8mm brass from 30-06

[dhnorris]

has anyone here actually done this? Judging from the internet this is a fairly common practice. Any particular dies,lube etc. ? thanks

 

[top hat 45]

i've never done 30/06 to 8, but i do go 30/06 to 25/06 and just use a full body size die on the 25. oh, but i do full body size the 30/06 case first....daryll

 

[jtb]

Unless you have a bunch of 06 going unused there is plenty of 8mm out there for comparable prices to new 06. Still sometimes a guy just wants to do something because he can. Be sure you aneal before you start and you should have no problems. I can tell you from experiance the Lee Challenger press is not up to much of this work.

1. FL resize the '06 (or .270) in a .30-06 die, decapping simultaneously
2. FL resize again in an 8mm die WITHOUT the neck expander ball/rod in place
3. Cut to approximate length with a small copper tubing cutter
4. lube neck interior with powdered mica and run through the 8MM die WITH the neck expander ball/rod in place
5. Trim to length with case trimmer
6. Swage primer pockets (if milsurp)
7. Anneal case neck/shoulder
8. Tumble to clean
9. Load and fire lighter loads to fireform on first time out.

I haven't had many case neck thickness issues but when I did I fireformed in a loose chambered Mauser and moved forward from there.

 

[Hoosier]

I always anneal the case necks by standing the cases in a small metal container filled with an inch of water. I heat the case necks with a propane torch till orange then tip them over in the water. Annealing makes the brass more flexible and gives you less split necks when trying to open the necks. I recommend this process especially if you use military brass. I also recommend you mark the case base with a "Sharpie" or some other permanent marker. As already mentioned, a wrong cartridge in a rifle would not be fun. I once necked down 500 7.62 x 51mm/308 brass to .243 by annealing them, backing off the sizing die, and making one quarter turns running the .243 die back to final sizing....no split necks.
If you have a sizing die with a tapered neck expander it's better.
Hoosier