Making 280 AI brass from 30-06?

[geneackley]

I am an experienced reloader but don't know everything. I have recently ordered a 280 AI barrel and have lots of old military 30-06 brass once fired in an old M1 Garand that I would like to convert to 280 AI.

I would like to hear from other experienced reloaders their ideas on how best to achieve this.

Thanks.

Gene

[GaCop]

You should be able to resize the 06 to 280 and then fire form the brass. A moderate powder charge should be sufficient to form the cased to the chamber. The down side is you cases over all length will be shorter than a factory 280AI case.

[geneackley]

Thanks GaCop.

Any idea as to roughly how much shorter the case might be? Hopefully not enough to be of any concern...

Do you know if the normal case stretching eventually brings it up to spec length?

Again thanks

[PhilC]

FWIW, this is what "Wikipedia" says...


"While it is true that a .280 Remington case can be formed from a .30-06 Springfield (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-06_Springfield) case, the case length of a .30-06 is 63.3 millimetres (2.494 in) while the case length of a .280 is 64.5 millimetres (2.540 in), the same as a .30-03 Springfield (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-03). However, "The slight difference in length of reformed cases doesn't make any practical difference." [2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.280_Remington#cite_note-2)

[geneackley]

FWIW, this is what "Wikipedia" says...


Thank you PhilC.


So should I just run the 30-06 through a 280 die and that's it? or should I try to run the 30-06 through a 7mm neck sizing die first and then do the whole resize with a 280 FL die?

Obviously I would anneal first...

Like I said, I just want suggestions on how to best do this.

Thanks.

[PhilC]

Frankly, I'd just get 280 brass and fireform them in the AI chamber. Years ago I formed 7-08 from LC 308 because I had a bunch of it. Wasn't worth the effort for a hunting rifle IMO.

[Orezona]

Frankly, I'd just get 280 brass and fireform them in the AI chamber. Years ago I formed 7-08 from LC 308 because I had a bunch of it. Wasn't worth the effort for a hunting rifle IMO.

What made it not worth it? Military crimped primers?

[PhilC]

Yep. Was about 30yrs ago and I removed all the crimps with a small pocket knife, slow and meticulous work.

[yobuck]

Well even longer than 30 years ago there were good hand tools for cleaning up military brass primer pockets.
A couple of twists with the tool is all it takes.
My brother got a Rem. model 725 in 280 in the early 60s, and thats all he ever used in it.

[Orezona]

I have the Dillon Super Swage.