Make 7.62x25 brass from .223 brass.

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I was having the same issues until I neck reamed. I am using cast bullets, so they were a tad large, even with the factory crimp. In fact, I was having issues with Starline brass until I reamed the necks. The bullet I'm using is @ .311.

I kind of like tinkering with the 223 brass. Beats watching the tube.
 
Hondo,

You are still fighting that after all these years? (CZ52 yes?) These days being I have a metal lathe I no longer use 223 for forming cases. Instead I use either 38 SPL or 357 Magnum cases. Turn the rim down, cut to length and then form in a die. So much easier. (I may have even posted a thread on how to do this a couple years ago)

ETA: (I did post a how-to almost three years ago) https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...r-how-to-make-7-62-x-25-tokarev-brass.740052/

Otherwise I am well stocked on boxer brass both factory stuff and cases I've converted.
 
No to the CZ, I have a Zastava M57.
I bought it unfired, so the chamber is really tight.
I could size again after the seat/crimp step,
but that takes away some of the bullet's contact with the barrel.

Nice write up on the 38 brass trimming.
Unfortunately, I don't have access to a lathe and can't imagine buying one.
I'm guessing they're pretty expensive.
 
Looks the once fired is 16 or 17 cents and the new Starline is 20 or 22 cents.
S&B ammo is 35 cents.
CZ52 chambers are so tight, I can put a barrel in a collet bullet puller die and use it for a sizing die for a Tokarev. I would put a pin gauge in the CZ52 barrel and measure the neck. Then the loaded ammo with 223 brass, I would check the neck size for clearance.
A 2 bedroom apartment costs $4500/month. I cannot pay the rent with the money saved by using 223 brass. I would have to think bigger.
 
Hondo, I don't know why I keep forgetting you have an M57. And I have no answer why you are still fighting that unless your pistol is out of spec somehow.

As I said in my writeup on the 38 -> Tok post not everyone has a lathe. However, for those interested you can buy the basic Taig lathe for less than $200 assembled new. Add an ER16 collet check, a cutting bit and electric motor and you have a great piece of kit for doing all sorts of work on your brass or other parts. And as you need them you can add accessories. The Taig is a US made precision machine that will give you decades of service.

You can buy the machine and it's accessories here (http://www.cartertools.com/catalog.html) No affiliation other than a happy customer. Also, his listed prices are before a 10% discount.
 
Not for you CZ and Zastava guys, but in case anyone is looking at a 7.62x25 conversion barrel for 1911 pistol. I got one from J&G Sales two years ago, and it chambers & ejects all brass with no hiccup. (Use a 9mm or 38 Super slide, minor fitting of the hood, 38 Super magazines.) I scored a huge sack of once-fired PPU boxer brass two years ago, but I'm the kind of guy who converts brass just because. No other reason, just because. Now I'll try both cut-down 223 and lathe-down 38 Special just for grins. My lathe is a dumb cheapo crappy hobby lathe on top of the bench (Harbor Flake Fools, er I mean Harbor Freight Tools) but perfectly good enough for this work.
 
Just thought of two more things to offer...

Using the tubing cutter like the OP works fine, but my little 5" benchtop lathe cuts it to exact length much easier. Just chamfer inside and out and you're good to go. If you got the lathe, try it. Experiment a little to get the right cut length so you're at correct case length after resizing.

I also cut down 223 brass to make 380 Auto. It works, but you have to ream the case mouth. No big deal. The result had much smaller case capacity, and it was no better than ordinary 380 brass. Nothing to gain but it was fun to do it.
 
Ants, That is a nice score. Both on the 1911 barrel and the pile of brass.

That Horrible Fright Lathe will get the job done. I have a similar lathe from a different brand. I live in an apt so for now this is my small workshop lathe. I was cutting with the tubing cutter before I got my lathe. It's a huge timesaver.
 
That Tokarev FCD doesn't work for me.
I bought it, & so far it's been a waste of money.
It crimps just the very top edge of the neck, but doesn't touch the rest of it.
You can mod it to crimp a bit lower.
 
I don't have this caliber but it was a interesting read. Thanks for writing it up. Just wondering if the brass was just a little shorter if you'd still have the pinch problem.
 
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