Forming 218 Bee Brass from Starline 32-20 Brass
(Apologize for the blurriness in the images, will update images with clearer photos at a later time.)
Brass Used:
Starline Brass 32-20 - 500 Pieces - $123.40 (MO Tax Added) ($114.40 Shipped outside MO)
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Dies Needed:
Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 25-20 WCF - Lee #: 90750 - $30.99
Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 218 Bee - Lee #: 90753- $30.99
Redding Trim Die 25-20 WCF - Redding #: 83218 - $50.99
Redding Trim Die 218 Bee - Redding #: 83200 - $40.99
Redding Extended Shellholder #3E (218 Bee, 25-20 WCF, 32-20 WCF) - Redding #: 11503 - $15.29
Extras:
Imperial Case Sizing Wax 2 oz - Imperial #: 07600 - $8.99
![Image]()
The cost of the dies and case sizing wax are reflective of July 14, 2015, MidwayUSA prices.
This post assumes that you already have a reloading press that accepts the current standard 7/8"-14 threaded dies.
Step 1:
Items needed - Redding Trim Die 25-20 WCF - Redding #: 83218, Redding Extended Shellholder #3E - Redding #: 11503, Imperial Case Sizing Wax
Put the Redding Trim Die 25-20 WCF in your press and use the Redding Extended Shellholder #3E with this die.
Rub a little dab of the Imperial Case Sizing Wax on your thumb and index finger, a little goes a long way as you should get 10 plus cases lubed. As you grab a 32-20 case, rub the case neck and mouth between your lubed thumb and index finger and place the case in the Redding Extended Shellholder #3. Slowiy insert the case into the Redding 25-20 WCF Trim Die. Stop when the case has been inserted all the way as you will feel the case meet hard resistence and you will see the top of the case mouth level or almost level with the edge of the hole in the Redding 25-20 WCF Trim Die. Slowly slide the case out of the Redding 25-20 WCF Trim Die. You shouldn't have any issues with creases, splits, or dents in the case, although a case here and there one may get a crease in it. 2-3 cases out of 100 cases got a crease in them when I did this step. Out of 500 cases, I only managed to screw up 19 cases throughout the entire process.
Do not wipe off the Imperial Case Sizing Wax from the case, you're going to need it on the case for the following steps.
![Image]()
Step 2:
Items needed: Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 25-20 WCF - Lee #: 90750
Lee includes a shellholder with this set, if you are using another die set, you will need the shellholder. In this case it is Lee's #6 shellholder.
Remove the decapping rod from the 25-20 WCF full length sizing die, as we are not going to need it in this step. Put the 25-20 WCF full length sizing die in your press and use the appropriate shell holder. Do Not Use The Redding Extended #3E Shellholder For This Step!
Slowly run the newly formed case into the 25-20 WCF full length sizing die and slowly slide the case out of the die. Inspect the case to make sure there are no dents or creases. You should now have a case that you can load for your 25-20 rifle if you choose to do so.
![Image]()
Step 3:
Items needed: Redding Trim Die 218 Bee - Redding #: 83200, Redding Extended Shellholder #3E (218 Bee, 25-20 WCF, 32-20 WCF) - Redding #: 11503
Put the Redding 218 Bee Trim Die in the press and use the Redding Extended Shellholder #3E with this die. Slowly run the newly formed 25-20 case into the Redding 218 Bee Trim Die. Stop when you see the top of the case mouth level or almost level with the edge of the hole and meet hard resistence in the Redding 218 Bee Trim Die. Slowly slide the case out of the Redding 218 Bee Trim Die. When you remove and inspect the case, do not be alarmed that there appears to be a bulge between the 218 Bee sized mouth and case neck and the 25-20 formed neck and shoulder. This is the normal look for this step in this process. It will be taken care of in a later step.
![Image]()
Step 4:
Items Needed: Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 218 Bee - Lee #: 90753
Lee includes a shellholder with this set, if you are using another die set, you will need the shellholder. In this case it is Lee's #6 shellholder.
Put the 218 Bee full length sizing die in your press and use the appropriate shell holder. Do Not Use The Redding Extended #3E Shellholder For This Step!
Slowly run the newly formed case into the 218 Bee full length sizing die and slowly slide the case out of the die. Inspect the case to make sure there are no dents or creases. The bulge between the 218 Bee sized mouth and case neck and the 25-20 formed neck and shoulder is still there and that's okay.
You should now have a case that you can load for your 218 Bee rifle.
![Image]()
Step 5:
Items needed: Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 218 Bee - Lee #: 90753, Small Rifle Primer Of Your Choosing, Powder Of Your Choosing
Optional items needed: Cream of Wheat, Toilet Paper, .224 Diameter Bullet Of Your Choosing
This step can be accomplished in several ways and is called "Fire Forming". This is where you place a primer in the primer pocket and load some powder into the newly formed case, place the case in your rifle and fire the rifle. Upon firing the rifle the case will form, hence "fire forming", a perfectly shaped 218 Bee case.
