Author Topic: What do you do to the case stamp (338 Win Mag) when reforming? (Read 878 times)

persistentprogrammer · « **on:** February 22, 2008, 01:15:06 PM »

I'm getting ready to reform 338 Win Mag to 350 Rem Mag. What do you recommend doing to the stamp now that they will be 350 Rem Mag, but stamped 338 Win Mag?

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2008, 01:52:33 PM »

I just take a SHARPIE marker and color over the head stamp , that way i can tell at a glance that they are diffrent , kinda crude but it works .

stimpy

The Sodbuster · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2008, 03:02:47 PM »

Do you also shoot .338 Win Mag? If not, what difference does it make? Most of the .25-06 rounds I load use brass formed from .30-06. I don't own a .30-06 chambered rifle, so it doesn't matter to me what the headstamp reads.

wncchester · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2008, 01:47:54 PM »

If I understand the basis for your question, there is nothing we can do to the headstamp.

No offense intended but if you need to identify your cartridges by reading the headstamp you may need to reconsider the advisability of reforming brass at all.

B2crawler · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:48:38 AM »

Everytime I pick up a piece of brass it seems natural I turn it over and look at the head stamp even if I know what it is...ok maybe not a 22. lr.
I'll take it one step farther and just sell off all my guns. I'm not worthy.

corbanzo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:32:44 AM »

Don't worry about the stamp, worry about the brass. Before you go out and shoot it, make sure that the loads you have fit in the chamber correctly, you can also keep an extra piece of brass with 350MAG written on it, so you can double check them to make sure they are right.

If YOU know they are different, and keep it on your mind to make sure, you shouldn't have any problems. If anyone else is going to be using this ammo, make sure that ammo boxes are marked accordingly.

Kurt L · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:51:12 AM »

Like others say I would not worry about head stamp numbers.
even if you only store and label your ammo box for correct caliber etc
you should have no problems.
I mix all kinds of stuff and have no trouble to id mine apart.

I have 35 whelen made from 270 win,30-06 spring,and 35 whelen cases.
i have 30-06 spring made from 270win and 30-06 spring.
I have no trouble telling my 270 win loads from my 30-06 and 35 whelen
etc. I don't think you will have any problem your self.

skb2706 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:14:04 AM »

Quote from: wncchester on February 24, 2008, 01:47:54 PM

If I understand the basis for your question, there is nothing we can do to the headstamp.

No offense intended but if you need to identify your cartridges by reading the headstamp you may need to reconsider the advisability of reforming brass at all.

I'm sure glad you said it first, because i probably would not have been so eloquent. If you have trouble identifying the difference between the two, case forming is not your cup of tea.
You will never be able to mis-chamber a round mixed between the two, given their dimensions and other than simple sorting what would be the point.

jhalcott · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2008, 09:07:51 AM »

Depending on the FINAL case shape you MIGHT be able to load a smaller dia bullet into the larger dia bullet chamber, like the 308 into a 358 chamber. I KNOW you can load some 308 rounds into a .270 chamber with disastrous results if/when the trigger is pulled. I am like the other guys above.With ammo reformed from different headstamped cases. I keep them separate from the time they are formed till I crunch them when I no longer feel safe reloading them. They go into separate boxes from start to finish. I will reload a box of 50 at a time.Out of the box, thru the loading steps and back into the same box.

persistentprogrammer · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2008, 09:26:00 AM »

I was inquiring just to see what people have done, examples. If I had a 338 I would definitely not have the 350, in fact I may want to get rid of it. It's the most temperamental caliber I've ever loaded for, and Remington factory loads are junk as well as their brass for the 350. When I realized that I could use 338 brass and a forming die and use Norma brass, I was stoked.

