Re-sizing 270 up to 30.06

Texascoonhunter · December 30, 2013, 11:22 PM

Hello to All. I have been in the woods since early October and have not been on for a while. Anyway I have a question. What are the hazards of sizing 270 brass up to 30.06 and loading it ? Cartridge is same length, diameter except for the neck size. Has anyone done this. If so how did it work out ? Got my hands on a few 270 brass but don't shoot a 270. I do shoot the 30.06.

Thanks in advance for all replies

w748 · December 30, 2013, 11:37 PM

'06 is the parent case for the .270 , no reason it won't go back. You usually have fewer problems necking up than necking down.
Never did an '06 from .270 but have done hundreds of '06 to .35 and .223 to 7mm , just do all the usual safety stuff.

Tomas · December 31, 2013, 12:23 AM

It'll be fine. I've never done the .270 > .30-06, but I have a .308 and recently picked up a bunch of once fired .243 brass at the range. I took it home and resized all of it. It fights back a little as it goes through the resizer, as the expander ball is initially too big for the little hole. I actually had to switch dies from the RCBS, to my rarely used Hornady die, because its expander ball was more gradually sloped, and made the process much easier than the RCBS did. Resize, reload and shoot. Have fun.

5R milspec · December 31, 2013, 07:25 PM

Always mark the brass just to keep anyone from making a mistake one day. Hate to hear one day that someone like a friend picked it up thinking its a 270 and some how gets hurt trying to chamber it in their rifle. I know how hard it would be to chamber a 30/06 into a 270 but some people just don't take the time to look as close as one should.

On a second note I wouldn't do it unless your hurting for brass. I was a brass hog ounce and even did what you are asking about, but found it really wasn't something needed to do. Now I just hold onto it for a friend if in need or pass it on as scrap.

hodaka · December 31, 2013, 07:27 PM

You will need to trim because .270 is longer by a good bit.

Texascoonhunter · December 31, 2013, 10:28 PM

I want to thank all of you for your replies with advice and experiences. I will weigh the pro's and con's on this. Hope all have a Happy New Year and good health !

Sure Shot Mc Gee · December 31, 2013, 11:17 PM

Chances are you won't get many reloads from them for all your effort. Because of split necks. But they'll make good shoot and leave laying shells.

GeauxTide · January 1, 2014, 12:24 AM

Not so fast. The 30.06 is 2.494" and the 270 is 2.540. Minimum is trimming .046.

Pathfinder45 · January 1, 2014, 04:11 PM

It works a lot better the other way, '06 sized down to 270, because it doesn't ever need to be trimmed. But you can use it OK if you trim them properly. Evidently, the 270 is actually based on the 30-'03 cartridge, so the necks are longer.

Axelwik · January 1, 2014, 11:29 PM

30-06 brass is pretty abundant... Just saying.

RC20 · January 2, 2014, 02:33 PM

Really no point to it, worth it for the rare hard to find or non existent but the brass does take a bearing stretching it that much as something has to thin out (going up).

totalloser · January 2, 2014, 02:49 PM

One thing to consider is the change in length that will likely take place. I have gone done this with .357 sig and .40 and the case length changes going both ways.

I did it mostly out of curiosity after a discussion with my buddy (neither of us knew) and didn't think the length would work going .40 to .357, but the case length grew with necking down the .40. Almost perfectly. Only an academic adventure and I tossed the brass.

My guess is the .270 brass will get shorter as the .357 sig shells did for me. It's been a couple years, but as I recall, the brass shortened about .012"- barely within spec.

PS the Lee easyX is *very* nice for an operation like this.

markr · January 2, 2014, 03:09 PM

Quote:

30-06 brass is pretty abundant... Just saying.

For that matter, loaded 30/06 and .270 ammo seems to be cheaply and readily available at every big box store in town.

chris in va · January 2, 2014, 03:24 PM

I reload for my Garand. It's very easy to neck-up 270. Resize using your 30-06 die then trim down to 2.484". There is a fair amount of extra neck length on the 270 case but not absurd. I've reloaded and fired a couple dozen with zero issues.

James K · January 2, 2014, 08:38 PM

The assumption that the parent case for the .270 is the .30-'06 is wrong. The parent case for the .270 was the .30-'03, which is why the .270 case is a tad shorter than the .30-'06 case.