![Image]()
Fire Forming Option 1 -
Place a small rifle primer in the primer pocket, load a small amount of powder of your choosing, usually one that you have more of, fill the rest of the case to just under the case mouth with Cream of Wheat, and top it off with a wad of toilet paper packed into the case mouth to keep the contents in the case from spilling out. Load a round into the chamber of your rifle, aim the rifle up towards the sky and fire. Remove the case. You will see that the small bulge in the case neck has disappered and you have a perfectly form 218 Bee brass case.
Fire Forming Option 2 - My Preferred Option In Fire Forming 218 Bee Brass
I like to load the newly formed 218 Bee case with a bullet, powder, and primer just like I would do if I was reloading any other brass. The only exception is that for this step I am not going to use Max Loads for the powder. The newly formed brass will shoot just fine and be as accurate as if you are shooting headstamped 218 Bee brass. I have some .224 diameter 50gr bullets I purchased at $8.67 a box of 100 bullets that I am going to use for this step, 8gr of H110 powder, and Winchester small rifle primers. Feel free to use whatever bullets, powder, and small rifle primer combos you want to for this step that are published for the 218 Bee cartridge. Once the cartridges are ready to fire, I load one in the chamber and one in the magazine and take aim at the target and fire. Upon removing the case, I have a perfectly formed 218 Bee brass case. Since I am using pointed bullets in this step in a Browning Model 65 lever action rifle with a tubular magazine, I only load one cartridge in the magazine. Upon firing the cartridge in the chamber and cycling the rifle to chamber the cartridge in the magazine, the newly formed brass cycles just fine and the small bulge doesn't affect the cycling of the rifle whatsoever.
After Step 5 above, you should be able to place your newly formed 218 Bee brass case next to a headstamped 218 Bee brass case, and see two identical 218 Bee cases. The two images below show the formed 218 Bee brass with the Starline 32-20 headstamp on the left side of the image and Winchester 218 Bee headstamped brass on the right side of the image. The Winchester 218 Bee brass used in these images is new and unfired and therefore hasn't been trim to size yet.
![Image]()
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The forming stages of the brass from start to finish. The cases go from left to right.
Untouched 32-20 case, Step 1 Case, Step 2 Case, Step 3 Case, Step 4 Case, Step 5 Case.
Please Note: Cases on either side look fatter but they are all the same width, my poor photo taking ability.
![Image]()
(Apologize for the blurriness in the images, will update images with clearer photos at a later time.)
Brass Used:
Starline Brass 32-20 - 500 Pieces - $123.40 (MO Tax Added) ($114.40 Shipped outside MO)
Dies Needed:
Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 25-20 WCF - Lee #: 90750 - $30.99
Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 218 Bee - Lee #: 90753- $30.99
Redding Trim Die 25-20 WCF - Redding #: 83218 - $50.99
Redding Trim Die 218 Bee - Redding #: 83200 - $40.99
Redding Extended Shellholder #3E (218 Bee, 25-20 WCF, 32-20 WCF) - Redding #: 11503 - $15.29
Extras:
Imperial Case Sizing Wax 2 oz - Imperial #: 07600 - $8.99
The cost of the dies and case sizing wax are reflective of July 14, 2015, MidwayUSA prices.
This post assumes that you already have a reloading press that accepts the current standard 7/8"-14 threaded dies.
Step 1:
Items needed - Redding Trim Die 25-20 WCF - Redding #: 83218, Redding Extended Shellholder #3E - Redding #: 11503, Imperial Case Sizing Wax
Put the Redding Trim Die 25-20 WCF in your press and use the Redding Extended Shellholder #3E with this die.
Rub a little dab of the Imperial Case Sizing Wax on your thumb and index finger, a little goes a long way as you should get 10 plus cases lubed. As you grab a 32-20 case, rub the case neck and mouth between your lubed thumb and index finger and place the case in the Redding Extended Shellholder #3. Slowiy insert the case into the Redding 25-20 WCF Trim Die. Stop when the case has been inserted all the way as you will feel the case meet hard resistence and you will see the top of the case mouth level or almost level with the edge of the hole in the Redding 25-20 WCF Trim Die. Slowly slide the case out of the Redding 25-20 WCF Trim Die. You shouldn't have any issues with creases, splits, or dents in the case, although a case here and there one may get a crease in it. 2-3 cases out of 100 cases got a crease in them when I did this step. Out of 500 cases, I only managed to screw up 19 cases throughout the entire process.
Do not wipe off the Imperial Case Sizing Wax from the case, you're going to need it on the case for the following steps.
