want form .257 rob. from 30-06 cases . what do i need? case trim die & f/l die? or what? thanks...

you'll have to shorted them. then it works best if you run them through an intermediate die something like a 270 first , then you will probably have to turn the necks as they will a bit on the thick side otherwise. easy forming job though

quote:

Originally posted by bengal:
want form .257 rob. from 30-06 cases . what do i need? case trim die & f/l die? or what? thanks...

This process is ok for hard to find cases. It is not so good when new factory brass is available.
I do about the same as bartsche.
1. Push the shoulder back - a .308 die works ok if you are careful not to push it back too far.
2. size with 7x57 FL SIZER OR TRIM die
3. size .257 Trim die
4. some where above you cut off the case
5. size with .257 FL size die
6. Final trim to length- I usually leave about .010 long
7. Anneal.
8. Take a nap

Basically this is an awful lot of work to salvage old cases.

I am a case former, cases cost me from .08 cents to .11 cents each. I form 257 Roberts. The 30/06 is a choice, the 7mm57 is another, then there is the 8mm57, I have forming dies for all.

I start with forming the case, after forming I use a hack saw to trim the case before I lower the ram, forming 100 cases from 30/06 can result in 25” ++ with a case trimmer and that will ware out your trimmer and cause anxieties, after using the man tool I use a file to finish trimming. Then finish with the full length sizer die.

When forming the 257 Roberts from the 30/06 case the shoulder of the 30/06 must be erased and formed .221 further back, meaning there is no excuse to have excessive head space after forming the 257 Roberts, I off set the length of the chamber with the length of the case.

And if a reloader had one forming die it should be the 308 Winchester form/trim die.

F. Guffey

quote:

And if a reloader had one forming die it should be the 308 Winchester form/trim die.

F. Guffey

The .308 is one of what I call the very useful "short fat" dies. Others are the .250 Savage and the 6.5X250 Savage trim dies. The .260 Rem and 7-08 Rem trim dies would also be very useful.
If you are lucky you might run into a .357 Automag trim die.

The dies above are very useful for pushing shoulders back and cutting to length many different cartridges based on the .30-06 head size.

bengal, you can purchase new brass for the .257 it would save you a ton of tedious work and time if you were to buy it look here for the brass.
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse...100137#gridContainer

quote:

Originally posted by gunsdogs:
bengal, you can purchase new brass for the .257 it would save you a ton of tedious work and time if you were to buy it

This is true but you'll miss out on a whole lot of experience and fun. roger

What about just necking up some 6mm Remington brass?

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by gunsdogs:
bengal, you can purchase new brass for the .257 it would save you a ton of tedious work and time if you were to buy it

This is true but you'll miss out on a whole lot of experience and fun. roger

Not by my definition of fun. Unless it's a case you just can't get or you just flat out don't have the money for brass but have all the other requisite tools on hand there's no good reason to do it.

Of course if it is something that you can't just buy off the shelf then go ahead. Or if you're rtired and kids are out of the house and you're bored I guess make the reloading as labor intensive and time consuming as possible

Red

I form .25-06, 6.5x55, 7x57, and 8x57 from .30-06 brass with only one form die specific for the cartridge. Anneal the 06 brass first. You should be able to form .257 Roberts the same way. First, run the 06 brass through a .257 Roberts form and trim die available from Redding or RCBS. With a hack saw, saw off the brass sticking out the top of the die. With a flat file, file off what's left and remove the case from the die and press. Chamfer the case mouth. Run the brass through a .257 Roberts full length sizing die. Trim to length and chamfer the mouth again. You now should have a reloadable case (any regular load you desire) that will fire form to your chamber once fired.
joe