Author Topic: Reforming 30-06 to 8MM (8X57) (Read 2262 times)

AWD265 · « **on:** June 21, 2012, 11:45:21 AM »

Please help.

I am trying to reform 30-06 brass to 8MM. (8X57)

I've done the usual as described in many forums but the shoulder on the reformed 30-06 case is higher than a normal 8MM case.

The reformed cartridge will chamber but I cannot close the bolt. I've taken 10 thou off the shell holder and even run the brass through the FL 8MM die without a shell holder to see if that would make a difference but no joy.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Norman Silva.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2012, 12:37:24 PM »

I start the process with a cut off die, that also sets the shoulder back.

Cheese

cwlongshot · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2012, 12:48:59 PM »

I have re formed hundreds of mil 30/06 cases into probably a dozen different cases. 8MM Mauser is one of them.

Is your sizer die screwed down tight to the shell holder?

The brass will rebound a bit if you have some spring in your press. A good HD/strong press is needed for re forming. I use a RCBS Ammo master. It has a 1 1/4" ram and capable of loading 50 BMG.

You can try running them tbru the sizer die again...

CW

AWD265 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2012, 02:33:08 PM »

Thanks gents for the prompt responses.

This has got me stumped. I am using a heavy duty Lee press. I anneal the brass first, lube and then put it through the 8MM die - cut down to 8MM length. The OAL of the brass is correct - just the shoulder is too high on the case.

Norman Silva.

sr sawyer · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2012, 03:24:29 PM »

Once had a similar problem with my 30 Herrett. The barrel would not close on the sized and trimmed case which is like your bolt not closing.

Not sure if it was the shell holder, die or chamber cut. What I did was take a few thousands at a time off the shell holder untill the barrel would close on the formed case and then dedicated that shell holder to the Herrett dies. Worked for me

Ken

Larry L · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2012, 03:37:44 PM »

What brand of brass and are you annealing?

AWD265 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2012, 05:36:58 PM »

Military and Federal - same result. Cases annealed.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2012, 07:10:56 PM »

AWD265

Are you lubing the inside of the case necks good when you size ? If not you may be pulling the shoulder back up slightly with the expander ball on the up stroke , you may need to run them back through the 8mm die again after you trim them to bump the shoulder back down .

Just an idea .

stimpy

AWD265 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2012, 04:03:29 AM »

Thanks Stimpy,

That makes sense.

I'll give it a try.

Regards,

Norman.

AWD265 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2012, 11:21:09 AM »

Stimpy,

I tried that but still no success. I even took the decap pin and rod out of the die.

Hope someone can come up with a fix.

Thanks anyway for your thoughts.

Regards,

Ashley.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2012, 12:42:58 PM »

Is your die set up to FL resize? So the die makes hard contact with the shell holder?

Have you tried running them thru a second time after forming?

CW

Sweetwater · « **Reply #11 on:** June 24, 2012, 01:00:42 PM »

Like others, I have resized 30-06 cases to many other cases. Only had your problem with one rifle. It had a custom chamber. Factory cases fit fine. I had to grind a bunch off the bottom of the sizer die, to let the shoulder portion come down further on the 30-06 case. Still leaves the sizer OK for standard cases. As noted, brass spring back is apparently causing your problem, so you need a little more latitude in your sizing. Hope this helps.
Jeff
NRA Life

AWD265 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2012, 05:03:11 PM »

The only thing left to check is that the 8MM die itself is OK. I'll do that next.

Thanks all for the input.

Regards,

Norman Silva.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 25, 2012, 12:36:36 AM »

Norman

Do you have a 308 Win. die ? You may try bumping the sholder back a touch with it .

Richard

AWD265 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2012, 02:24:21 AM »

Stimpy,

I'll give that a try.

Thanks,

Norman Silva.

swifty22 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 26, 2012, 01:15:21 PM »

AW- Really Dumb question. Is your rifle a 98 Mauser? If it is, simply put the reformed case in the magazine and see if it chambers.-Muddy

AWD265 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 27, 2012, 06:53:01 AM »

The reformed cartridge will chamber but I cannot close the bolt. I've taken 10 thou off the shell holder and even run the brass through the FL 8MM die without a shell holder to see if that would make a difference but no joy.

