Years ago, ( Around 1968 ) I bought an electric furnace hardened 8 X 57 mm file trim tool . It looks like a shortened 8X57 die, but has no internals. Bump the shell holder against the bottom of the die, put in a 06' case that is lubed and everything that sticks out the top is cut off with a fine tooth hack saw blade. ( The hack saw blade won't even scratch the top of the die ).
I have 1,000 L/C , U.S. military blanks, I paid $10 for them about 30 years ago. I knew then that I could make 8 X 57 mm brass out of them. They have just been sitting on the shelf waiting for me to tackle the job.
There is a crimp ring on the neck of a blank. Once they go through an RCBS 8 X 57 mm F/L sizing die and my neck turner is used on them to give a .012 " thick case neck, that crimp ring is removed.
This has been working real well. I seem to get just as many loads with this brass as I do commercial cases ( maybe more....... )
Any cast 8 mm bullet sized to .325 or .326 chambers easily with my formed cases in my scout rifle.
I find it very comforting to know if " Hard Times " come, I can still shoot my 8 X 57 mm Scout Rifle, even if commercial brass is unavailable.
I realize that there is considerable controversy about the strength of military blank brass, some say it is " reject " brass. Others say it is no different than any other US military brass.
To be on the safe side of things ( always a GREAT place to be ) , I reserve my formed cases for light cast bullet loads that build mild to moderate pressure. I have fired 100's of rounds of cast loads with my formed 8 X 57 mm brass with zero problems.
I'm certain that many will look at this and say ....." Way to much work ".
However, If you can't obtain 8 X 57 mm brass in the future, this system may end up looking real good. It will keep my Scout Rifle Shooting.
I've made 8 X 57 with this system using commercial 25/06 cases, 270, .280, and 30-06 cases. All form well into 8 X 57 mm.
Ben
Here I am removing the military crimp :
Here is the " Finished Product ". NOE 326407 plain base, sized to .326", 10.0 grs. of Promo, Wolf LR Primer.
I have 1,000 L/C , U.S. military blanks, I paid $10 for them about 30 years ago. I knew then that I could make 8 X 57 mm brass out of them. They have just been sitting on the shelf waiting for me to tackle the job.
There is a crimp ring on the neck of a blank. Once they go through an RCBS 8 X 57 mm F/L sizing die and my neck turner is used on them to give a .012 " thick case neck, that crimp ring is removed.
This has been working real well. I seem to get just as many loads with this brass as I do commercial cases ( maybe more....... )
Any cast 8 mm bullet sized to .325 or .326 chambers easily with my formed cases in my scout rifle.
I find it very comforting to know if " Hard Times " come, I can still shoot my 8 X 57 mm Scout Rifle, even if commercial brass is unavailable.
I realize that there is considerable controversy about the strength of military blank brass, some say it is " reject " brass. Others say it is no different than any other US military brass.
To be on the safe side of things ( always a GREAT place to be ) , I reserve my formed cases for light cast bullet loads that build mild to moderate pressure. I have fired 100's of rounds of cast loads with my formed 8 X 57 mm brass with zero problems.
I'm certain that many will look at this and say ....." Way to much work ".
However, If you can't obtain 8 X 57 mm brass in the future, this system may end up looking real good. It will keep my Scout Rifle Shooting.
I've made 8 X 57 with this system using commercial 25/06 cases, 270, .280, and 30-06 cases. All form well into 8 X 57 mm.
Ben
Here I am removing the military crimp :
Here is the " Finished Product ". NOE 326407 plain base, sized to .326", 10.0 grs. of Promo, Wolf LR Primer.
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