Jim

William T. Watts · January 2, 2014, 09:26 PM

I necked up (5) rounds of 1x FC 270 cases to 30 cal, after necking up and full length sizing the cases were trimmed and checked in a L.E. Wilson cartridge case gage. Even necking up and full length sizing the cases not a single case failed with an additionally four firings, no necks split/cracked nor primer pockets opening up or leaked. I felt comfortable enough to neck up, size, trim an additional 60 rounds and load for my grandsons 30/06. I'm not sure I would have wanted to do that with R-P or W-W cases because their brass is a bit harder. None of the 65+ cases I worked with failed! William

Pathfinder is correct about the 30/03 case being the parent case, the early military rifles that had 30/03 chambers had one thread remove off the shank and rechambered with the shorter neck!

Texascoonhunter · January 22, 2014, 09:44 PM

This was a very interesting post to me. I received lots of information. A person cannot gain all of this experience by their self in short order. It takes lots of time. So my hat is off to those of you who posted replies. Again I want to Thank YOU!

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Pathfinder45 · January 23, 2014, 12:44 AM

Suppose you have an 1895 Winchester in 30-'03...... You could simply use 30-'06 ammo. But say you want to reload and use correct length cases.......You'd likely be hard pressed to find real 30-'03 cases. No worries, just use necked up 270 cases. And that, my friends, is the beauty of reloading. Now, 33-WCF is a little more difficult, but I want one.

Clark · January 23, 2014, 01:42 AM

I have only turned 30-06 to 270, but not the other way around.

I have read some 260 Remington mythology:
a) 260 brass made from 308 brass, has thick necks that may pinch bullets and make a pressure spike ~10% of the time.
b) 7mm-08 brass makes the best 260 brass for sloppy SAAMI chambers.
c) 260 brass makes the second best 260 brass.
d) 243 makes lousy 260 brass because some shoulder turns into neck making a doughnut. But only Lapua brass needs reaming and RP brass does not.

December 30, 2013, 11:22 PM	#1
Texascoonhunter Member Join Date: February 23, 2013 Location: Northeast TEXAS Posts: 28	Re-sizing 270 up to 30.06 Hello to All. I have been in the woods since early October and have not been on for a while. Anyway I have a question. What are the hazards of sizing 270 brass up to 30.06 and loading it ? Cartridge is same length, diameter except for the neck size. Has anyone done this. If so how did it work out ? Got my hands on a few 270 brass but don't shoot a 270. I do shoot the 30.06. Thanks in advance for all replies __________________ Free People own firearms, subjects do not !!

December 31, 2013, 07:25 PM	#4
5R milspec Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 360	Always mark the brass just to keep anyone from making a mistake one day. Hate to hear one day that someone like a friend picked it up thinking its a 270 and some how gets hurt trying to chamber it in their rifle. I know how hard it would be to chamber a 30/06 into a 270 but some people just don't take the time to look as close as one should. On a second note I wouldn't do it unless your hurting for brass. I was a brass hog ounce and even did what you are asking about, but found it really wasn't something needed to do. Now I just hold onto it for a friend if in need or pass it on as scrap. __________________ life is great but its better when you can own as many guns you wish to own.for me I haven't bought enough yet.

December 31, 2013, 10:28 PM	#6
Texascoonhunter Member Join Date: February 23, 2013 Location: Northeast TEXAS Posts: 28	270 up2 30.06 I want to thank all of you for your replies with advice and experiences. I will weigh the pro's and con's on this. Hope all have a Happy New Year and good health ! __________________ Free People own firearms, subjects do not !!

January 1, 2014, 04:11 PM	#9
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	Trade Brass It works a lot better the other way, '06 sized down to 270, because it doesn't ever need to be trimmed. But you can use it OK if you trim them properly. Evidently, the 270 is actually based on the 30-'03 cartridge, so the necks are longer.

January 2, 2014, 02:49 PM	#12
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	One thing to consider is the change in length that will likely take place. I have gone done this with .357 sig and .40 and the case length changes going both ways. I did it mostly out of curiosity after a discussion with my buddy (neither of us knew) and didn't think the length would work going .40 to .357, but the case length grew with necking down the .40. Almost perfectly. Only an academic adventure and I tossed the brass. My guess is the .270 brass will get shorter as the .357 sig shells did for me. It's been a couple years, but as I recall, the brass shortened about .012"- barely within spec. PS the Lee easyX is very nice for an operation like this. __________________ You only truly believe in freedom if you believe in the freedom of those you disagree.

