Forming 7.62x39 from 30-06 = insanity!

[GrizzLeeBear]

I just put a Rossi single shot in 7.62x39 on layaway and was starting to look for dies, brass, etc. to start loading for it. Was browsing Midway and came across this.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=262391

I form my 8mm brass from 06, but I never even considered it for the 7.62x39 as I didn't think it was possible. For the $603 :shock: price of that die I can buy 1200 LAPUA brass. You would probably have to do a lot of neck reaming, etc. also trying to form them from 06. I can't believe they even offer such a die.

Insanity.

[Kraschenbirn]

...For the $603 :shock: price of that die I can buy 1200 LAPUA brass...

Closer to 2000 cases if you settle for Winchester. Midway DOES stock the less expensive W-W brass in but, for some reason, it doesn't show up on their by-caliber catalog page (or in their hard-copy catalog, either)...but it's there if you do a search by product keyword.

Wonder what that die is turned from? Solid dilithium? I know a sporting clays nut who also owns a tool & die shop and he would absolutely glow in the dark offered that kind of mark-up from manufacturing cost.

Bill

[mooman76]

I just bought a Rossi from Scrounger in 7.62x39. I have yet to fire it though. Last time out I was taking allot of guns with me and forgot it. I have managed to scrounge at least 200 pieces of brass from range finds over the past couple years and even managed to load a few. I'm hoping this gun will turn out to be a good cast shooter. I too have thought of making some out of .06 but I think that would be a tough venture but one never knows til they try! It is funny though I have done 8mm and a few other calibers without much problem but the reforming might work well with one brand of dies and you have a tough time with another brand.

[HeavyMetal]

The die is neat! However I have a feeling the price is a typo, I can't imagine anybody needing a die for brass that is readily available at that price!

Heck RCBS is smart enough to know that 600 is an unmarketable price, why would they bother to make it?

As I said neat idea, for someone with a supply of Mil surp 308 case's! I will suggest someone call Midway and see if this is a typo

[jhrosier]

7.62x39mm reloadable brass hasn't always been readily available.
I remember reforming 6.5 MS brass, back in the late 60's when no reloadable brass was to be had.
Those dies may have been sitting on the shelf for decades.

Jack

[TAWILDCATT]

MIGHT BE CARBIDE ALL WAY THRU.WHY MAKE FROM 30/06 YOU MIGHT WANT IT.7.62 X 39 IS POPULAR BECAUSE OF THE SURPLUS.now it to is going because americans are greedy.we are the only ones that gobble up ammo like corn.
win brass=$19.59 per 50 GRAF:coffee:[smilie=1:

[GrizzLeeBear]

Just ordered some brass and dies from Grafs, they have a good price on the Lapua brass. When you include shipping, the price of the Lapua brass and RCBS dies was almost exactly the same price as Win. brass and the same dies from Midway. No brainer.

[TAWILDCATT]

you are right GRISS,I never even looked at LApua.never thought of it.there is always a way to find goodies if you look.:coffee:[smilie=1:

[JeffinNZ]

What an unusual device. I wish I had realised too hard to find all my 7.62X39 RP brass was when I sold it. Could have hicked the price 10 fold. [smilie=1::Fire:

[crowbeaner]

I just watched somebody pay over $70 for a 2 die set to form and trim .223 into .222. I hate to tell him that the trim die is useless because the hacksaw will jump the cut and he'll have to trim them with a collet type trimmer or ziptrim anyway. I just run sized .223s into the .222 FL die with 1 smooth stroke and run them in a second time before I trim them. I paid $20 for a 222 trim die to find all this out. The trim die makes a nice final form die, but I have to find a reamer that will work with it. Somewhere around .217 or.218. $603? That's a LOT of powder from PVI!

