Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Forming 243 brass from 308

Hi - Back in the 70s I formed a LOT of 243 brass from 308, basically anneal, size down to .25-08, neck ream, size on down to .243, and then load etc.; Due to a family member taking a lot of my belongings, I have to redo that to get back varminting. I can find the 25-08 reamer die and reamer but they're about $180 or so for the pair; Is there any less-expensive option for doing this that anyone knows of? I don't mind investing in good tools, just curious if a 6.5 Creedmore or something reamer (basically same thing as .25-08, for my purposes) is available cheaper than the special order 25-08 reamer and trim die, anyone know? Thanks

You could buy a lot of new 243 for what you would have invested in tooling. I make my own 218 bee and 20 practical, but I can't see making something I can easily buy for $25/100. 243

Yep, 243 brass is cheap enough and easy to get. I needed some once and easily made it with a 260 Remington die to size. It is always easier if you run the 308 thru a full length 308 die and then work on the neck. If I remember right the cases had a little ridge in the shoulder that fired right out perfect on the first load. Of course it helps too if you anneal them first. I also did some with a 7mm-08 die before the 260, but it really wasn't necessary to do it that way...no real advantage I could see, just another step.

Dang - It is sure cheaper & easier to get now than it was back then! A few years will change things I don't know that particular brass co. but I imagine they're decent?

For once fired brass, contact forum member John Johnson

his company is the Brassman... he gets once fired brass from a number of Police Depts

and then from Firearms Manufacturers they have after rifle testing, and also
bullet manufacturers...


mega reasonable prices...

https://brassmanbrass.com/

Good information, Thanks!

I do make some 243 case's from 308, have for a long time. I simply take a 308 case and run it through a 243 die, has worked every time. If you wanted to do it in steps, you might consider some inexpensive 260 die instead of some special die. If I were to neck down in two pass's I believe the best way is to remove the expander nipple from the 260 or what ever you use die. A 25-308 die was a 25 Super and I'd think it would be awful expensive. I'm with the other's that in that case just buy up a whole bunch of new 243 case's.

Don, you can end up with far too much neck thickness, that could cause overpressure problems (I really like the lowest pressure that will give me the desired velocity; Pushing my Luck just isn't my thing!) Too much neck thickness would in effect pinch the bullet in place as the round goes off, you could ream or neck turn the brass to remove the excess (which is why I was using a reamer at the 25 Souper stage, it's fast and easy compared to my neck turner.)

MrSheesh,

Not sure how much brass you need for starters but save yourself some work.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1390350119/winchester-reloading-brass-243-winchester-bagged

As cheap as 243 brass is, I wouldn't waste my time trying to reform it. Not long ago someone on here gave info on some primed 243 brass at some very good prices. I ordered 200 pieces, and it looked like good stuff.

I had a ton of .308 brass I turned into .243 brass.
One shot right thru a .243 die and then turned the necks...next time I'll just buy .243 brass.

agree with the others that recommend buying 243 brass as a better use of your time and $$$

I did it once because I had a sh*t ton of military .308 Match brass and no .308 (and no desire to own one). One pass into a .243 full length die, anneal, neck turned. Voilà.

I made some 270 out of 30-06 one and it seemed to raise the pressure . No more of that

I use a 7mm-08 trim die then a .243 trim die and finally a .243 full length resizer with lots of lube. I've had no failures.

kwg