Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

bowslngr

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Minuteman
Dec 29, 2009
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OK. At the risk of being labeled a complete moron, I am going to ask a question that I have never heard or seen asked before.

Lets say I have a bunch of 243 reloads collecting dust, but that I do not own a 243 any more.

Is it safe to just load them up in one of my 260s and fire them? If it is safe, would it blow the necks out to something close to 260 diameter so resizing for future use in 260 would be an easy thing to do?

I am sure that at least one person is going to tell me to just pull the damn bullets, dump the powder and resize to 260, but I am just curious if this would work.
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

Why would you shoot 243 ammo out of a 260? A 6mm bullet going down a 6.5 tube would give you zero accuracy and probably fuck up your barrel and quite possibly your face.

pull the damn bullets, dump the powder and resize to 260...
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bowslngr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I am sure that at least one person is going to tell me to just pull the damn bullets, dump the powder and resize to 260, but I am just curious if this would work. </div></div>

Me!
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

I've seen 243's accidentally fired from a 308 without a problem. The case comes out well fireformed into the 308.

Accuracy is so abysmal that the round did not impact the 100yd burm.

ETA: One of the published ways to fireform 280 brass from 270 brass was to fire the 270's in the 280 chamber, rattle the bullet down the bore and have a fireformed case. This was published in the 60's
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bowslngr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OK. At the risk of being labeled a complete moron, I am going to ask a question that I have never heard or seen asked before.

Lets say I have a bunch of 243 reloads collecting dust, but that I do not own a 243 any more.

Is it safe to just load them up in one of my 260s and fire them? If it is safe, would it blow the necks out to something close to 260 diameter so resizing for future use in 260 would be an easy thing to do?

I am sure that at least one person is going to tell me to just pull the damn bullets, dump the powder and resize to 260, but I am just curious if this would work.</div></div>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Wow!</span> That <span style="font-weight: bold">is</span> the first time I've heard that question.

At least you asked before trying it.
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

For clarification, I don't give a hoot about the accuracy. Was just wondering if this would work to fire form the cases to 260. I am concerned about two things:

1. Is there a real safety concern?
2. Is there any chance that I could screw up the rifling in my bore?
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

Works fine. Pressures low. Accuracy miserable. I've done it in the far distant past before .35 Whelen cases were commercially available. .30-06 military fired in the rifle became instantly reloadable .35 Whelen brass. Never harmed the barrel. JMHO
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

no saftey concern, as for the barrel, let us know if accuracy suffers after bouncing bullets down the barrel. wear saftey goggles, the case necks may not expand fast enough to keep some gas from exiting back.
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

just shit can the 243 stuff or pull all the bullets, dump the powder, punch the live primers, expand the necks, neck turn to remove the extra material from the shouilder that is now part of the neck, load and shoot shitty groups fireforming the brass to it new chamber this puts unneeded rounds down the barrel increasing wear, its your gun.
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

One common practice to fireform .22 russian brass into 6PPC is to load a case full of RIFLE powder, seat a .22 bullet and fire away in a 6PPC chambered barrel. The cases will be perfectly fireformed, you ain't gonna blow up your rifle as some have stated...

The necks WILL expand enough to seal the chamber, accuracy sucks.
wink.gif
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bowslngr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For clarification, I don't give a hoot about the accuracy. Was just wondering if this would work to fire form the cases to 260. I am concerned about two things:

1. Is there a real safety concern?
2. Is there any chance that I could screw up the rifling in my bore? </div></div>

Umm, really?
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

Thanks to all of you for the feedback/advice. I think I am just going to stew on this for a while longer. I am not really in need of the extra brass yet, but this helps me better define my options.
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

<span style="font-style: italic">"For clarification, I don't give a hoot about the accuracy. .. I am concerned about two things:
1. Is there a real safety concern?
2. Is there any chance that I could screw up the rifling in my bore?"</span>

It seemed clear you weren't concerned about accuracy.

1. Not a bit. Your face will be quite safe.
2. Not a bit. The bullet is copper and the rattle fit won't do a thing to the bore. Velocity and pressure will be low but your cases should be nicely fireformed to .260.
 
Re: Is this safe? -- or even adviseable?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AJ300MAG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One common practice to fireform .22 russian brass into 6PPC is to load a case full of RIFLE powder, seat a .22 bullet and fire away in a 6PPC chambered barrel. The cases will be perfectly fireformed, you ain't gonna blow up your rifle as some have stated...

The necks WILL expand enough to seal the chamber, accuracy sucks.
wink.gif
</div></div>

Zackly, I used to do it all the time. Blows the case out straight prior to turning necks.
Helps to have a crush fit on the shoulder though.....