Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Forming .240 Weatherby from .25-06 brass??

That's really cool that you can form an expensive case from a cheap one like that! And even cooler than a belt can be formed! I'd like to see a video or some pics of your forming die... this is just way cool.

Not much to video. You'd see a mid 60's quite handsome fellow, putting some serious arm muscle on a Redding Big Boss press as a .25-06 case is squeezed into a die, looking like most any other die. The "shell holder" has no case head slot and looks like a round, flat topped platform. Once the case if fully in the die, using max over the top cam action by the big press, the star of the film take a punch and a big hammer, and gently taps the new case out of the die with a few well placed blows. Transformation complete.

I could post photos of the die/shell holder set, but it's easier to go on the CH4D website and see their info. Better done layout than I could do.

Gotta be somewhat of a "hoss" to work the press. 96 pound weaklings need not apply. They need to just buy factory brass...

DF

CH4D doesn't have photos as I thought. So, I took these. You can see the "shell holder" and the punch. The very nice looking knock out punch they supplied was slightly oversize. I made me one from a large nail to use until I can get their's cut down.

Pretty simple, actually.

DF

Love the nail idea

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do...

Talked with the guy at CH4D and I'm going to send the punch back for replacement. They're good folks and are there to help out any way they can.

In the mean time, the nail is king...

DF

You're right. Although I don't think Winchester would be overly thrilled to hear their brass referred to as "cheap", it is about 1/3rd the cost of the Roy version, either from Wby. or Norma. About 70 rounds of homemade .240 Wby. brass will pay for the die set.

That little belt has made ole Roy, and now son, Ed, some serious pocket change over the years. I guess everyone needs an annuity...

DF

This is an old Barnes load, using their 85 gr. XLC BT bullet with the blue coating. Those bullets could be driven faster due to the coating, but Barnes has discontinued them. With the 85 gr. NPT, there is no indication of pressure problems with this load. Most Big Game loads for the .240 Wby. are for lighter bullets. This load seems to work very well the 85 gr. NPT.

Maybe we're seeing the benefit of the Wby. freebore. Wasn't the concept for faster powders to function like slower powders, i.e. Roy Weatherby's use of 4350 in his big magnums? I know the .240 has less freebore than some of the others, however. Just thinking...

DF