Anyone else convert .270 brass to 7.7x58?

[mace2364]

Hi all,

I've had a type 38 and a type 99 for a few years now, and haven't fired either due to ammo availability/price. Yesterday I was mucking around and found some .270 cases, and since I don't have a .270 I was trying to figure out what I might use them for. I saw you can convert them to 7.7 and I did a few. Does anyone else do this? Also, I was looking for some load data using varget(what I have on hand) and saw a few warnings about converted casings. Anyone have any issues with theirs? I'm all excited I can finally shoot my 7.7 even if I have to be careful.

[bruce drake]

I do it for my Type 99s quite regularly. open up the neck and then just trim to 58mm. First time I fire them I place a light load of 6-7gr of Unique with a 185gr LEE Boolit to fireform the cases and then necksize from then on. I don't have load data for VarGet with Cast but I'm sure others could help you out.

Bruce

[bruce drake]

To shoot that Type 38, buy some 35 Remington cases and reform the neck down to 6.5 and you've got nearly the right sized cases for the T38. The reformed cases will be 1mm short in the neck but that is a miniml issue.

I reform the cases in two steps. 35 caliber to 30 and then 30 caliber to 6.5mm with a 308Win sizing die as the intermediate sizer.

Have fun!

[Gunnut 45/454]

Nope I always resize .270's to 30-06!:coffee: Or if I feel real froggy they get to become 8X57mm's!

[mace2364]

I actually have cases and bullets for my type 38, but I haven't found any data for varget and I can't currently get my hands on any powders I can find loads for. So that one is sort of on hold until things settle down.

[mace2364]

I did happen into some 8mm Nambu dies today though, so that will likely become one of my next reloading projects....

[bruce drake]

http://www.gunsnet.net/showthread.php?2793-Reloading-the-7-7-Arisaka
check this thread about Varget loadings.

[nicholst55]

Any .270 brass (or .280 brass) that I stumble across becomes .35 Whelen brass.

[Multigunner]

I read somewhere awhile back that Winchester was using cases with much stronger webs and lower sidewalls for many of its cartridges of this general case head dimensions. Worth looking into, some cases may be more suitable than others, and loads found safe in the more recent cases fire formed to the 7.7 chamber may not be safe in older production cases if they have thinner case walls above the web.

[mace2364]

Thanks for the heads up on that thread. I actually got some IMR 4064 yesterday so I'll load some 6.5 today

[UBER7MM]

...and since I don't have a .270 I was trying to figure out what I might use them for. I saw you can convert them to 7.7 and I did a few. Does anyone else do this?
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Mace,
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I haven't converted 270 Win cases to 7.7x58, however I've converted 270 to 7x57 and 30'06 to 8x57. The process would be the same. I fire formed the first loadings with reduced cast loads and then neck sized them after that. There are many threads on this forum regarding the subject.
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Some like to anneal the necks first. There is also a school of thought that neck turn the brass for the sake of consistency. Some open the mouth first then cut the case down, others cut the case down then modify the mouth and then finish off with case trimming.
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You'll find the best process and stick with it. IMR-4064 is good choice for these old military cartridges.
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I hope this helps,

[mace2364]

Yeah, with mine I just cut some length off of the .270 case, sized with the 7.7 die, then trimmed to length, and loaded as normal. I didn't see any real wear on the brass, so I'm thinking it did OK. I loaded 35 grs of varget, which seemed to be a bit on the low end of any of the data I found. I think on the next batch, I'll probably do one of those unique loads mentioned above to fireform, and be able to shoot those loads in my back yard. Anyone know of a good boolit mold for this? I'd really like to cast for my older military rifles.

[bruce drake]

Either Lee's 155gr or 185gr bullet molds for .311 or Lyman's 314299 200gr bullet mold will work fine with cast bullets in Type 99s. If the accuracy with the LEE bullets are not within 4" at 100 yards than look at the actual bore size of that chromed bore and switch to the 314299 if you need a little bigger bullet.

Bruce