Got a few questions about necking down brass.

[CarJunkieLS1]

I've got several rifle calibers that I reload for. .270,.30-06,.243,7mm-08, and my brothers .25-06.

I haven't had any problems finding accurate loads in most of these calibers, but I've had a problem finding .25-06 brass. I have way more .270 brass than I'll ever need so I experimented and ran 5 once fired .270 brass through the .25-06 die. I've never necked up or down brass before.

Everything went well and good and all I can tell is that the case length is really long. I trim them to length deburr/chamfer and go right?

Can I just use the same load for actual .25-06 brass with the necked down brass? Given bullet powder and primer haven't changed?

 

[interlock]

You will need to work your load up again. There will be neck tension differences and the bass will be a different thickness. But so long as you work it up properly it will be ok.

 

[plmitch]

No problem as long as you are using proven data loads. Sometimes depending on brass used it might be reduce by .5-1gr for military brass.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Thanks guys that reassures me. I have another question. How could neck tension change if I trim all the brass to the same case length and seat the bullet to the same cartridge length?

I do understand the difference with internal capacities of brass changing and its effects though.

 

[interlock]

Neck tension can increase as you make the neck a smaller diameter it gets thicker. The brass has to go somewhere!

 

[LeonCarr]

Trimming the cases to the "trim to" length will also avoid possible pressure problems from too long a case, which can happen when necking up or necking down cases.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[steve4102]

Find a way to mark/identify your 270 brass converted to 25-06. Reading headstamps is no longer an option. Getting the 25-06/270 ammo mixed up with 270 ammo or verse-visa could cause some major headaches.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Thanks I think I can make this work...I will trim them to "trim to" length and I shouldn't have issues. I measured neck thickness before and after I converted them and it measured the same. The case length got longer by alot. All 5 pieces grew by .040-.050 ths. They brass did go somewhere it went up.

All the .25 caliber related stuff is kept in completely desperate area than other stuff. Once I convert the brass over to .25-06 I'll mark all the containers and brass as such.

Thanks I'm no expert when it comes to reloading...guess I know enough to get myself in trouble lol

 

[steve4102]

You should also find a way to mark the loaded ammo. Once it leaves your "Marked" container, that's when the issues may arise.

 

[interlock]

Excellent if the brass stays the same thickness. Load away. I have loaded many many 7mm 08 from .308.win and 270 from 3006.

 

[ironworkerwill]

It's a good idea to turn the necks to the thickness of the .25-06 factory brass. If the brass is any thicker it may shoot ok but you'll not be getting a "clean release" of the bullet from the mouth. Your accuracy may suffer by some degree. Often, no turning is needed when going to a larger from a smaller bore.

 

[Jcinnb]

I get a jot of 270 range brass. I put it in the 25-06 trim die, inexpensive, Lee I think. I Dremel off the excess length...I have used several attachments. All work fine. I then clean, Fl size, run them through the Sinclair trimmer with all the rest, and off they go. So far they shoot, in my quarter bore just fine.

 

[gamestalker]

I do it all the time with 30-06 brass. I have lots of 06 brass, but not enough .270. Been doing it for many moons and haven't had any issues. Just make sure you trim them to spec after you've resized them.

You will likely notice some increase in neck tension when going from a larger mouth to a smaller one, but it shouldn't cause you any problems between those two.

GS