Fireforming 30-06 brass to 35 Whelen

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I have a basic concept of this but can someone give me the "step by step for dummies" as it were for the process? Safety is key and I obviously don't want to mess things up, either for the rifle or myself. I did some research online and there seems to be a lot of mixed info out there. Wanting to hear from someone on here about their experiences and their how-to guide. Thanks
 
You take your 30-06 cases, lube cases and inside the necks, place in press shell-holder, run into .35 Whelen sizing die. ***

'fire-forming" is not required.

*** This assumes a tapered expander ball in your die.
 
Last edited:
'Boo said:
You take your 30-06 cases, lube cases and inside the necks, place in press shell-holder, run into .35 Whelen sizing die. ***

'fire-forming" is not required.

*** This assumes a tapered expander ball in your die.
Click to expand...

Like a Lee .35 Whelen sizing die. ;)

QC9xK5D.jpg


Lee Pacesetter 2-Die Set
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/694483/lee-pacesetter-2-die-set
 
Hey photog_shooter! I haven't done what you are attempting, but I have necked up 8x57 to 9.3x57. So .323 to .366, or .043 of an inch. You're trying to neck up .308 to .358, or .050 of an inch.

The reason I mention this is I had quite a few crushed shoulders when trying to neck up in one step, with Hornady dies. I had lubed the crap out of them too! After ruining 5 pieces of brass out of 10, I decided to first expand the neck to .338, then to .366. I didn't have a single piece of scrap brass doing it this way.

The Lee sizing die cut-away that bigedp51 posted shows a MUCH more tapered expander than the Hornady has, at least the one's I've used. If you have another expander from a different set of dies that is in-between .308 and .358 you may want to do an intermediate step, then complete with the .35whelan die.

:cheers:
 
Hornady should be fine too as it has a tapered expander button.RCBS is rather blunt. I use Hornady dies to make .250 Savage from .22-250 with zero case loss.Have at her!
 
Prairie Plinker said:
The Lee sizing die cut-away that bigedp51 posted shows a MUCH more tapered expander than the Hornady has, at least the one's I've used. If you have another expander from a different set of dies that is in-between .308 and .358 you may want to do an intermediate step, then complete with the .35whelan die.

:cheers:
Click to expand...

Nothing in between unfortunately.
 
Just chuck your tapered expander in a drill, and polish the taper only with some 600 grit emery
until it is smooth, finish with 000 steel wool, and it will expand those lubed necks slick as snot
on a doorknob. EE.
 
Eagleye said:
Just chuck your tapered expander in a drill, and polish the taper only with some 600 grit emery
until it is smooth, finish with 000 steel wool, and it will expand those lubed necks slick as snot
on a doorknob. EE.
Click to expand...

Great idea! I just looked at the expander on my 9.3x57 die and, while it's not bad, it certainly isn't mirror finish smooth. I'm going to give your trick a whirl next time I'm using those dies, thanks!
 
mbogo3 said:
Tapered but rather abrupt you may have to neck size in a .338 die first? One way to find out.
Click to expand...

no issues at all when I reformed 100 30-06 brass to 35whelen
according to RCBS, the 35whelen die set comes with the tapered expander instead of the usual button style because so many people reform 30-06 brass. I bought a spare tapered expander and installed it in my 358norma resizing die because I reform 338WM brass for that. they work much better now
 
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