Really stumped.

swifty22 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 27, 2012, 11:42:01 AM »

AW. The reason I asked the question if your rifle is a 98 is that on a fair number of them the extractor WILL NOT snap over the rim of the case if it fed directly into the chamber and the bolt closed behind it (as a push feed action will). The case will "chamber" but the bolt will not close. One other thing to try is to take one of your full reformed cases and using a black magic market, color the case neck, all of the shoulder, the "pressure ring/case head" area and the base of the case, let it dry and then attempt to chamber. Where it is shiny is the hold up-Muddy

AWD265 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 29, 2012, 05:17:25 PM »

Thanks Swifty22, I'll give it a try tomorrow. Tried just about everything.

Maybe I'll just purchase 8MM brass.

Regards,

Norman Silva.

AWD265 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 29, 2012, 05:21:38 PM »

Swifty22 - I have an M48 - sorry, forgot to mention.

Norman Silva.

tnpaul12 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 30, 2012, 02:05:04 PM »

No offence fellows but why would anyone want to reform 06 to 8x57 when you can easly buy 8x57 brass. Maybe I am missing something.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #21 on:** June 30, 2012, 02:54:24 PM »

Remington brass for the 8mm currently sells for 55 bucks per 100. I still have 100's of 30.06 empties I have collected over the years. The cut off die paid for itself in minutes.

Cheese

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 01, 2012, 05:13:14 AM »

Quote from: tnpaul12 on June 30, 2012, 02:05:04 PM

No offence fellows but why would anyone want to reform 06 to 8x57 when you can easly buy 8x57 brass. Maybe I am missing something.

I re-form lots of case's to other things , right now I'm in the process of making 222 Rem from 223 brass , 223 & 30/06 brass can be found cheaply while some of the others are quite costly . I've also used 30/06 to make 25/06 , 270 as well as 308 and 243 case's .

stimpy

cwlongshot · « **Reply #23 on:** July 01, 2012, 07:15:05 AM »

Quote from: stimpylu32 on July 01, 2012, 05:13:14 AM

Quote from: tnpaul12 on June 30, 2012, 02:05:04 PM
No offence fellows but why would anyone want to reform 06 to 8x57 when you can easly buy 8x57 brass. Maybe I am missing something.

I re-form lots of case's to other things , right now I'm in the process of making 222 Rem from 223 brass , 223 & 30/06 brass can be found cheaply while some of the others are quite costly . I've also used 30/06 to make 25/06 , 270 as well as 308 and 243 case's .

stimpy

Same story here, only I use lake City brass to make 8x57, 6.5x63, 35 Whelen & 375 Whelens. (my friends rifle) then on the H&H magnum case we make 358 Norma and 350 Rem mag.

Lube the case body, I like mica in the neck and run it thru the die. Grind to length with A power trimmer and throw in the tumbler. It's just that easy.

I made 100 8mm's just this AM thinking about this thread...

CW

tnpaul12 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 01, 2012, 11:01:46 AM »

I still don't see it , I am retired and yall must have more time on your hands than I do. I got a 5 gal. bucked full of 06 I have picked up. If I was hard up for mony to buy the 8x57 I would sell it instead of trying to make em. They are just to easy to come by.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #25 on:** July 01, 2012, 12:04:13 PM »

Zero dollars as compared to 55 dollars., its as simple as that.

swifty22 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 01, 2012, 12:11:59 PM »

CWlonshot, Good to hear from a 375/06 guy. Mine is an ackley imp version on a Sav. 110. I think we should start a small thread and find out about ours/others-Swifty

ratdog · « **Reply #27 on:** July 04, 2012, 09:57:20 PM »

i have a 7mm mauser that i have made brass from 30-06 only problem i found was the case neck got thicker same thing happened when using 308 cases reamed to right size no problems or cut necks to right diameter.7mm cases where hard to find have shot thousands of resized 30-06.did same with 270's back in the 70's.

swifty22 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:58:38 AM »

Norman, How is it going with your case forming?-Muddy

Ireload2 · « **Reply #29 on:** July 13, 2012, 12:17:50 PM »

Norman,
If this is a new process for you make sure your die is good.
I have had an old die that gave the opposite problem. It had way excess head space.
Also make sure the case is trimmed to the correct length.

You might consider using only arsenal cases with no caliber nomenclature so someone does not stuff them into a .30-06 later.