December 30, 2013, 11:37 PM	#2
w748 Member Join Date: February 19, 2008 Location: High in the Rockies Posts: 89	'06 is the parent case for the .270 , no reason it won't go back. You usually have fewer problems necking up than necking down. Never did an '06 from .270 but have done hundreds of '06 to .35 and .223 to 7mm , just do all the usual safety stuff.

December 31, 2013, 12:23 AM	#3
Tomas Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 1999 Location: Blue State Posts: 441	It'll be fine. I've never done the .270 > .30-06, but I have a .308 and recently picked up a bunch of once fired .243 brass at the range. I took it home and resized all of it. It fights back a little as it goes through the resizer, as the expander ball is initially too big for the little hole. I actually had to switch dies from the RCBS, to my rarely used Hornady die, because its expander ball was more gradually sloped, and made the process much easier than the RCBS did. Resize, reload and shoot. Have fun.

December 31, 2013, 07:27 PM	#5
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	You will need to trim because .270 is longer by a good bit.

December 31, 2013, 11:17 PM	#7
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	Chances are you won't get many reloads from them for all your effort. Because of split necks. But they'll make good shoot and leave laying shells.

January 1, 2014, 12:24 AM	#8
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Not so fast. The 30.06 is 2.494" and the 270 is 2.540. Minimum is trimming .046.

January 1, 2014, 11:29 PM	#10
Axelwik Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2012 Location: Land of Enchantment Posts: 436	30-06 brass is pretty abundant... Just saying.

January 2, 2014, 02:33 PM	#11
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Really no point to it, worth it for the rare hard to find or non existent but the brass does take a bearing stretching it that much as something has to thin out (going up).

January 2, 2014, 03:24 PM	#14
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I reload for my Garand. It's very easy to neck-up 270. Resize using your 30-06 die then trim down to 2.484". There is a fair amount of extra neck length on the 270 case but not absurd. I've reloaded and fired a couple dozen with zero issues.

January 2, 2014, 08:38 PM	#15
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The assumption that the parent case for the .270 is the .30-'06 is wrong. The parent case for the .270 was the .30-'03, which is why the .270 case is a tad shorter than the .30-'06 case. Jim

January 2, 2014, 09:26 PM	#16
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	I necked up (5) rounds of 1x FC 270 cases to 30 cal, after necking up and full length sizing the cases were trimmed and checked in a L.E. Wilson cartridge case gage. Even necking up and full length sizing the cases not a single case failed with an additionally four firings, no necks split/cracked nor primer pockets opening up or leaked. I felt comfortable enough to neck up, size, trim an additional 60 rounds and load for my grandsons 30/06. I'm not sure I would have wanted to do that with R-P or W-W cases because their brass is a bit harder. None of the 65+ cases I worked with failed! William Pathfinder is correct about the 30/03 case being the parent case, the early military rifles that had 30/03 chambers had one thread remove off the shank and rechambered with the shorter neck! Last edited by William T. Watts; January 3, 2014 at 09:40 AM.

January 22, 2014, 09:44 PM	#17
Texascoonhunter Member Join Date: February 23, 2013 Location: Northeast TEXAS Posts: 28	270 up to 30.06 This was a very interesting post to me. I received lots of information. A person cannot gain all of this experience by their self in short order. It takes lots of time. So my hat is off to those of you who posted replies. Again I want to Thank YOU! GOD BLESS AMERICA __________________ Free People own firearms, subjects do not !!

January 23, 2014, 12:44 AM	#18
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	A practical application....... Suppose you have an 1895 Winchester in 30-'03...... You could simply use 30-'06 ammo. But say you want to reload and use correct length cases.......You'd likely be hard pressed to find real 30-'03 cases. No worries, just use necked up 270 cases. And that, my friends, is the beauty of reloading. Now, 33-WCF is a little more difficult, but I want one.

January 23, 2014, 01:42 AM	#19
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I have only turned 30-06 to 270, but not the other way around. I have read some 260 Remington mythology: a) 260 brass made from 308 brass, has thick necks that may pinch bullets and make a pressure spike ~10% of the time. b) 7mm-08 brass makes the best 260 brass for sloppy SAAMI chambers. c) 260 brass makes the second best 260 brass. d) 243 makes lousy 260 brass because some shoulder turns into neck making a doughnut. But only Lapua brass needs reaming and RP brass does not. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?