Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Fire Forming 358 Win

Got my new 358 Win home and want to make some brass from 308 bras. I read somewhere about a light load of powder and some kind of filler to expand the necks. Can anybody tell me how to do it?

Never done it, but I know it was ? Powder over cream of wheat, topped with shredded toilet paper, or some such. You could just find some cheap lead bullets and run the cases through a expander/sizer, and find a light load recipe, shoot stumps, I'd think.

Thanks.

No need to fire form 358's made from 308 cases. Use a tapered expander and size as normal. Just check to make sure they chamber OK. I have necked up hundreds of rounds and loaded them with my preferred loads, never had an issue.

Neck up a Laupa 308 case, prime, charge, seat bullet with available data and fire away. There is nothing to fire form with the 358.

I also neck them up with the sizer die. I usually do it in two steps since I have dies for the 32 Spl, it makes it a bit easier but I have done it in one fell swoop from 30 to 35.

Dale

Just use the tapered expander in your sizer, square up the cases and load.
No muss no fuss.

SC

Cocoa-Puffs and Soy Milk...while standing on a ladder.

Laughing..............

I just have the CH dies that came with the rifle and that expa der is almost round. The most economic way for me is to fire form.

If I use rice will it make puffed rice?

Lube the inside of the neck and try it.

I own 9 358 win rifles and have often just necked 308 cases to 358 by just running them through the 358 dies. Not a problem. Try it before you waste your time fire-forming cases. Good grief.

Just did. I had to hang my 175 pounds on the Rockchucker but it worked. Next time I go to town I will look for a 338 button for a RCBS die. I doubt I will find one for the CH die.

Thanks.

While many dies have more-tapered expander balls than they used to a few years ago, the elliptical expander on the Hornady dies makes for very easy neck expansion--the reason my .358 Win. dies are Hornadys. They make turning .308's into .358's really easy.

Some swapping of parts showes the CH dies will take a RCBS button. I will look to see what I can find.

RCBS has tapered expander pieces.

I tried to order one for my RCBS dies, but they just sent it to me free of charge.

RCBS seems to do customer service right and then some.

MuleDeer, as usual, is in the know.

Hornady dies are the ones for easy neck ups. My 9.3x57 dies will turn 8s into 9.3s with ease, even using the little Lee hand press away from my reloading desk.

this

Lee .358 FL dies have a plunger, and work really nicely. Just lube the cases, and you shouldn't have any problems.

Fireforming is a waste of time, money, primers and powder. I've sized hundreds of .30-06 into .35 Whelen just by running them thru the Whelen sizing die. Just be sure the inside of the necks is well lubed or you'll stick a case in the sizer die. Check the newly made .358 cases with a case length gage which also checks the case headspace. You want to be sure the case headspace is correct, neither too little which creates excess headspace in the case nor too much which will not allow the case to chamber. The newly formed cases will also need to be trimmed as the forming operation will not leave them square also they may be a little long. Your gage will show you this.

Thanks for your input. I have dies and a new set is not in the budget. I am going to look around locally for a 338 expander to use in either my 308 or 30-06 die then take it all the way to 357. The necking up is just the firs steo. I will trim, deburr flash hole, uniform primer pockets and then check to see if the necks need turning to clean up. Heck, I might even get crazy and ream the flash holes round. Then when is miss, no longer as rair as it once was, I can only say I missed.

Scott, Farmer reloading tip #99, Take a 308 case, lube the inside of the neck and take a pair of NN pliers and push/turn inside of the case mouth to expand enough to get things started.-Muddy

All the extra fussing around like reaming, neck turning is a waste of time. In a hunting rifle you will not see any appreciable improvement, a rifle built to benchrest specs is quite a different story. I did all those things when I was a neophite reloader, experience has taught me to use the KISS principle when it comes to most of my reloading. Don't get me wrong though, I do uniform the primer pocket depth and uniform/deburr the flash hole as these are quick and easy to do especially if you adapt your tools to motorized rather than hand powered.

