some proper stamped 25-06 cases but it worked fine.

 

[rg1]

I've read that some size the 30-06 case with a .270 die first then use a 25-06 to size the final sizing. I have sized .270 cases down to 25-06 and also 30-06 with a 25-06 die. Just checkk neck thickness after sizing.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I'll have to do some reading up on the annealing process. I'm aware of it, but I've never felt any need to do it.

If the mouth wall thickness comes out too thick, what is the proper/safe way to reduce that? I assume it is to remove material from inside the case mouth for proper projectile fit, or is to remove material from the exterior of the case for proper fit in the chamber?

 

[DocRock]

Annealing will be be important, as you will be working the neck hard. Running 30-06 through the 270 die as an intermediary stage while perhaps not strictly necessary is advisable and may diminish the need for neck turning. That is likely the only issue. You may end up with thick necks that need a bit of turning/reaming.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Next question...regarding cases... are commercial cases or military surplus cases better suited for this process? I have some PPU and Korean milsurp (essentially PMC) to choose from.

 

[DocRock]

Next question...regarding cases... are commercial cases or military surplus cases better suited for this process? I have some PPU and Korean milsurp (essentially PMC) to choose from.

The only consideration I envisage is that milsurp may be thicker and therefore more likely require neck-turning/ reaming.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I did this going from 308 to 260.
I had to buy a neck turning tool. It was a win though because the end result was very uniform brass.
You can anneal buy chucking a socket into a drill and hiding in a dark room with a propane torch.

 

[FROGO207]

Both of your choices have thickish necks any way so yeah turning the necks is most likely going to have to happen when reducing them that much. finding the stuff to turn the necks will be the fun part. The things we have to do these days!

 

[AR. Hillbilly]

I’ve tried it and had a little luck but ruined a few. I didn’t have any 270 dies to try that with.
I have resized 270 to 25-06 with much success.

 

[HowardC]

I set up a set of dies specifically to make cases for my 2506 AI. Found some at the gun show early on. I got one std 270 die to neck down 30-06 cases to 270, then a std 2506 die to finish necking down to 257. I am going for a too-long throated Ackley chamber, so I leave a noted 'second' shoulder to support the case neck in the chamber for fireforming. It allows for a 'stiff' chambering on the fireforming chambering. Keep your bolt lugs well greased. Experiment with your specific chamber to ensure you create proper headspace.

Going all the way in one step resulted in some collapsed necks, and way more work. Obviously, generous lube is requisite. 270 cases will also work, but you'll have to trim off 0.050 to fit them in the chamber.

I haven't made more than a couple hundred, as I don't use COW, and fireforming takes bbl life like other rounds. My original box is on the 7th loading, notwithstanding initial case stretch, and I have not annealed them.

FWIW, -West out