Can I make 358 Win brass from 308Win??

[wallacem]

This might be the wrong section, but I did not see a better one. I have plenty of 308 brass, and need some 358. Will it work? Wallacem in Ga

[high standard 40]

I've been loading for the 358 Win for several years and 308 brass is all I've ever used.
A single pass through the full-length die and it's ready to load. I do have a tapered expander ball in my full length 358 die.

[Ben]

Q.....Can I make 358 Win brass from 308Win??

A..... All day long ! !

[Kskybroom]

+1 on what High Standard 40 said..

[waksupi]

Yep, and .243, and .338 Federal, and 7mm-08, and, and........

[358wcf]

I've been doing just this for years, when proper 358Win brass wasn't available.
Easy to do, and it works just fine-

HOWEVER-- if you do this, DO NOT let any of this ammo (358Win in 308Win headstamped cases) anywhere near a 308Win rifle! Some fool might just try to force the bolt closed and succeed-- not a pretty thought! You can load and fire 308Win in a 358Win chamber (I've done it, but not intentionally!), and the bullet just rattles on down the .050 oversize bore, with no accuracy at all, but the neck blows out nicely, and you extract a perfectly formed new 358Win case--

Always, exercise caution when using reformed cases--

358wcf

[scb]

I've been doing just this for years, when proper 358Win brass wasn't available.
Easy to do, and it works just fine-

HOWEVER-- if you do this, DO NOT let any of this ammo (358Win in 308Win headstamped cases) anywhere near a 308Win rifle! Some fool might just try to force the bolt closed and succeed-- not a pretty thought! :

I suppose your correct that it could be done, but as far as I'm concerned anyone that uses that much force to close a bolt will get what he/she deserves. Another "Darwin Thinning the Heard" award winner.

[madsenshooter]

Yep, and .243, and .338 Federal, and 7mm-08, and, and........

And even 35 REM or 6.5 Jap, if you have a head swaging die.

[paul edward]

Yes.

You can neck the .308 case up, or you can fire form them.

Re-sized cases will need to be trimmed to the correct length.

If necking up, it will help to first anneal the cases.

If you expand the neck, first lubricate the inside of the neck. Then use an 8mm or .33 expander plug, as an intermediate step before using the .35 plug. This will help prevent split necks.

You can fire form cases with 5 grains of Bullseye (or other fast powder) and a cotton or tissue paper wad.

Paul

[Artful]

Yes, I do mine 358's that way works great. -

- I have some 243 made by necking down 308 - be aware if you necking up your thinning the neck if you neck down your thickening the neck and need to fix it (remove extra brass from the neck).

[Ron.D]

My .358 is my most used gun and I don't have one brass that's stamped .358. A quick neck annealing and resizing. I don't lose one brass in a hundred. Ron.D

[357maximum]

A good tapered expander ball such as the ones that come factory installed in Hornady new dimension dies make this a one pull no muss no fuss event. That excellent seater die is just an added bonus.

[Hank M]

I started with once fired LC .308 brass. That way there's no .308 numbers on the head. I just lube the cases and use mica on the inside of the necks.My lee .358 dies have a tapered plug and out of 200 cases,I only lost one. I have yet had to trim as they are sliighty shorter than spec.

[Big Dave]

Madsenshooter

Please NOT 6.5 jap cases. If you got those extra I will swap you 308s for them.

[bruce drake]

BigDave,

Madsen Shooter probably does the same as I. We convert 308 Win case TO 6.5 Jap.

I use a set of swaging dies made by Roy Boone down in Mississippi who is a huge Japanese weapons collector/rice farmer and a damn good machinist too boot.

Bruce