Author Topic: How to turn .243 brass into 7mm08 brass (Read 1156 times)

deerman12 · « **on:** September 02, 2005, 05:23:32 AM »

I have a bunch of .243 brass. I have heard you change .243 into 7mm08. Can one of guys please explain this to me in detail? I reload but I have never tried this. Thanks in advance.

Reed1911 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 02, 2005, 07:19:01 AM »

It should be a straight forward operation of running a lubed .243 into the 7/08 die. I could be mistaken, but I don;t believe there are any shoulder differences.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** September 02, 2005, 08:56:56 AM »

Here are the cartridge dimensions to compare...

http://www.again.net/~steve/jpg/cd243winchester.jpg

http://www.again.net/~steve/jpg/cd708remington.jpg

skb2706 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2005, 09:05:56 AM »

Be sure that the inside of the case neck is adequately lubed...I prefer Imperial for this kind of operation. Check to make sure your expander buttom for your 7-08 will start into the neck of a .243...once that is confirmed. Sized them up, check fit in your gun....the nominal distance from base of the case to the shoulder is the same on .243, .260, 7-08, .308, .358 Win.
I use .243 brass in my .260 all the time...the process is the same.

Lone Star · « **Reply #4 on:** September 02, 2005, 09:37:53 AM »

You may need to have a tapered expander plug going from 6mm to 7mm if you want to minimize neck damage. It may be easier to neck .308/7.62 down to 7mm; I neck down 7-08 or .308 for my .260 all the time. Regardless, a good lube - but not too much - will be essential.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #5 on:** September 03, 2005, 01:34:19 AM »

Its very straight forward. To be sure, I took the expander ball assembly out of the die, chucked it into a drill motor, and ground and polished a little more taper to the front of it. Then, as stated, I lubed the inside of the neck and had at it. Bingo! 7-08 brass. The dims are so similar that you can load your full house loads on the first go. No need for any fire forming as such.
I much prefer that to down sizing .308 brass.

John Traveler1 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2005, 11:08:30 AM »

Be sure you neck anneal those cases after you expeanded the necks!

I've necked up/down several thousands of cases in many calibers, and almost invariably with caliber change, the necks will crack on loaded ammunition because the work hardening and loaded bullet strains them.

It's easy to do. Stand the cases in a pan of water, exposing the last inch of the neck/shoulder. Using a propane torch, pass the flame on each case until it starts to discolour (turns straw, then blue), and tip the case into the water to quench. Naturally, you don't tip over primed cases.

HTH
John

beemanbeme · « **Reply #7 on:** September 04, 2005, 04:18:17 AM »

Let's see, I resized the brass sometime while I lived in Okla. I've lived in WV for 5 years and I threw out the last of the re-sized brass a couple of months ago. Because of loose primer pockets from top end loads.
I've never annealed a case in my life. If I had to, I'd just sell the .243 brass on Ebay and use the money to buy some dedicated 7-08 brass. 'Course if you like doing that sort of thing.....................

Slamfire · « **Reply #8 on:** September 04, 2005, 05:31:57 PM »

Run them through a .260 sizer, then the 7/08 sizer, less chance of getting stuck or splitting the case neck. Lube as advised above. :wink:

trotterlg · « **Reply #9 on:** September 05, 2005, 04:44:21 PM »

I turned a bunch of 7mm-08 into .243 just using a .243 die, it worked perfect, I bet it does the other way also. Larry

Steve P · « **Reply #10 on:** September 07, 2005, 06:04:14 PM »

I prefer to use 308 brass necked down to the 7-08, if 7-08 brass not available. Just my preference and how I use it.

Steve

Nobade · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2005, 03:07:50 AM »

I did a bunch of these this weekend. Exactly the same - took .243 to 7mm-08. Primed cases, loaded with 9.0gr. Bullseye powder, filled to the top with Cream 'o' Wheat, put a tuft of Kleenex on top to hold it together. Chamber them, pull trigger, BANG! Presto - perfectly formed 7mm-08 cases to exactly fit my chamber. Clean your barrel when you're done.

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #12 on:** September 08, 2005, 04:14:01 AM »

Is it really such a good idea to have a bunch of 7mm/08 brass headstamped .243win laying around especally if a person owns both rifles accompining those calibers?

longwinters · « **Reply #13 on:** September 08, 2005, 12:43:40 PM »

My buddy "Big Tom" had 2 similar caliber rifles. Both in 280 Rem. He wanted to use some 30-06 brass that he had so he used the regular Rem brass for one rifle and the silver Winchester brass for the other. Worked well for him. He also kept his brass in specific boxes to avoid any confusion. But Krochus is right. If he still had a 30-06 in the house bad things could happen even though in this case the 280 loads should not chamber in an 06.

Long

Slamfire · « **Reply #14 on:** September 08, 2005, 07:15:30 PM »

I can't see how one could chamber a 7/08 round in a .243 rifle. It would certainly make the closing stroke too difficult, if you could get it that far into the chamber.

Nobade · « **Reply #15 on:** September 09, 2005, 02:35:17 AM »

I think the point, at least for me, is that Lapua doesn't make .260 or 7mm-08 brass, but they do make .243. If I want to use Lapua cases in my 260 or 7mm-08, I have to fireform them from .243. As for getting them mixed up, PAY ATTENTION to what you're doing and don't do it. Keep them in seperately labeled ammo boxes and reload only one caliber at a time. Works for me!