Making 338 Rum brass

Bravo 4 said:

I've used 7 RUM brass to make .338 Edge and RUM. I do anneal it first.

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Yea I too did anneal this case just before the process going to try another in the morning just gonna go slow

YZEATER said:

i made 3 up this morning. here is a pic. i'm gonna shoot 'em this afternoon.

it looks as though the shoulder doesn't have as sharp of an angle as factory made cases, but i'm sure after one firing you could never tell. i got a little dent on once case. neck thickness seems very close to the 338 rum.


left, factory 300 rum. middle, 300 rum sized to 338 rum, not trimmed yet. right, original 338 rum.

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How did this work out?
Did the brass work ok?
Donuts, neck turning?
Did you go thru a FL die with tapered expander?

Worked fine. I used a regular die. This was when brass was hard to get.

YZEATER said:

Worked fine. I used a regular die. This was when brass was hard to get.

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Worked for me just fine too.

So just a regular FL die, no neck running or donuts?

Bravo 4 said:

Worked for me just fine too.

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Just like we said, worked fine.

Thanks!
Do you use a bushing die, when reloading?

I used a regular full length RCBS die.

I'm thinking about trying this.

I have a friend who wants to sell me some Norma brass once fired. Looking at the brass options, I want something that will last a while before the primer pockets get loose. There is Nosler, Hornady, Gunwerks, ADG and Bertram I think. Would any of those be better than Norma?

For dies I was thinking about Hornady to start and sending fired cases to Lee for a custom collet sizing die.

I also have a K&M neck expander and neck turning setup. I can anneal.

Some people mention cutting down a 375 RUM die to push the shoulder back. I don't understand what's different between that and just removing the expander of a 338 RUM full length sizing die?

Unless there is something I'm missing, it seems like I should just remove the Hornady expander and then either:

K&M expand (making essentially 338 Edge), trim to 338 RUM length, size in the Hornady die and then trim again.

K&M expand (making essentially 338 Edge), size in the Hornady die and then trim.

Size in the Hornady die, trim to 338 RUM length, K&M expand and then trim again.

Or size in the Hornady die, K&M expand and then trim.

After doing one of those, I'll ream and neck turn with my K&M neck turner unless the necks are too thin.

Which method should be best for making good concentric necks?

Should I be thinking about different dies?

I like the Hornady seaters with their micrometer stem.

I like the idea of a custom collet die so the brass won't be worked excessively.

Since I'm only going to use the sizing die for case forming and the occasional shoulder bump, I think I might as well get the Hornady set.

I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

Thanks

waddwadd said:

Im in the process of building a 338 Rum. The problem I have is brass availablility. No one seems to have any in stock at this moment. Can a person form it from 300 Rum or 375 Rum brass. Is it feasable to push the shoulder back .01 without any problems. Has anybody tried this before? any help appreciated.
Wade

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there is some for sale in reloading supplies names grouse

There is no way I'd be making brass for something that you can get ADG brass for, 8 years ago, ya made 338 RUM brass but not now!!

The Norma brass I can get is a lot cheaper than ADG.

It's hard to know what to believe but I have seen people complain about soft primer pockets in everything including ADG brass.

If I don't need to buy any extra dies, I'm not seeing what the downside is beside more prep.