Forming 35 Whelen from 30.06

[crimedog]

Anybody done this? Wondering if you can just put the 06 case in the reloader and form it with the 35 Whelen die?

[Rootsy]

helps to have a tapered expander ball when doing this... can do it with a regular die if it has some lead but it takes some ooomph... make sure you lube the inside of the case mouth as well as the outside of the case and give it a try... a good heavy duty press such as a rockchucker is a good idea IMO...

[DM]

I've done it with a tapered expander, but the necks come out truer when i fireformed the cases up.

I've had my best luck useing Imperial sizeing die wax (lube) for this.

DM

[Dan in Alaska]

DM, for fireforming, like you're referring to.....do you just shoot .30-06 ammo in your .35 Whelen? I would suspect the accuracy to be non-exsistant, but can you damage the barrel by doing this? I suppose it shouldn't, since bullets are fairly soft, it just sounds odd to me. Do you do the same for your .338-06?

I guess I shouldn't be too suprised, though. I did talk to a guy the other day that shoots factory .375 H&H in his .458 Lott to fireform brass....

[bronko22000]

no - DON'T FIRE .30-06 AMMO IN YOUR 35 WHELEN. Get a set of 35 Whelen dies like from RCBS. That is the brand I used and it has a tapered expander.
Lube your new or once fired '06 brass (older brass may be too brittle at the mouth) and run it into the die to size/decap.
Clean cases and reprime. For a fire forming load, use the lightest load listed for the powder you select. Don't worry about accuracy. And do not use a load lighter than listed as this may also give you pressure problems. Thes light loads will be more than suffucient to form the case shoulder to the chamber of your Whelen.
I believe you can also buy 35 whelen brass from places like MidwayUSA.com or Midsouthshooterssupply.com

[DM]

DM, for fireforming, like you're referring to.....do you just shoot .30-06 ammo in your .35 Whelen?

NO, do not do this....

I prime the case and then use a small amount of pistol poiwder... On top of that i pour cream of wheat and tamp it down, filling again... I then fire them outside loading and holding the bbl in the "up" position...

Ajust the powder amount half grainat a time untill you just get nice necks... Bullseye works pretty good...

I've fireformed thousands upon thousands of shells and it's always worked best for me....

DM

[crimedog]

The 35 Whelen brass is $34.00 at cabelas, 30.06 brass is free at any public outdoor range.

[bronko22000]

I'd be very careful about using a pistol powder in the '06 cases for fire forming. Personally I wouldn't do it and would opt for a light load of the rifle powder of choice.

[Dan in Alaska]

Thanks for the clarification, DM. I don't think I will do this, however. My Redding .338-06 dies seem to do alright for me; there's less horsing around with one less trip to the range. I doubt my neighbors would like me touching off fire-form loads in my driveway.

Thanks again.

[Pawildman]

Dan...You might be able to get away with that this coming New Year's Eve....