.300 Blk from 5.56 Blanks

[spencerhut]

I started to dump some used blanks into the brass bucket and decided to try making them into .300 Blackouts. So I snipped them just above the shoulder with tin snips, sized, trimmed and loaded like normal. Cake!

[tiller]

You cut them with tin snips? Without crushing the case?

[spencerhut]

You cut them with tin snips? Without crushing the case?

Yup, buy some good tin snips.

[tiller]

Yup, buy some good tin snips.

Good tin snips or not... Did you just give it one straight cut? I thought of a lot of ways to cut it but that one never crossed my mind

[Vlad 11]

Thats cool, does the neck have to be reamed?

And yea, im trying to wrap my head around how you tin snip a case.

Ive cut down .556 to make 7.62x25 using a pipe cutter and now i use a harborfrieght mini chopsaw

[tiller]

Thats cool, does the neck have to be reamed?

And yea, im trying to wrap my head around how you tin snip a case.

Ive cut down .556 to make 7.62x25 using a pipe cutter and now i use a harborfrieght mini chopsaw

I recently got one and its the best 30$ spent!

[spencerhut]

Thats cool, does the neck have to be reamed?

And yea, im trying to wrap my head around how you tin snip a case.

Ive cut down .556 to make 7.62x25 using a pipe cutter and now i use a harborfrieght mini chopsaw

One snip across the top of the shoulder is what I did. Yes, it sort of crushes the top of the shoulder. The deformation is far enough from where the neck ends up being on the .300Blk it does not matter. If they were totally flat I pried them open just enough with a flat screwdriver to let the decapping mandrel get in the case mouth. Snip, pry, size, like 10 seconds a case.
When you size them it sort of tears up the old shoulder area. So what? I trim it under that part anyway. I did the first few in a two step trim process, standard trimmer and then my RCBS 3-Way Cutter. But that was a waste of time. The RCBS 3-Way Cutter seems to trim them right down in one step just fine. Just move slow with the trimmer head and make sure it does not get clogged. You are cutting a lot of brass so it can get hot enough to get the brass to melt rather than cut if you move to fast. Takes maybe 20-30 seconds per case to carefully trim to final OAL.

I've only been reloading factory .300Blk since I have a OCD thing about head stamps. So this was my first batch and it was only 20 cases. This was an experiment. I lost my first case, snipped it below the shoulder and the tear made it into the neck area. All the rounds I loaded look factory perfect, if they split on the first firing I could care less. Fun little project.


PS .300Blk is more like 7.62x35. 7.62x25 is commie pistol round

[spencerhut]

Good tin snips or not... Did you just give it one straight cut? I thought of a lot of ways to cut it but that one never crossed my mind

Yup, one cut.

[Whiterabbit]

I thought blanks had an enlarged flash hole and were unsuitable for standard loading?

[zomie]

http://www.harborfreight.com/bench-t...saw-42307.html I just use one of these with a jig.

[Vlad 11]

PS .300Blk is more like 7.62x35. 7.62x25 is commie pistol round

I am indeed forming 7.62x25 brass for use in the Tokarev and CZ52 pistols. Due to how far down the cut is, the .556 brass is too thick for neck and will not chamber unless it is reamed out

I'm liking the 300blk concept. I can see getting an upper down the road.

Being able to use standard magazines and projectiles. Plus, to easily reform common available brass adds to the appeal.

[spencerhut]

I am indeed forming 7.62x25 brass for use in the Tokarev and CZ52 pistols. Due to how far down the cut is, the .556 brass is too thick for neck and will not chamber unless it is reamed out

I'm liking the 300blk concept. I can see getting an upper down the road.

Being able to use standard magazines and projectiles. Plus, to easily reform common available brass adds to the appeal.

Oh, okay. Totally cool man.

[tiller]

I thought blanks had an enlarged flash hole and were unsuitable for standard loading?

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/362105_Can_5_56_M200_blanks_be_reloaded_as_live_ammo__Completed_6th_firing__With_video_.html

Happy reading!

[GUNNTZ]

I've been using a 5/8 tubing cutter to reduce mine down, about 8 bucks from harbor freight. Cut used 556 brass right below the neck, form and trim excess away. Works perfect and keeps the brass in perfect saami spec.

[Whiterabbit]

noone here considered using a bandsaw?