Neck down 30-06 to 25-06

[Dickieray]

Is this much trouble to do, or worth the trouble?

[tazman]

I did that very thing years ago and it worked splendidly. Just use your normal full length sizer and load them. The necks shouldn't get thick enough from that small a reduction in size to be a problem and it wasn't for me in 3 different rifles.

[EDG]

It worked fine for me and I used heavy military brass. I did not have to turn the necks.

[5Shot]

Should be easy. I have made 308 from 30-06 and it isn't bad at all.

[dh2]

I have done it years ago when the 25-06 was pretty much a wild cat. it did shoot well but the necks cracked after four or more firings. I had better results using .270 Win. brass , now days 25-06 brass is easy to get but if I needed some I would make from 30-06 if that is what I had.

[racepres]

Sice I have a 6mm-06 I find 25-06 simple.
The 6mm-06 is designed to use resized 30-06 brass...keeps the necks the correct thickness...somewhat, still needs turning or reaming sometimes.
I also have a 25-06 that may have originally been a Wildcat, not Commercial dimensions. It wants a thicker neck than most others I have encountered.
I don't really enjoy "thinning" necks, so I experiment with "parent" cartridges, as I don't like thin necks either as Failure occurs soon enough without overworking the neck.

[lotech]

I used GI brass in 1965 when the .25-06 was still a wildcat. I've formed many wildcats over the years, but the .25-06 was about the easiest, usually with no case loss. However, and regardless of what brass you use for forming, check those necks. There's often a good chance they will require turning, particularly when making a large neck smaller.

[Maven]

"...regardless of what brass you use for forming, check those necks. There's often a good chance they will require turning, particularly when making a large neck smaller." ...lotech

My experience as well. Also, if you have a surplus of .30-06 brass, but a shortage of .25-06, it makes sense to at least consider converting it.

[Don Fischer]

Is 25-06 brass that expensive that you need to make them? I have done it, I also size down 280 Rem for 6.5-06. I do that because I have a 30-06 and ton's of brass but don't want to take a chance on mixing them up.

[runfiverun]

I actually prefer making the 25 cases from 270 brass, this way I can trim them to length for the particular rifle.

[opos]

PPU loaded ammo is so reasonable and such good brass that I bought up some a while back..after a few loads the cost of the brass is so amortized over the total cost it's not much of a big deal...I've loaded 25-06 since the early 60's and have used my share of "donor brass" from 30-06 and 270 over the years...never had a problem..just like the idea of one "factory shot" to set to my rifle and then neck sizing from then on.

[Dickieray]

Thanks Guys.
I'm good on brass for now and will be watching for 1 X on the forum.
Just curious for "options" if I cant' find 25-06 when I need some!