Could someone tell me the right way to make 35 Whelen brass from once fired 30-06 brass? Can I go straight from 06 brass to the full length 35 Whelen die and do I need to fireform the new brass?

Thanks,
Andy

I'd start with virgin brass, neck up and fireform.

Steelhead,

I have a lot of once fired 30-06.... What's the downside of using it instead of new?

If you load a normal 35 whelen load in your cases before fireforming will accuracy suck or is their some other reason to fireform before using a normal powder charge and bullet?

What's the best lube to use on the inside of the case necks when sizing up.

Thanks,
Andy

It's been a while since I went to the trouble, but yes you can size it straight up as I recall.
Once fired may size up just fine .
If the brass has been fired several times it can work harden and you may split some of the necks if you don't anneal them.
Most of the whelan dies have a nice tapered expander for just such uses.
A dab of case lube on the inside of the neck too can help if you remember to clean it out.
Imperial dry case neck lube works well .And no I don't fire form, check case length though.
good luck

My experience is the same as colodog's. Lube the necks! or you may pull the shoulder forward and give you a funny headspace problem that can become quite headscratcher. Other than that I maybe lost 4 cases out of 200 due to neck splits when using brass of unknown origin.I use dry mica for neck lube.

Here's the method that Ken Howell suggests and that I've used with good success.

Dr Ken Howell

All but one of the methods that I've used produced off-center necks. Fortunately, the only one method that I can recommend works perfectly � fire-forming with inert filler. I've used a hydraulic case-former, a tapered expander button, a series of expander buttons (.308, 8mm, .338, .358), etc, and found 'em all disappointing. Fire-forming was a most-welcome discovery.

� Prime with pistol primers.
� Lube cases with good case lube.
� Load a test case with 10 to 12 grains of Bullseye or other fast pistol powder (generally, I go light with a .25-06 case and use a bit more with a .30-06 case).
� Wad � sheet of toilet tissue into a loose ball and tamp it down lightly atop the powder charge.
� Fill case to the mouth with inert filler (Cream of Wheat, Instant Ralston, corn meal, etc) � but not flour.
� Close mouth with smear of Vaseline, cast-bullet lube, paraffin wax, or a disc of paper from a paper punch.
� Insert case in chamber with muzzle up.
� Fire.
� Inspect test case. If shoulder hasn't formed full and sharp, increase test load slightly and try again.

I just run them through my RCBS dies and then shoot them?
Maybe I just got lucky?
whelennut

Me too. No luck necessary. It just plain works.
Paul B.

I use once fired 06 brass for my 35 whelen all the time, no fire-forming with excellent acccuracy, just lube the inside of the necks well with imperial sizing wax and have at it, really cant get any easier. I adjust my dies for a slight crush fit when chambered and like i said accuracy is very good.

An awesome lubricant to neck up any brass is Armorall protectant. Apply sparingly with a piece of Armorall protectant wipe wrapped around a .277-284 brass brush on a section of cleaning rod. You don't even have to remove it. I have been using it for years making 358 out of 308 and 35 Whelen from 30-06. Cuts way down on neck splits. Once fired brass is all I use, buying new brass in the wrong caliber doesn't make sense to me.

OK. I'm glad I asked. Just running it throught a 35 Whelen resizer is much easier.

I knew I should ask. Many thanks!

BTW: I'm doing it for economy. I was checking this morning, and the cheap 35 Whelen brass was a thing of the past. My first batch was new 35 Whelen RP, but that was 15 years ago. I guess times change.

I finished resizing my small stockpile of once fired and range pick up .30-06; using Imperial Wax and a Hornady sizing die I went through somewhere between 125 and 150 cases.

I lost 3 cases to split necks during the resizing process but all others look perfectly fine.

Been making .35 Whelen brass from .30-06 for years, lube with Imperial Wax inside case neck and outside and run thru .35 Whelen sizing die. Eazy-peasy, no additional steps needed