Fireforming 30-06 brass to 35 Whelen

Most 35 Whelen dies will have a tapered expander ball. I've run .270s through mine just for fun and even they work.

If for some reason your die doesn't have a tapered expander; or if you feel guilty loading up the stem like that, seat a spire pointed bullet upside-down in a 30-06 case and pull it again. Bullets are cheap and besides you can use the same one over and over. I've used them for all sorts of oddball necking up operations.
 
Well at least it isn't a .280 Ross he's making ammo for.Was implying practicality not trying to be rude on purpose.He'll have to have projectiles sent up as well if he didn't bring......... any along with the rest of the components.
 
Yep, you can do all these different things......OR..........as I do, you can just take factory or reloaded '06 and stuff it into your Whelen and pull the trigger.......VOILA......35 Whelen and your necks will be straight and centered unlike the necking up process. I have done this literally thousands of times with many different cartridges and rifles. There is no ill effects to either the case or rifle. And you don't need any special expanders or dies or anything but your regular reloading dies.
I might add it's also kinda fun, trying to see if you can hit anything with 30 cal bullets from a 35 bore.........
 
'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.
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The same method I have been using for my 7600 for 26 years now.

No issues. I use '06 and .270 brass for this. I also use Lee dies and Lee tube lube.
 
Prairie Plinker said:
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:
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I use Lee dies and lube and about 2% of the brass I neck up is .270. I've only lost 2 maybe 3 to split necks. I have never had a crushed shoulder, EXCEPT when I tried to crimp too much.

The cutaway shows a much more tapered expander than my Lee dies as well. Mine is also not as polished as that one. That being said, I can go from .277" to .358" , 081", in one step without issues.
 
remington jim said:
I know a LOT of YOU like to make up CHEAP brass by Conversion BUT there is a LOT of us that DO NOT shoot INCORRECT headstamped brass WHEN there is proper brass avail ! We are Not ALL Cheapskates ! lol rj:stirthepot2: RJ
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My LGS does not carry Whelen brass, except occasionally, and it is more expensive. I havent bought brass for the last 15 years or so. Too many non-reloaders out there shooting and discarding .30/06 brass. Waste not, want not. My ammo may not be headstamped properly, but it is very clearly marked in bulk storage as well as my range boxes.

There is no way you can even chamber it into a .30/06 or .270. Unless it is a legal issue like some foreign jurisdictions, I dont see the need for propoer headstamp in this case.
 
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