Author Topic: Converting 25-06 to 25-06 Improved (Read 439 times)

Dusty Miller · « **on:** July 02, 2004, 09:38:43 AM »

If I have some 25-06 brass, what equipment do I need to convert it to 25-06 Improved and what are the steps?

BruceP · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2004, 04:25:02 PM »

You first need a properly chambered rifle. One that will give a "crush" fit on a standard 25/06. Then you just need the proper powder, bullets, and primers. Prime and load the cases with a charge of powder a couple of grains or so short of a max load for the standard 25/06. Go to the range. Load rifle. Pull trigger and let physics do the rest. Its really that simple.
Oh! If the brass has been fired more than once you should probably buy new brass first. It will make for better case life.
BruceP

The Shrink · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2004, 03:07:36 AM »

Dusty

Ditto to what Bruce P said. Let me add that if you have cases that have been used a couple of times it's advisable to anneal the neck and shoulder area before fire forming them.

Wayne the Shrink

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2004, 09:37:53 AM »

A "crush fit" I take it is just a VERY tight standard 25-06 chamber? I thought the "improved" version had a steeper shoulder angle and a straighter case wall. I'm having trouble seeing how the "crush fit" is going to make an "improved" case.

RayO · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2004, 12:30:44 PM »

You cannot fireform an improved case in a standard chamber.Like BruceP stated,you need a rifle chambered correctly in the improved version to fireform.When done properly,an improved chamber is .004 shorter than the standared chambering thus insuring the "crushed fit".When converting to improved it's imperitive that the barrel be set back to achieve this.This is the way Mr. Ackley design it.When I rechamber to an Ackley,I set the barrel back a half a turn so as to put the sight screw holes,lettering on bottom and also insuring a completely new chamber.

BruceP · « **Reply #5 on:** July 06, 2004, 02:58:10 PM »

Dusty, sorry to just get back in on this. I have been out of town for a few days. You are correct in that the AI's have a steeper shoulder angle but like Ray said the chamber is just a bit shorter. The reason is to hold the case head solidly against the bolt face while the cartridge is fired and the case is being reformed so the case does not stretch (in the wrong place) and cause head separation.

Wayne, I did not think of annealing brass fired two or three times. That is not something I have gotten into yet.
BruceP

The Shrink · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2004, 01:15:57 AM »

Bruce

My experience is in reforming 30-06 brass to 8mm-06, and I've always done it in the die rather than fireforming it cause the bullet would just bounce down the barrel.

If I do not anneal the cases are very difficult to reform and I lose more than a few. If I anneal I lose none and have no more effort than full length sizing.

I assume that the same forces are at work in fireforming, so I assume that those annealed will be less likely to split or deform at the sholder. I really can't say that I know this.

Wayne