Necking up 270 Winchester brass to 35 Whelen?

badaxeriverman

Beginner
Sep 29, 2024
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I just acquired about 116 pieces of ones fired PMC brass in 270 Winchester. I don’t own a 270. I do own a couple of 30-06 and a 35 Whelen. My plan was to neck them up to 35 Whelen. I think I did this years ago with about eight or nine pieces of 270 brass and some 280 brass I found at the range. If I remember right, I think I annealed the cases and then ran them up through my fl 30-06 die. Then through my fl 35 whelen die. None of the necks cracked. I am just wondering if my necks are still gonna be thick enough or if that’s too big of a stretch?
 
It's worth a try since you have them. Annealing like you mentioned would be a good idea. Maybe try a 1/2 dozen and see how it works.
 
All my 35 Whelen brass started out as 30-06. 1 trip thru the Lee FL die and bingo 35 Whelen.
As mentioned above anneal first.
 
I’d rather start with 06’ brass. Maybe if somebody here has a 270 win and need some brass and has 35 Whelen brass we can do some horse trading?
 
Yeah I decided to pass on the 270 brass that was going to be given to me figured it's going to be too big of a stretch in the necks are going to be too thin by the time I get done even if they don't crack. I'm pretty sure I have some 30 out 6 military casings laying around in my stash that don't have a head stamp on them saying what caliber they are so it'll be less confusing when I expand them to 358 and not being marked for caliber. Figured that's too big of a pile of brass to worry about to end up wrecking when someone else could probably use it way worse than I could.
 
Something similar to what you're asking in relation to thin necks. I used 243-win brass for making 35 rem account of making the necks thin so that once formed the outside case diameter with seated bullet wouldn't be too big and to keep from having to turn case necks. So, I believe necking up from 270 to 358 would be too much. As stated above you could try one and see what results you get just for experience's sake. Dan.
 
I use Redding dies for 35 Whelen and for the 35AI. I have used 270 brass and 280 brass to make both and my dies have a tappered neck expander in the 35whelen/AI and annealing the necks first is always best before resizing. The 270/280 brass is longer than 30-06, I have lost a few but they were old brass and loaded 10-20 times so I figure that was do to old age. When fire forming 30-06 brass the necks will shorten untill it is fire several times so don't trim the 270 brass is longer so the necks shouldn't be short after sizing, do not trim before sizing any of the brass, triming should be the last step if needed.
 
I think your on the right track.I made my 338-06 brass from 30-06 brass.When I got my 35 Whelen,I just necked up the 338-06 brass,it was easy.Taking the 270 to 30 cal first is a good move.Make sure you lube the inside well and it makes it easier too.
 
I don't think making .35 Whelen brass from .270 brass will be that big a problem. FWIW, Using 30-06 brass to do the same actually gives tou a cartidge that's slightly shorter than .35 Whelen specs but does no harm

If you want a cartridge conversion problem try taking 7MM Rem. mag. brass and making brass for the .375 Chatfield-Taylor sometimes called .397 Taylor or .375/338 Win. Mag. First you take the 7Mag brass, anneal then open necks to 30 caliber. Next, anneal again and open neck ro 35 caliber. Finally anneal and run through the .375 Taylor die to final sizing. I didn't lose a single case. Skip any of the earlier neck opening and I guarantee lost cases.

It's much simpler to use .338 Win. Mag. brass or my personal favorite, .458 Win. Mag. brass. Run them through the resizing die and trim just enough to insure square case necks. Either of these two ways is probably the easiest and fastes way ro get brass. I don't even bother to fire form; just load them up and go hunting. I noticed no difference between the newly sized brass and fire formed brass redarding velocity and accuracy from my rifle.

Reworking that .270 brass should not be a problem.
Paul B.
 
Yeah, I don’t think it would’ve been a problem either but I just figured be better to start with 30 at six brass since I’m only “upsizing” one time to try and keep my case necks as thick as possible.
 
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