35 Remington from 243 Win. (or other .308 family cases).

[KLR]

This is another way to skin the 35 Rem cat. It's intended for guy who likes to make stuff, but doesn't have a full workshop.

Start with a piece of .243 brass. I used this because when the neck is opened to .35 it won't need neck turning/reaming. I used Remington brass and the neck thickness was .0115-.0125 after it's opened up.

1. Open neck to 30 cal. Use a good lube and go slowly.
2. Resize in 35 Rem FL die. Again - lube well. I like to take short strokes and rotate the brass.
3. Chuck brass in drill press by the neck. You'll be surprised at how tight you can get it without making a mark.
4. Lower brass into file jig. I use a coarse file, followed by a fine file. Let the quill retract and touch the brass lightly with sand paper. The whole process takes less than 30 seconds working leisurely.
5. Trim brass to correct length.
6. Run it through the 35 Rem FL sizing die.

Here's the file jig. The bearings are all I had in the spare parts box. They should be larger and sealed. To set up the jig, put a properly sized piece of brass in the slot (.455 for me) and adjust everything so that a straight edge touches both bearings and the piece of brass.

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp330/305178/IMG_20160313_211600_zps8b6vbwwc.jpg (http://s424.photobucket.com/user/305178/media/IMG_20160313_211600_zps8b6vbwwc.jpg.html)

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp330/305178/IMG_20160313_211408_zpssxvxxz50.jpg (http://s424.photobucket.com/user/305178/media/IMG_20160313_211408_zpssxvxxz50.jpg.html)

If shaving off brass bothers you, cut open a case after you trim it to spec. You'll see that it's a lot thicker than a piece of factory 35 Rem. Usually .007 at the base tapering to .001 at the shoulder thicker.

Of course this will work with the other .308-based cases, but you'll need to neck trim. Maybe not with 260, but I didn't have any to try.

Edit: I tried a piece of Hornady 7mm-08 and it opens to 35 cal in the 35 Rem FL sizer. So, eliminate Step One in the process above.

[Frank46]

Now if only someone would make a 35 rem case necking up 308 cases, moving the shoulder back and leaving the case rim untouched and trimming to 35 rem length, that would make life so much easier. Frank

[bstone5]

I got 308W converted to 35 Remington from Grumpa, works fine in two rifles I have, one a single shot the other a lever action.

Grumpa sells converted brass on this site.

[KLR]

Now if only someone would make a 35 rem case necking up 308 cases, moving the shoulder back and leaving the case rim untouched and trimming to 35 rem length, that would make life so much easier. Frank

I'd thought about that too. Here are the problems I see:

Someone later could still chamber an undersize 35 Rem in your rifle.
You need a custom reamer and then restamp your barrel "35 Rem Fat Bottom" or something.
You'd need a custom resizing die.

[KLR]

I got 308W converted to 35 Remington from Grumpa, works fine in two rifles I have, one a single shot the other a lever action.

Grumpa sells converted brass on this site.

If I was the "just buy it" type, I'd buy the factory stuff with the proper head stamp and without the reduced case capacity. My LGS has had loaded ammo too for the past few months.

But this is the "Case Forming/Reforming" Section of the site. Some of us just like to do stuff like this ourselves.

[GRUMPA]

I have a thread for the do it yourselfers here.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?276255-308-to-35-Rem-done-my-way&highlight=

[KLR]

I have a thread for the do it yourselfers here.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?276255-308-to-35-Rem-done-my-way&highlight=

As long as the do it yourselfer has a lathe, swaging press, custom dies, etc., and wants to pump out brass at a production rate.

But it does show the beauty of my system - a $50 drill press, a file, and a few scraps from the junk box and the average do it yourselfer can end up with some nice 35 Rem brass.

[Frank46]

KLR,cut down a set of 358 dies and you are good to go. Maybe I wasn't clear enough. Take your 308 lake city brass. Cut and trim to the length of the 35 rem. Neck size the case to get the shoulder like the 35 rem, do not size the body down and don't remove any metal from the rim. May need special sizing die. Cut down a set of 308 dies and should work. Frank

[KLR]

KLR,cut down a set of 358 dies and you are good to go. Maybe I wasn't clear enough. Take your 308 lake city brass. Cut and trim to the length of the 35 rem. Neck size the case to get the shoulder like the 35 rem, do not size the body down and don't remove any metal from the rim. May need special sizing die. Cut down a set of 308 dies and should work. Frank


Frank, You could also short chamber with a 358 Win and grind an equal amount from the sizing die. Trouble with that is it limits the owner to reloads and hurts resale because you have a rifle with an oddball chamber.

BTW, I found a piece of 7mm-08 and it opens to 35 cal in the 35 Rem FL sizer. So, eliminate Step One in the process above.