This is a rifle built for Ken Howell. It is not only some of the finest wood craftsmanship I have seen it has all apearences of being a tack driver. Ken seemed to think it was when he did the write-up in the Nozler number two.

I just want to see what it will do.

Got pics?

Please share with the group how you can tell by a rifle's appearance how accurate it will be? I stand by my previous statement and over 40yrs. experience as a handloader. If the rifle is not a benchrest rifle, spending time with the operations you've cited will not show any perceptible benefit as regards accuracy. But hey, it's your time if it makes you happy then have fun.

I am guessing it will shoot because Ken told me it would when he gave it to me and because three of us shot it at Quemado.

I am somewhat new to reloading and appreciate your advice, I did not start until 1964 so I still have a lot to learn. I am also the crazy fool who has mead several sets of hand dies for myself and friends.

My wife is staying with family helping with a BIL who got his stem cells back last week. I no longer can drive and thus am stranded. I am retired and about to go out of what is left of my mind in boredom so keeping my hands busy is a good thing. In my limited experience case prep can make a big difference in some rifles and has never made any rifle I have fooled with shoot worse. This will never be a benchrest rifle but what would be wrong in entertaining myself trying to wring out the best it and I can do? To be honest it may already shoot better than I can with the old Winchester factory stuff I got with it.

In no way am I trying to start a pissing match with anybody. I just asked a question and I got some great answers. Heck, I might stick around the Campfire thing for a while and see if it is any good.

Only poor pictures taken from my cell and not worthy of posting. I gave away my laptop and thus my ability to post quality pictures.

RCBS tapered expander button on the way.

Got real camera, Laptop and rifle together so here goes.













[img]http://i721.photobucket.com/al...20Quemado/DSCF1294_zps66480653.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i721.photobucket.com/al...20Quemado/DSCF1295_zpseba989b1.jpg[/img]

Fine rifle.

The elk have already went into hiding at the sight of those pics.

Luck may let you find one of those hiding elk. Bullet luck seems to be with you. This rarely listed Shooters Pro Shop item will be just the thing:

http://www.shootersproshop.com/nosl...shed-bullets.html?caliber=34&cat=133

can't you just carefully grind some taper to your existing sizing button ?

Ed

What John said!

Unfortunately, I didn't get an opportunity to look at your rifle in the loading frenzy at Ken's house on Sunday. It's a handsome rifle, and anything made by Iver Henriksen is worth cherishing. I am glad that you did get a chance to shoot it before you headed home, and that it shot up to your expectations.

Enjoy your ammo making. Handloading is a good way to kill some time--you can take your time and make it as time consuming as you wish. Post a picture of a target when you get a chance.

Will do.

wow, that was a helluva deal while it lasted.

I'd have bought several boxes for $20/ea! those things are normally a buck a piece!

It was such a screaming deal that I had to give our new .35 shot at it by posting it.

I am not surprised that they went fast, given that amazing price on likely the best do-it-all .35 bullet available.

What action is that one built on? powdr

Mexican Mauser.

Classy looking rig.

Scott
Who was the builder of that rifle. Cheers NC

Iver Henriksen.

That is a gorgeous rifle.

Thank you sir. Cheers NC

RCBS tapered expandar button arrived today. It does fit on the CH rod and it works great with little effort. I sized ten pieces of 308 brass to 358 and measured the neck thickness with a pin mic. Largest difference is under .0006 so there is no need to turn necks.

Thanks for the help.

Load some ammo see if chambers without effort and no early pressure sign. Son's 358 is tight of chamber for simpley necking up 308 brass or at least any we tried so far is too tight with out turning necks

Yep, what Johnny said ... plus it really helps to use a VLD neck chamfering tool heavily on the insides of the necks. Also, grease the inside of the necks with lube of some kind. I've tried STP, Redding, Hornady and all they all work well.

kd

We do use new hornsdy dies perisl die wax , but still get the "donut" with the brass we've tried plus the chamber is tight

I really doubt the chamber is that tight but I will check before I load a bunch.