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Charley
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| Joined: | 9 September 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2296 |
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Posted: 23 October 2008 03:55 AM |
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Necking Up Cartridge Cases
Author's note: I'm not a big time gunwriter,not a commercial loader or gunsmith. I'm just a guy that likes to shoot, and if that entails finding/forming unusual brass, I'm likely to try it.Some of my information comes to me online, some in print, but mostly thru finding 20 ways that don't work before finding one that does. Maybe this will save you some time...
In late 2005, I started building a rifle on a surplus Czech CZ 24 action. I wanted a caliber capable of handling the largest game animals I will probably shoot, large feral hogs. Not many elk, moose, or other big stuff around South Texas. I decided on a .338/06. This cartridge was a somewhat popular wildcat for many years, but was “legitimized” by A-Square, who slapped their name on it. I still refer to it as the .338/06.
When it comes to handloading ammunition for the .338, you can travel two different routes. You can buy factory brass, properly headstamped and pretty, for $30 to $40 per 20, or, you can form it from the ever available (and cheap!) .30/06. Being the cheap SOB that I am, I went the second route. Sorry, I'm not going to pay two bucks a case, when I can make them for 35 cents or less!
How It's Done
You're going to need a bench mounted press, a hand tool just won't quite cut it. Although every manufacturer tells you that you NEED their press, because it is the strongest and best designed, it isn't so. You can use a cheapy aluminum Lee press, or an older C type press if that is what you have, the stresses of necking up a properly lubed case just are not that great. I use my standard press, a Lee Classic Cast Turret press.
Most necking up can be done with a full length sizeing die. A tapered case neck expander helps, but might not be needed, depending on how much you neck up. If you need to open the case mouth a bit before running the case into a sizer, Lee's case mouth flairing die works well. This step isn't needed with the setup I use for forming .338/06.
Simply put, you want to go from this:
To this:
You need a good case forming lube when necking up or down. I aften use Midway's or Dillon's spray lube for normal case sizing, but for this purpose the $5 spent for some Imperial Sizing Wax is well worth the money. Great stuff, and a can will lube a couple of jillon cases at least.
Lightly lube the case neck and body. A light smear inside the case mouth eases the expansion process, too. Don't lube the shoulder, and don't use too much lube. A thin film is all that is needed, anymore and you will get lube dents in the case. While small ones don't really cause any harm, your shooting buddies will laugh at you if they see them!
Adjust the sizing die according to the manufacturer's directions. Some require contact with the shellholder, some require contact plus a quarter turn, and so on. Follow the directions, most manufacturers have a pretty good idea just how their product works.
Run the case into the die..
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And you should have a necked up case, ready to prime and load.
Tha is all there is to it. There are some things to beware of. I suggest new or once fired brass for necking up. If you use brass that has been fired and loaded more than once, you will probably need to anneal it. With .30/06 brass as cheap as it is, I'd rather use new or once fired.
Chances are, your necked up brass isn't going to look picture perfect when formed, most instructions tell you to fire form your new case before loading for serious business.
Here are two cases, one just formed, and one loaded. .338/06 is a simple conversion, the headspace is the same on both cartridges, so the shoulder stays in the same place. The same is true of many cartridge families.
The final proof. Three shots from a rest at 100 yards. .775 inches, good enough for a hunting rifle, particularly one based on a 1898 Mauser.
Attachment: DSCF0018.JPG (Downloaded 28 times) Last edited on 23 October 2008 04:00 AM by Charley
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"Barack, the Magic Negro, lived in DC,
"The LA Times they called him that,
'cause he's not authentic like me..." Al Sharpton
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Charley
Administrator
| Joined: | 9 September 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2296 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! |
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Posted: 23 October 2008 04:01 AM |
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| Case lube. Watch your amount and placement. Attachment: DSCF0009.JPG (Downloaded 28 times)
____________________
"Barack, the Magic Negro, lived in DC,
"The LA Times they called him that,
'cause he's not authentic like me..." Al Sharpton
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Charley
Administrator
| Joined: | 9 September 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2296 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! |
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Posted: 23 October 2008 04:02 AM |
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| Formed case on left, loaded cartridge on right... Attachment: DSCF0012.JPG (Downloaded 28 times)
____________________
"Barack, the Magic Negro, lived in DC,
"The LA Times they called him that,
'cause he's not authentic like me..." Al Sharpton
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Timberghozt
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| Joined: | 11 February 2005 |
| Location: | Salado, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 5389 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! |
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Posted: 23 October 2008 12:00 PM |
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Good post Charley..
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