25-06 Brass from 30-06

[86alaskan]

So, I usually use Rem 25-06 brass for my rifle. The current batch of 60 or so has been through the ringer and I am losing more and more each round to over working. I would like to start a new batch but can't find Rem brass for that to save myself. I do have a large amount of once fired 30-06 brass that I could form down and neck turn. Can you go straight down from 30-06 to 25-06 or would I need to step it down say 30-270-25?

 

[MQ1]

I have taken Lake City from 30-06 right to 25-06 with good lube with no problems. I prefer to leave a bit of a false shoulder and anneal it after my first fireform.

MQ1

 

[Witchhunter]

You can do it, but your necks are going to get thick on you if you don't turn em. I size, then load and fire form first, then size, trim and turn.

 

[CatShooter]

So, I usually use Rem 25-06 brass for my rifle. The current batch of 60 or so has been through the ringer and I am losing more and more each round to over working. I would like to start a new batch but can't find Rem brass for that to save myself. I do have a large amount of once fired 30-06 brass that I could form down and neck turn. Can you go straight down from 30-06 to 25-06 or would I need to step it down say 30-270-25?

If you are losing cases, you might want to start annealing when you make new cases - anneal every 2 to 4 firings and they will last forever.

 

[mshelton]

You can but if I remember correctly it ends up a little on the short side, the best I've found to use is 270 since it's longer than 30-06. I have a 25-06ai and that's what I use.

 

[expiper]

OP...most SAMMI necks are .290",,,and most 06 brass sized down to 25 cal are around .287" loaded,,,that is perfect,,,,the way a 25-06 was meant to be,,,,of course if your neck dia. is smaller then you need to turn them to fit,,,,there is no need to complicate things,,,,use lots of lube and try one with your dies,,,it depends a lot on how smooth/ruff your die neck is ,,,,there is no harm in using an intermediate cal to do it in two steps,,,I am amazed that folks cant take 06 brass and make 06 AI wilcats out of them,,,,, Roger

 

[86alaskan]

ok thanks for the tips, I ran 10 30's through the FL die tonight and it wasn't too hard. I did notice though that the 25 neck is shorter and farther up on the 30 neck when formed. this leaves me with the shoulder/neck junction from the 30 about midway down the shoulder on the reformed 25 brass. is this extra ridge going to cause me problems? It trimmed up fine and I ran a few through the neck turner to uniform it to the same OD of my normal rem 2506 brass. I usually run my 2506 brass through the neck turner for a .001 cleanup. these 3006 reformed necks def cut more but gave me a nice clean uniform finish. also, is turning the necks before fireforming a waste of time or can I just run them across the trimmer again after firing?

 

[CatShooter]

I did notice though that the 25 neck is shorter and farther up on the 30 neck when formed. this leaves me with the shoulder/neck junction from the 30 about midway down the shoulder on the reformed 25 brass. is this extra ridge going to cause me problems?

No, it'll blow out when the cases are fired.

 

[dedogs]

86, I have about 30 or 40 pieces of unfired 25-06 brass and probably the same once fired Nickle cases that I will send you for free if you are interested. I'm tired of people not being able to get the components they need and I ain't gonna use them any way. PM me if you are interested. dedogs

 

[86alaskan]

So, if that splits out it'll cut around the circ of the shoulder at that groove? Are they even worth trying? Please excuse my stupidity, but it seems a lot of people make 2506 from the larger cousins and I've yet to come across this problem???

 

[CatShooter]

So, if that splits out it'll cut around the circ of the shoulder at that groove? Are they even worth trying? Please excuse my stupidity, but it seems a lot of people make 2506 from the larger cousins and I've yet to come across this problem???

Your question does not make sense... what does, "So, if that splits out it'll cut around the circ of the shoulder at that groove?" mean??

 

[86alaskan]

I wish I could put up a picture, the ring I'm talking about is 3-4mm down the shoulder from the neck junction. I really am not sure where on the original brass the ring originates, but I think it's the old neck junction getting pushed down into the shoulder of the reformed brass.

 

[CatShooter]

I wish I could put up a picture, the ring I'm talking about is 3-4mm down the shoulder from the neck junction. I really am not sure where on the original brass the ring originates, but I think it's the old neck junction getting pushed down into the shoulder of the reformed brass.

That is the old neck - when the cases are fired, that will flatten out and be fine.

It is normal - anneal the cases before firing if you can.. but if you can't, then anneal them afterwards.

 

[86alaskan]

ok cool, thanks catshooter. I'm going to load them midway with IMR4350 under a 117 SST. I've got a few lying around and I don't want to burn up my 115 bergers.

 

[DanConzo]

Alaskan--A lot of good advice here. You can also use the 270 Win brass and do a little more trimming.

 

[expiper]

OP,,,I hope your saw the deal of the century in reply #8,,,,dedogs is a gentleman,,,,Roger

 

[Brians356]

I wish I could put up a picture, the ring I'm talking about is 3-4mm down the shoulder from the neck junction. I really am not sure where on the original brass the ring originates, but I think it's the old neck junction getting pushed down into the shoulder of the reformed brass.

That visible ring should not be a problem - as CatShooter said it should blow out, if it is even anything more than a discoloration. Incidentally, while not necessary many folks prefer to fireform reformed brass "bullet-less" to their chamber, using (optional) inert filler and a small amount of pistol/shotgun powder and a pistol primer (see other threads on fireforming)

The neck being shorter than regular 25-06 would bother the hell out of me - I like my necks a long as I can get them, but if you are shooting long bullets you may never miss the lost neck length.

 

[86alaskan]

Yeah, I use the Lee trim tools with the standard sized steel rod to trim, that way I get everything a consistent length. All of the reformed brass was cutting at least a few curls off the neck. So they will all be 25-06 length proper. I know about the "blank" fireforming, but have the old bullets anyway and don't want to waste my priceless pistol powder when I have pounds of IMR 4350 that I don't use in very many guns anymore. And for dedogs, I can' say enough good things about him and the helpfulness of the members on this forum, thanks guys!

 

[CatShooter]

"And for dedogs, I can' say enough good things about him... "

+5

 

[Brians356]

FWIW:

Ken Howell states running only 270 Win brass through a standard 25-06 full-length size die.

For 280 Rem and 30-06 brass he stipulates applying the appropriate RCBS form die, after which I believe a pass through a 25-06 size die is still required.