I've got a 7x64 rifle on the way and was planning to use some .30-06 brass in it. However, I have a large stock of brand new .270 brass which I'd prefer to use.

The .30-06 brass would be no problem, despite the slightly sharper shoulder angle of the 7x64 since you could simply leave a "false shoulder" when necking down the .30 caliber neck which the cartridge could headspace on (I've done this with my .280 Remington).

The smaller .270 neck would not be able to provide a false shoulder. However, I tried putting a .270 cartridge in a 7x64 chamber and the bolt would not close, indicating that the .270 is slightly wider at the shoulder than the 7x64. (I've searched for reliable case dimension drawings and it appears that the .270 is wider at the shoulder than the 7x64, but conversions from metric to inch seem to be at odds in various references.) If the .270 brass is wider at the shoulder then the converted cases would effectively headspace on the body/shoulder junction of the case once it is run the proper depth into a 7x64 FL die.

Anyway, to get to the lick log, has anyone tried using .270 brass in their 7x64 and what were the results?

BTW: I don't give a rat about headstamps since I have numerous guns that use converted cases and I never rely on headstamps to tell me which ammunition I have.

Well since 06 and 270 brass have the same shoulder dia and position. why would the 06 fit and the 270 not? Make sure the longer 270 isn't an issue. You should be able to simply run the 270 in your die. Don't know if your expander will slip in.

Both the 30-06 and 270 have the same .441" shoulder diameter whereas the 7x64 has a .425" shoulder.
At one stage we just FL sized 30-06 cases and used them in my friends 7x64, I'm sure the same would apply to 270 case but will need trimming to length.

I use both regulary. They both work, but 30-06 give you a potential headspace problem. I normally expand the neck to .338, and make a false shoulder. The .270 brass, I just trim and neck size. .270 is better suited for 7x64, no doubt. I fireform with heavy bullets (170'ish grain) and a medium load RL17. And for some reason I always tend to use magnum primers when fireforming.

EDIT:
I checked my data, .270 brass, 48 grs RL17 and CCI250 with bullets touching the lands.

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:
Both the 30-06 and 270 have the same .441" shoulder diameter whereas the 7x64 has a .425" shoulder.
At one stage we just FL sized 30-06 cases and used them in my friends 7x64, I'm sure the same would apply to 270 case but will need trimming to length.

The .441" vs. .425" shoulder diameter is similar to dimensions I found listed, but one source stated "since the 7x64 has less body taper it holds a similar amount of powder". That source is obviously in error, at least in regard to body taper -- however powder capacity is so close as to be de minmus.

The base-to-shoulder length for the 7x64 shows to be just a tad longer than that of the .270/.30-06, which had me concerned a little. But from the experiences outlined here it is apparently not an issue.

Actually, the new .270 brass I have came out with a case length of exactly 2.52" with the one case I ran through the 7x64 FL die, so after the mouth is chamfered there should be no need for trimming, at least not on the first firing.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

Actually, the new .270 brass I have came out with a case length of exactly 2.52" with the one case I ran through the 7x64 FL die, so after the mouth is chamfered there should be no need for trimming, at least not on the first firing.

That could be. I always used once fired brass, mostly Rem/win brass, and they do strech on first use.