Forming 6br brass from .308?

[hoz53]

Has anyone formed BR brass from 308(7.62) cases. If so could you explain the steps you did it in, dies used ect. I realize primer size is usually different. Thanks

 

[dcali]

Just curious, but why would you want to?

 

[hoz53]

Just cause I like to mess around with stuff like this. Mabie I need to get a life

 

[wapiti25]

I made 7mm BR from 308 in the early 80's. I first annealed, then necked down to almost 30, then 30, annealed again necked to 7mm but shoulder was 20*, then to 7mm with 30*. The dies were all home made and I did bore the necks while in a die. Way too much work to do it again. This was before any brass could be bought.

 

[fguffey]

Just cause I like to mess around with stuff like this. Mabie I need to get a life

It is possible someone would think the 243 W case would be a better choice. I do not have a die for forming a 308 W case to the 6MM bench rest case. My forming dies are short dies. The 6MM BR is .484" +/- a few shorter from the shoulder to the case head than the 308 W. I would purchase short forming die or make one. And then there is the thickness of the neck, the neck will be formed from the shoulder and case body of the 308 W case meaning it will be thicker.

F. Guffey

Forming goes smother when the case is necked down is stages like going from 308W to 7MM to 243 W. Do not be surprised if the neck is almost closed off in the process.

 

[fguffey]

http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/411652/rcbs-case-forming-die-6mm-br-bench-rest

http://www.rcbs.com/RCBS/media/RCBSMedia/PDFs/Parts/2014_SPECIAL_ORDER.pdf

Page 8: 58077, 58078 two very expensive choices.

F. Guffey

 

[dmoran]

When forming a larger size case down to a smaller size case to the extent needed from 308 to 6BR, can make for major inconsistencies and hurdles to over come. If just for kicks, or run of the mill accuracy, it can work out okay in the end. But for raw accuracy and/or competition type accuracy, there can be major hurdles to work out.
As for what type hurdles: inconsistent capacities, variation in wall thickness' (that don't adhere from cycle to cycle consistently), variation in neck walls, segregation a must, etc., etc., etc.

Forming up/out (smaller to bigger) is typically a much better way.... IME
Donovan

 

[bozo699]

Has anyone formed BR brass from 308(7.62) cases. If so could you explain the steps you did it in, dies used ect. I realize primer size is usually different. Thanks

.308 Lapua Palma brass has small primers but I agree with Donovan,.......lots of pending and upcoming issues with doing this.
Wayne

 

[mr45man]

Buy a box of Lapua and spend the time saved with your kids/grandkids

 

[Shynloco]

Mabie I need to get a life

+1 - (No offense meant)

 

[spclark]

I've made superb 6XC cases out of Lapua's Palma 308 brass since about 2010. It's a lot of work but not particularly hard once you get the procedure nailed down. In side-by-side testing against Norma's factory product for me they shoot virtually the same.

Payoff is small primer brass lasts two to three times longer when primer pocket stretch is #1 criteria.

Were I looking to 're-invent the wheel' for 6BR I'd probably go with 6.5x47 so as not to waste so much time cutting off brass.

Case web may not be as thick as the Palma brass too which could buy you some additional case capacity.

 

[hoz53]

I've made superb 6XC cases out of Lapua's Palma 308 brass since about 2010. It's a lot of work but not particularly hard once you get the procedure nailed down. In side-by-side testing against Norma's factory product for me they shoot virtually the same.

Payoff is small primer brass lasts two to three times longer when primer pocket stretch is #1 criteria.

Were I looking to 're-invent the wheel' for 6BR I'd probably go with 6.5x47 so as not to waste so much time cutting off brass.

Case web may not be as thick as the Palma brass too which could buy you some additional case capacity.

Wow Thanks to all you very knowledgeable guys taking the time to answer my post. I'd like to do this some day but I do have a quite a bit going on now and doing this isn't at top of list, I'm just trying to get an idea what it would take. You guys have helped me with that.

 

[Joe Wade]

You will need a die with bushings like this one. Looks to be a 308 to 6BR case forming.
I copied this photo from this web forum, maybe whom ever made it will reply.
You might search this site for "forming dies" or "shoulder set back die" to find the information you need.
Good luck

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

Interesting... I did this myself when the 308BR brass was first offered by Remington. Somewhere in the reloading room I still have five or six boxes. It wasn't too bad making 25 BR brass, but I was sure happy a year or two later when they started offering the 6 and 7 BB cases.

 

[spclark]

Interesting... I did this myself when the 308BR brass was first offered by Remington.

I fell upon some of that a couple years back. It's much thinner-walled than Lapua's Palma brass, originally intended for just this purpose: case-forming.

Oddly when I made some into 6XC it didn't shoot anywhere as good. Never did figure out why as I was both dissapointed as well as quite aware if it DID shoot better chances of finding any quantity was virtually non-existant.

I used up what I'd not opened yet earlier this year for forming 284INCH cases. Shoulder blown forward 3.5mm, necked down to 7mm. Works great but again supply is so sparse it's just more practical to use what I can obtain, namely that Palma brass again.

 

[Mozella]

Did Lapua go out of business?

 

[spclark]

Did Lapua go out of business?

I was referring to the Remington 308BR brass being virtually non-existent at this date.

Thankfully Lapua's products are still usually abundant.

 

[Webster]

Has anyone formed BR brass from 308(7.62) cases. If so could you explain the steps you did it in, dies used ect. I realize primer size is usually different. Thanks

I just bought 200 Lapua 6BR cases from Cabelas at the 2016 Super Shoot $75/100. I may never need the new cases. I bought 200 cases 6 years ago and I am still shooting them without problems. A lot less than all the dies and gadgets you need to form to another caliber.

You would probably need a few annealing steps when forming. Besides Lapua is the best brass. Spend your time on something else. The case gets harder and thicker as you get farther from the neck. How would you accurately remove a lot of length from the 308 case? What tool could you use? I wouldn’t think you could form the large body diameter to neck diameter. The extra metal should end up in a collapsed mess of metal. Spend your time shooting or hunting. Build an annealing machine for fun.

 

[fguffey]

What tool could you use? I wouldn’t think you could form the large body diameter to neck diameter. The extra metal should end up in a collapsed mess of metal.

I was asked to form 440 belted magnum cases to wildcat magnum cases, if it was easy and if anyone could do it they would not have asked me to get involved. Before I said yes I had to determine if it was possible.

I have collapsed cases into a mess of metal for a different reason. I turned a few into cases into what looked like cases with bellows or for the lack of a better description; cases that looked like accordions. the fact the cases did not collapse into a heap of metal told me something about the characteristics of the case.

F. Guffey

 

[Mozella]

I was referring to the Remington 308BR brass being virtually non-existent at this date.

Thankfully Lapua's products are still usually abundant.

That's what I thought. The OP was asking about 6mm BR, or at least that's what I thought he was interested in. I shoot that caliber and I buy them from whoever has the best price on Lapua brass. Making them makes no sense to me. You can shoot them right out of the box, or dress them up a little bit like most competitive shooters do, but it's WAY easier than making them out of some other case and not too expensive either.

Of course, if Lapua decides to go out of business, then I guess you do what you gotta' do.