I'm a "brass buzzard" if one ever lived.

I find that I cannot walk past a trash can at the range without checking to see if someone has dumped a couple boxes of brandy new once fired factory stuff, just for people with no pride, like me.

I have owned and shot many '06's over the years, but I no longer have one in the safe. But I do have several boxes of .30-06, sorted by headstamp, and weighed, that I want to convert to .280 Rem (that will be coming home next week).

I've turned lots of '06 into Whelen and .270, but never .280. Is there sufficient shoulder to maintain headspace after I run it through a sizer die, or should I run a .338 expander through it to generate a better shoulder for fireforming over a moderate dose of Unique?

Some of your question might depend on the chamber dimensions that the brass was fired in. Close call that one is! Take a few measurements of your 280 fired cases compared to your 30-06 and make your call based on that.

Cheezywan

Back your .280 die out one turn and size the '06 cases. Try in chamber. Set die down not more than 1/8 turn, preferably 1/16 turn, at a time until you can bareley close the bolt on a sized case. Use a moderate load, with a bullet, to fireform, everything will be fine. You'll probably have a .012-.015 shoulder at this point which is sufficient.

Thanks ALK,

I have a pile of different 7mm jacketed bullets to use for fireforming. Got any recommendtations for Unique or Herco for fireforming using 130-160gr bullets.

There's lots of cast bullet loads, but I'm not sure if they are usable for jacketed stuff.

About 15 gr. Unique should fill out the case quite well.

You will really enjoy the .280. I love mine, the recoil is very tolerable, and brass life is excellent since it isn't a magnum. Also, the reloading data is dumbed down a little bit due to the autoloading Rem 7400 that was so popular in this caliber.

Just an observation that won't cause any real problem. Your 06 brass will be a bit short for .280 standard length. roughly .045" short

Just an observation that won't cause any real problem. Your 06 brass will be a bit short for .280 standard length. roughly .045" short

Yes and the shoulder will also be .050 fwd, making that neck a bit shorter yet. Guess I'm lucky when it comes to 06 brass for converting, I made my 7mm/06 wildcat one stroke in my die and 06 brass is good to go.

Yes and the shoulder will also be .050 fwd, making that neck a bit shorter yet. Guess I'm lucky when it comes to 06 brass for converting, I made my 7mm/06 wildcat one stroke in my die and 06 brass is good to go.

That's why I asked about necking out, before squeezing down to .280 and fireforming. Is your wildcat shorter than the '06? Do you have any suggestions/loads you like for fireforming?

tman
turning '06 into .280 rem is easy - run a .338 or .35 expander thru the '06 brass mouth, then size with the .280 rem die to create a "false shoulder" on the '06 brass. size the newly necked-up case in your .280 dies until it justs chambers in your rifle, then load and fireform using a suitable starter load for .280 rem...don't be afraid to lube the case mouth!

the step you created allows the brass to flow forward providing brass properly formed for your chamber.

have fun,
budman46