[JeffinNZ]

I just watched somebody pay over $70 for a 2 die set to form and trim .223 into .222. I hate to tell him that the trim die is useless because the hacksaw will jump the cut and he'll have to trim them with a collet type trimmer or ziptrim anyway. I just run sized .223s into the .222 FL die with 1 smooth stroke and run them in a second time before I trim them. I paid $20 for a 222 trim die to find all this out. The trim die makes a nice final form die, but I have to find a reamer that will work with it. Somewhere around .217 or.218. $603? That's a LOT of powder from PVI!

I'd have spent the $70 on having the chamber taken out to .223 and be done with it.

[shotman]

the head is not the same size on a 06 and 7.62x39 i know the shell holder is not the same shotman

[HeavyMetal]

Good Point Shotman!

[nicholst55]

I also strongly suspect that you're buying a SET of case forming dies - not a single die. At least, I certainly HOPE SO!

[wonderwolf]

Don't forget on top of just the forming steps you would have to ream and ANNEAL your cases. You would be using what was the body of the case for what would now be the neck. And if you did not anneal you would most likely split that neck on the first firing.

I've made 22-250,6.5 jap, 220 swift, 308 winchester and a lot others all out of 30/06 without special form dies it just takes time and baby steps no biggy. No needs to spend big bucks on the form dies. Which those prices are probably the actual prices for them. I wouldn't go so far as calling it a gimic but you can get away with a lot less.

[jonk]

Yow. To make this work you'd have to turn the bases in a lathe or do some serious swaging, cut a new extractor groove, trim, anneal, size, neck ream....

NOT worth the trouble. Even back in the day it wasn't, when 6.5 Mannlicher Schoenauer or 6.5 Carcano will work just fine if sized down and trimmed.

[mike in co]

i callled midway, they called rcbs...and....

one die, and the price is correct!

i got the impression the price was to discourage purchase as the brass is readily available.


mike in co

[GrizzLeeBear]

i callled midway, they called rcbs...and....

one die, and the price is correct!

i got the impression the price was to discourage purchase as the brass is readily available.


mike in co

Must be made out of onlyslightlymoreavailablethanunubtanuium. LOL

[jimkim]

Why would you want to use 30-06 brass to form the case when 35 Remington brass is available? I have never seen anyone form 7.62x39 mm brass from a 30-06 and until today had never heard of it. I have seen people form it from 35 Remington though. It seems like it would be a whole lot less work.

[Jon K]

Either way '06 or 35 Rem brass squeezing down the .040" of head diameter is no picnic. Even if FREE. Why even do it when you can get Lapua @$47.99/100 Midway. The only thing I see remotely close in size is 6PPC, but is only $3.00/100(Graf) cheaper, not enough cost savings to justify the reforming effort.

I just don't understand the logic of '06-7.62x39,

Jon

[Buckshot]

.............Well I made a 25 ACP case from a 45-70 once. It involved a great big hammer and steel plate, an oxy-acetylene torch, a pound die, and a lathe.

I figured it wasn't worth it :-)

...............Buckshot

[shotman]

i checked it with a mic there is .030 in size difference so it would not feed reliabley, if at all shotman

[NoDakJak]

Run a 303 Brit through a 7.62X39 full length die, trim to length and presto: a 7.62X39R case. A fine little cast boolit case in it's own right. You would need a lathe to turn the rim down to size and cut an extractor groove. By using the semi rimmed 220 Swift case the work is greatly diminished as the rim is much smaller. The 35 Remington is great. Just run through the sizer die and trim to length. Different ways to end up with the same case.
I have also used the 303 to make 6.5X53R and 6.5X54 cases. The 6.5X53R cases seem to be very hard to find and this method works well. Neil

[1hole]

"Either way '06 or 35 Rem brass squeezing down the .040" of head diameter is no picnic. Even if FREE. "

Roger that!

I was wondering if any reloader has ever tried to reduce the solid web/head of any round at all, even at few thousanths. Swaging a .473" head to .447" with a conventional press would be virtually impossible, with any die or set of dies.

It's certainly not worth the trouble it would entail, and for sure it's not worth it at the price of that die even if it was easy to do!