30-06 -.280

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

Is it possible to just neck down 30-06 brass to 7mm and load as thought it were a regular .280 case? are there any other steps involved?

 

[rgv]

definitely not. a 280 is about 50 thou longer in the body, so you will have a casehead separation almost for certain.

 

[dan belisle]

Partially size the 30-06 cases until you have a bulge in the neck, that just barely allows you to chamber the case in your 280. Then load with middle of the road 280 loads and fire form. Presto - short necked 280 brass. - dan

 

['Boo]

If you run a 30-06 case into you 280 dies you will end up with a case that has a neck that is 7mm and stepped to 30 calibre near the shoulder. If you set your dies up to allow for a slight crush fit in the chamber of your rifle - the case will now be head-spacing on the .30 cal. / 7mm juncture rather than the shoulder - you can safely fire-form the '06 cases to be a perfect fit in your chamber.

You will end up with cases however that will be +/- .040" shorter in the neck than typical .280 case. These can be safely fired in you rifle but you may get a ring of carbon build-up in the chamber caused by the too short case. If the build-up gets too large and a regular length .280 case is fired in the un-cleaned chamber there is a slight possibility of pinching the case mouth and elevating pressures.

Unless you have a bunch of 30-06 brass on hand it is far easier just to order a bag of .280 cases.

 

[Why not?]

'Boo has it right. Just neck down until you have a crush fit and go. Headspace will be better than with factory ammo!

I have shot hundreds of rounds of 280 made this way, and load right up from the beginning, just as in fireforming any other cartridge.

Ted

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

Thanks guys I have .280 cases but was just wondering if the '06 brass would be a good alternative.