My question was a global one, with concern for other shooters. Thanks to jhalcott, Kurt L, corbanzo, B2crawler, and stimpylu32, you gave good suggestions and I appreciated them. I hold back on what I'd like to say to the other folks, arrogance isn't the answer I was looking for, I was hoping for pertinent suggestions and experience.

wncchester · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2008, 02:58:47 AM »

"My question was a global one, with concern for other shooters. Thanks to jhalcott, Kurt L, corbanzo, B2crawler, and stimpylu32,..."

Huh? Oh yeah. The rest if us knew that, knew it wasn't for you and were only addressing the other shooters too.

("I'm getting ready to reform 338 Win Mag to 350 Rem Mag. What do you recommend doing to the stamp now that they will be 350 Rem Mag, but stamped 338 Win Mag?"

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 29, 2008, 10:42:42 AM »

I think there is a valid concern that the ammo may outlive you and end up in someone elses hands. Someone that may not be as knowledgeable or aware of the conversion. What if a box or your loads gets "lost" or left at the range and someone else picks them up. While a semi knowledgable shooter would not use them, many others would.

The only cases I have reformed are mil surp 7.62/308 to .243. those have not had a "caliber" designation on them and would likely cause the finder to take a closer look.

You could get a stamp set and X out the caliber designation.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #12 on:** February 29, 2008, 10:52:19 AM »

take a small punch and punch the 338 so it is not 338 any more . then ya know ! if it bothers you .

Tom W. · « **Reply #13 on:** February 29, 2008, 02:46:02 PM »

Get different colored plastic boxes to keep your different calibers separated. And keep them clearly labeled, both inside and out. I keep my .270 loads in blue boxes, 30/06 in red, 7mm Rem mag in brown...
I have a few '06 loads that were .270, .280, and 25-06 in a former life....

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #14 on:** March 01, 2008, 02:05:47 AM »

load ballistic tips with different color tips !

StrawHat · « **Reply #15 on:** March 01, 2008, 03:27:41 AM »

The reason Marlin made the belt on the 450 Marlin as wide as they did was to prevent it being chambered in a standard length belted chamber.

The 350 RM could fit in the 338 chamber. Not sure if it would "power swage" very easily to the correct caliber.

I had a similar problem with 45-70 rounds. I knew which were trapdoor loads and which were bombs. But a buddy grabbed my trapdoor and a box of Siamese loads!

My remedy was to sell the Siamese.

persistentprogrammer · « **Reply #16 on:** March 01, 2008, 06:40:05 AM »

Thanks for your input

I've been in Quality Assurance for almost 18 years and I couldn't count the times that something went wrong when it wasn't expected. When it comes to safety, take no chances.

As it turns out, I bought Norma 338 Win Mag brass and the stamp is very shallow, so I can easily buff it out and put my own mark on it.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 01, 2008, 11:27:25 AM »

Make sure you "buff" it out before reforming. even .004" or .005" head space (the distance between the shoulder and bolt face) could be a real problem. I personally do not worry about it. I have reformed cartridges like the .375 Winchester to 30-30; no mistaking that one, 223 Rem to 222 Rem and to 221 fire ball. There is enough difference in neck length or length that I can tell at a glance which is which. I mark ammo boxes with what is inside. I also load the same cartridge for different rifles, so I mark the out side of the box which rifle they are for to keep my cases separate for each rifle, even though they use the same cartridge. I neck size and have developed different loads for each rifle. I have two 221 Fire balls + a 221 spare barrel for a Savage, three 22 Hornets and three 223's. Head stamps do not mean that much to me.

jhalcott · « **Reply #18 on:** March 02, 2008, 05:25:59 PM »

Aside from "murphy's law", the only problem of having a MISS MARKED head stamp, is going to certain countries in Africa where ammunition MUST be in boxes marked with the same headstamp as the bullets. JUST when you think you've got some thing IDIOT proof, they bring out a whole new idiot.

wncchester · « **Reply #19 on:** March 03, 2008, 02:56:39 AM »

Jayhalcot, we can't exceed the capacities of a skilled or persistant idiot, can we!

Pollyticians writing gun/game laws, in any nation, are perhaps the most skilled and persistant idiots on the planet.