Fireforming 280 Remington

Dewalt280 · April 18, 2008, 09:06 AM

I am looking to start reloading 280 Remington. I have a bunch of 270 winchester brass and was wondering if it can be fire formed up to the 280 chamber. It is my understanding the shoulder was moved forward on the 280 case so it couldn't be chambered in the 270 accidentally. If so, the 270 case would chamber in the 280 but do you think there would be too much stress in reforming the shoulder during firing? Maybe a reduced load just to move the shoulder?

SL1 · April 18, 2008, 02:30 PM

The best way to do it is to form a "false shoulder" on the case to control headspace when you fire-form. Expand the case necks to .308", then size in the 280 die to .284" only as far back as the end of the neck will be when the case is finished being fire-formed. Annealing the neck after fire-forming will help prolong case life.

Some people have gotten away with just firing the unmodified 270 cases in controlled-feed 280 actions because the case hangs on the extractor near the back of the chamber to be struck by the firing pin. But, in push-fee actions, that my give misfires and will unnecessarily stretch the case if it fires. In push-feed actions, the 270 case would stretch about 0.051" MORE than a factory 280 case stretches when first fired, if the false shoulder is not used. In a controlled-feed action, the amount of stretch depends on how well the extractor holds the case away from the chamber shoulder, if the false shoulder is not first created in the 270 case.

SL1

April 18, 2008, 09:06 AM	#1
Dewalt280 Junior Member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Posts: 4	Fireforming 280 Remington I am looking to start reloading 280 Remington. I have a bunch of 270 winchester brass and was wondering if it can be fire formed up to the 280 chamber. It is my understanding the shoulder was moved forward on the 280 case so it couldn't be chambered in the 270 accidentally. If so, the 270 case would chamber in the 280 but do you think there would be too much stress in reforming the shoulder during firing? Maybe a reduced load just to move the shoulder?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

April 18, 2008, 02:30 PM	#2
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	The best way to do it is to form a "false shoulder" on the case to control headspace when you fire-form. Expand the case necks to .308", then size in the 280 die to .284" only as far back as the end of the neck will be when the case is finished being fire-formed. Annealing the neck after fire-forming will help prolong case life. Some people have gotten away with just firing the unmodified 270 cases in controlled-feed 280 actions because the case hangs on the extractor near the back of the chamber to be struck by the firing pin. But, in push-fee actions, that my give misfires and will unnecessarily stretch the case if it fires. In push-feed actions, the 270 case would stretch about 0.051" MORE than a factory 280 case stretches when first fired, if the false shoulder is not used. In a controlled-feed action, the amount of stretch depends on how well the extractor holds the case away from the chamber shoulder, if the false shoulder is not first created in the 270 case. SL1