Making your own brass

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Tlewis81

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Have tons of 270 and 06 brass on hand....heard u can make ur own for the 280 out of these any truth and how do you do it?
 
I used to own a 338-06. I simply ran 30-06 brass through a sizing die and loaded. You will have the wrong head stamp on it. I'm pretty sure it can be done, but trimming to length may be more critical. I'm just guessing, but I think it would be easier with 30-06 brass than 270. There are some other minor differences between 30-06 and 270 than just bullet diameter. 338-06 and 280 are closer of 30-06.
 
Should work good. Check your loading manual to see that after neck sizing down with '06 cases or neck sizing up with .270 cases, the shoulder of each will jump forward slightly upon fireforming to achieve .280 base to shoulder length. That should be no problem. One consideration for best results might depend on the case brands you are using. Considering Winchesters, Remingtons and Federals, due to case neck thickness, better results might be obtained by necking down with Winchester '06 cases or necking up with Remington or Federal .270 cases, thereby probably arriving at proper neck tension without neck reaming or neck turning becoming an issue (but neck reaming or turning may not enter the picture at all). However working case necks either way, either up or down, with available brass might work out just as well, never know until you try. It may be necessary to trim slightly after necking up with the .270s. Just use your. 280 sizer for the procedure. Perhaps size first with the decapping rod removed and then run the cases over the expander button with the decapping rod back in place. Overall there should hardly be any problem. Those who have actually done the conversion will provide more definite information. After sizing a case or two, make sure they will chamber before continuing. Note that a temporary secondary shoulder might form at the base of the neck when sizing down with '06 cases, thereby providing a good chamber fit for fireforming. Lubing the cases is advisable.

Since there is very little case forming to be done after the conversion, initial firing can probably be done with whatever starting load you want. Or reduce it slightly, just make sure that the rounds will chamber easily after bullet seating, ensuring that the case necks are not binding within the neck portion of the chamber.
 
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The closest I have been to such a challenge in sizing is with simple fire forming Hornet to K Hornet. So take this with a grain of salt. It seams to me that if the cases were annealed before forming it may be helpful.
 
From memory:
270 no
280 is slightly longer base to shoulder to prevent loading 280 in 270 so simply necking up will leave you with excessive headspace.

30/06 yes(if you're careful)
30/06 will leave a tiny "second shoulder" on the neck (hopefully) which will hold the case head against the bolt face.
Case length of formed 30/06 may be short but not really a problem.

My copy of "cartridge conversions" is loaned out so I can't quote that source.
 
"The 270 and 280 are longer than the '06.

Might be best to use the 270 for the 280 conversion."

The difference in total case length is not an issue. The difference in length from head to shoulder IS an issue. Using 270 brass requires expanding the neck bigger than 284 and sizing back down to leave a secondary shoulder to maintain headspace.
 
couldn't you just fireform resized .270 cases without a fuss before loading full power ammo? I know the .280 is longer from base to shoulder and the shoulder angle is appreciably sharper. I would think you'd want fireformed brass anyways before loading ammunition for serious use (odds are it wouldn't be the most accurate even if it was safe)
 
.280 case is longer, if you had a L.E. Wilson cartridge 30/06 case gauge it is an easy to see difference if you drop the 30/06 case and follow that by dropping the .280 case into the gauge, more than .050" will protrude above the gauge... William
 
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Anywhere on internet to find brass...checked midway midsouth natchezz brownells sinclair basspro cabelas...only get like norma or hornady would prefer winchester to test loads to start...is norma brass worth the double price of say winchester????
 
Yes.. you can make 280 out of 30-06. You neck may be a touch short. you neck may need a bit of inside trimming.. But 280 Rem was from 30-06 in the first place.
 
Neck reaming or turning probably would not be needed if '06 cases are Winchesters but perhaps if Remington or Federals. Obviously try not to have to do either. Inside neck reaming or outside neck turning requires additional tools of course and would probably not make the project worth while. So get factory .280s if it is thought that conversions may not work out but I think they will. And you have all those .270s and '06s so I would certainly give it a go.
 
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Using 270 brass requires expanding the neck bigger than 284 and sizing back down to leave a secondary shoulder to maintain headspace.
Click to expand...

No secondary shoulder needed if you use cast bullets.
 
Try it and see how it works out for you. I never did a .280 from other brass, but did plenty of others. Some are as simple as running a die over them and trimming length. Some are really tough and involve a lathe, annealing, and mixing die parts to get there. You have to decide how bad you want the brass.
 
If your wanting precision 280 brass? neither donor brass is compatible.
Frankly: Re-forming one piece of each donor brass then measuring to see which comes closer to the desired 280 brass measurment/s. Is what many of us reloaders would try first for weekend 100 yard target practice & hunting cartridges.
Than there is the process of annealing. Which helps such reformed brass accept its swagging process. That is something to consider prior to most every brass's re-forming.
I've re-formed a couple different calibers for my use. 06 to 270_ 308 to 300 Savage_ 30-30 to 25-35_ and 270 to 25-06. Anyone can see the pattern of my doing. ie. The use of a larger caliber brass swagged /reformed into a smaller caliber.

The idea of reforming brass: After FL resizing. It's need to be trimmed to size is better than a disappointing shorter than Minimum in length observed.
 
Have tons of 270 and 06 brass on hand....heard u can make ur own for the 280 out of these any truth and how do you do it?
Click to expand...

The 270 and 280 case is the same length. If the 270 case is used part of the case shoulder becomes part of the case body and part of the shoulder becomes part of the neck. Reloaders are under the allusion the shoulder moves forward, it doesn’t. They are under the allusion they can bump the shoulder back, they can’t.

The 270 and 30/06 case lengths are the same; both cases are the same length from the shoulder to the case head. The case body length of the 280 is .051” longer than the 30/06 and 270.

My favorite case is the 280 Remington. With the additions .051” case body length I can off set all kinds of problems with long chambers, all that is required is the companion tool to the press, the feeler gage and a way/means or tool to measure the length of the case. All a reloader need is a decent/good understanding of the datum.

I believe the 30/06 case is a bad choice for forming 280 Remington cases because the 30/06 is .041” shorter than the 270 or 280 Remington case. I am the fan of covering the entire chamber with the case. That is the reason I choose to use the 280 case to form wildcats. When I use 30/06 cases for form wildcats I find the case shortens .045” from forming to firing.

And then; there is annealing. remember, part of the shoulder becomes part of the case body and part of the neck becomes part of the shoulder:eek::rolleyes:

F. Guffey
 
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