Reduced capacity 30-06 cases

[Johnch]

This afternoon I was loading some 30-06 plinking loads , with the Lee 155 gr Booolit designed for the 7.62x39

I got to thinking ....way to much empty case for my liking ( 1600 FPS load )

So when I was done loading , I started thinking about the problem

OK as I am out of the cheap slow surpluss powder
How do I reduce the case capacity ?

I got to thinking my 30/30 is about perfict for plinking
So ......how do I do this and not blow something up

Would turned cases work ?
I have acesss to a CNC lathe on Sundays

I know the barstock wouldn't be cheap
But if I turned some 30-06 cases with a whole lot less case capacity
Would the necks hold up ?
As even after anealing the neck
IMO that would be the weak point of the turned , not drawn case

Your thoughts
John

[bhn22]

Like Ballard Everlasting cases perhaps?

[marvelshooter]

Making the cases would not be hard. Form the outside the same and make the inside .300 diameter right to the flash hole. With light loads they would not need much resizing. Might be worth making a few to see how it works.

[frkelly74]

I was thinking Everlasting cases too. Should actually work quite well.

[bangerjim]

Why not just stuff some dacron fluff in there on top of the powder? Fills up the space to keep the powder back around the primer.

I do that for hot melt glue boolits for my 30-06 fun loads. (4gn of any fast burning powder).


banger

[trooperdan]

I've heard of guys expanding the mouth of a subject case large enough to insert a smaller case, like a 5.56 in a .30-30.. not saying that was the combo that worked, just to explain the concept. The idea was to have a smaller case that was very near the inside dimension of the larger case with primer pocket drilled out larger. First firing would lock them together. Have to do some studying to see if there is a candidate case for '06... 7.62x39 maybe? I think that would not work though... just thinking out loud, you guys run with it!

[williamwaco]

Try Unique.

I use 9 grains in .30-30 and .38-55 with no filler.

Cronograph results indicate it is absolutely not sensitive to its position in the case.



.

[oldfart1956]

I was just watching a video on YouTube the other day where a feller lathe turned down brass to make cases for his 450/577 Martini and it seemed to work perfectly. He just bored the hole the correct size to fit the cast boolit from neck to primer hole. Dropped the load to a tolerable level, fired&functioned well with little or no re-sizing. Given the price of said cases (Midway 20 cases $125) it made even more sense. Audie....the Oldfart..

[leeggen]

On here some where, beleive it is a stickie, they used mouse fart loads and 93 grain cast to .311 in size over 2.7 gr of bullseye. I tried some and they are fun to shoot good for 25-30 yd. Shoot at sights on 1917 mil. No filler req. Please be sure and read stickie for all the imfor.
CD

[Johnch]

OK
After reading your posts , I think I will give it a try

First I will look at what scrap brass barstock my friend has
As if he has enough to turn 10 or more test cases
It should show me if it is worth going farther
And not cost me much
As normaly he sells me small scrap at scrap price + a little

Other wise I will have to order 1 piece of barstock
That will take me a little time to pay for on my workman's comp payments

Thanks
John

John

[Johnch]

OH I know all about reduced loads and Unique
As I load 11 gr of Unique under a 360 gr plain base ( opened up the GC shank ) .460 dia boolit in a 45/70 case

That load shoots well in both the contender barrels and the Marlin LA

John

[Artful]

I have some 308 cases made internally to be about the capacity between 300 blackout or 7.62x39 - Neck size only with Lee Die - have not had to anneal them but I don't shoot a huge amount of times either or work the brass much as all loads are subsonic. I believe I paid about $8 each and I think the person making them figured he lost money on each one. But they are wonderful to have to make up reduced loads.

[Got-R-Did]

Ever try Trail Boss propellant for your cast boolit shooting? It is quite fluffy and takes up a lot of space; not position sensitive either.
Might be a lot less trouble, unless you are just looking for a project to excersise the mind/hands with.
Cheers,
Got-R-Did.

[Artful]

Ever try Trail Boss propellant for your cast boolit shooting? It is quite fluffy and takes up a lot of space; not position sensitive either.
Might be a lot less trouble, unless you are just looking for a project to excersise the mind/hands with.
Cheers,
Got-R-Did.

For the record, Trail boss is position sensitive with subsonic loads in 308 in my experiments with it. It is a good suggestion though.

[AkMike]

How about trying some cardboard from your Post Toasties box. Cut to to the main body length and small enough to circle the insides of the case to 'shim it out' and reduce the capacity?
I've read about it with the 577/450 but never tried it.

[Got-R-Did]

Artful, you are indeed correct. Sorry for the brainfart. I had not considered subsonic loads and I confused properties of Tite-Group.
Got-R-Did.

[Blacksmith]

What about buying or making a chamber adapter?
MCA Sports offers .30-06 Springfield chamber adapters for $20 in:
30 Carbine
30 Mauser
32 Short Colt, 32 Long, 32 H&R
30 Luger
32 ACP

They also offer

Now you can turn your 308 or 30-06 into a 7.62x39 and take advantage of inexpensive ammo!

Simply coat the the outside of the adapter with non permanent Locktite™, place a fired 7.62x39 case inside the chamber and close the bolt. After 10-12 hours, eject the 7.62x39 case and you are ready to start shooting. Inexpensive Russian ammo costs 25-50% less than any regular 308 or 30-06. A broken shell extractor will remove the adapter and return the gun to it's original caliber. If you are careful, the adapter is reusable!

Also available in 308/30-06. Each kit includes one tube of Locktite™.

Complete kit: only $25.00. Broken shell extractors: $10.00

http://www.mcace.com/adapters.htm

[sthwestvictoria]

There is this thread I read a while ago about an Handloader magazine article, squeezing 5.56x45 cases into 7.62x51mm cases:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?123311-Reduced-Loads-in-Large-Cases

There was also this thread where-in members were talking about using accra glass or JB weld and drilling out a central hole:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?22054-help-wanted-buckshot-small-game-load-for-25-06

for myself I just trailboss or Universal (AP70N) in the 35 whelen with 158grain pistol bullets.

[KCSO]

Home Shop Machinist about to years ago had a good article on this and the results were excellent.

[Harter66]

The best suggestion I've seen was to pour the case full of lead and drill . I believe that is in the stickies also .

[RoyEllis]

The best suggestion I've seen was to pour the case full of lead and drill . I believe that is in the stickies also .

LOL! I've got some .308 cases that were showing signs of impending case head separation that I melted some zinc WW's, filled the cases then drilled out. Most have over 100 reloads on them (strictly mousefart loads ie lee 93 RN over 3gr Bullseye or Tight Group) and they're still working fine.
Best use I've had for zinc WW's so far.

[Johnch]

OK
I got my friend to take a quick look in the scrap bin
He found a 4' piece of 1/2" OD round barstock
He said it is close to rifle case brass and should work fine for turning cases

As I have no clue , he dose the programing stuff for the turning
I can then do the hard part of pushing the start button and changing cutters if needed

So now I wait for him to do the program
Unless I get real luckey, it will be after the first of the year , maybe a few months
For him to get it done

OK I know slow
But I just paying for the brass and cutters
He isn't charging me for the use of the machine or him writing the program

But if this works
I know , I will have to turn him a bunch
As he also shoots Boolits

John