Step 2:
Items needed: Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 25-20 WCF - Lee #: 90750
Lee includes a shellholder with this set, if you are using another die set, you will need the shellholder. In this case it is Lee's #6 shellholder.
Remove the decapping rod from the 25-20 WCF full length sizing die, as we are not going to need it in this step. Put the 25-20 WCF full length sizing die in your press and use the appropriate shell holder. Do Not Use The Redding Extended #3E Shellholder For This Step!
Slowly run the newly formed case into the 25-20 WCF full length sizing die and slowly slide the case out of the die. Inspect the case to make sure there are no dents or creases. You should now have a case that you can load for your 25-20 rifle if you choose to do so.
Step 3:
Items needed: Redding Trim Die 218 Bee - Redding #: 83200, Redding Extended Shellholder #3E (218 Bee, 25-20 WCF, 32-20 WCF) - Redding #: 11503
Put the Redding 218 Bee Trim Die in the press and use the Redding Extended Shellholder #3E with this die. Slowly run the newly formed 25-20 case into the Redding 218 Bee Trim Die. Stop when you see the top of the case mouth level or almost level with the edge of the hole and meet hard resistence in the Redding 218 Bee Trim Die. Slowly slide the case out of the Redding 218 Bee Trim Die. When you remove and inspect the case, do not be alarmed that there appears to be a bulge between the 218 Bee sized mouth and case neck and the 25-20 formed neck and shoulder. This is the normal look for this step in this process. It will be taken care of in a later step.
Step 4:
Items Needed: Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 218 Bee - Lee #: 90753
Lee includes a shellholder with this set, if you are using another die set, you will need the shellholder. In this case it is Lee's #6 shellholder.
Put the 218 Bee full length sizing die in your press and use the appropriate shell holder. Do Not Use The Redding Extended #3E Shellholder For This Step!
Slowly run the newly formed case into the 218 Bee full length sizing die and slowly slide the case out of the die. Inspect the case to make sure there are no dents or creases. The bulge between the 218 Bee sized mouth and case neck and the 25-20 formed neck and shoulder is still there and that's okay.
You should now have a case that you can load for your 218 Bee rifle.
Step 5:
Items needed: Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 218 Bee - Lee #: 90753, Small Rifle Primer Of Your Choosing, Powder Of Your Choosing
Optional items needed: Cream of Wheat, Toilet Paper, .224 Diameter Bullet Of Your Choosing
This step can be accomplished in several ways and is called "Fire Forming". This is where you place a primer in the primer pocket and load some powder into the newly formed case, place the case in your rifle and fire the rifle. Upon firing the rifle the case will form, hence "fire forming", a perfectly shaped 218 Bee case.
Fire Forming Option 1 -
Place a small rifle primer in the primer pocket, load a small amount of powder of your choosing, usually one that you have more of, fill the rest of the case to just under the case mouth with Cream of Wheat, and top it off with a wad of toilet paper packed into the case mouth to keep the contents in the case from spilling out. Load a round into the chamber of your rifle, aim the rifle up towards the sky and fire. Remove the case. You will see that the small bulge in the case neck has disappered and you have a perfectly form 218 Bee brass case.
Fire Forming Option 2 - My Preferred Option In Fire Forming 218 Bee Brass
I like to load the newly formed 218 Bee case with a bullet, powder, and primer just like I would do if I was reloading any other brass. The only exception is that for this step I am not going to use Max Loads for the powder. The newly formed brass will shoot just fine and be as accurate as if you are shooting headstamped 218 Bee brass. I have some .224 diameter 50gr bullets I purchased at $8.67 a box of 100 bullets that I am going to use for this step, 8gr of H110 powder, and Winchester small rifle primers. Feel free to use whatever bullets, powder, and small rifle primer combos you want to for this step that are published for the 218 Bee cartridge. Once the cartridges are ready to fire, I load one in the chamber and one in the magazine and take aim at the target and fire. Upon removing the case, I have a perfectly formed 218 Bee brass case. Since I am using pointed bullets in this step in a Browning Model 65 lever action rifle with a tubular magazine, I only load one cartridge in the magazine. Upon firing the cartridge in the chamber and cycling the rifle to chamber the cartridge in the magazine, the newly formed brass cycles just fine and the small bulge doesn't affect the cycling of the rifle whatsoever.
After Step 5 above, you should be able to place your newly formed 218 Bee brass case next to a headstamped 218 Bee brass case, and see two identical 218 Bee cases. The two images below show the formed 218 Bee brass with the Starline 32-20 headstamp on the left side of the image and Winchester 218 Bee headstamped brass on the right side of the image. The Winchester 218 Bee brass used in these images is new and unfired and therefore hasn't been trim to size yet.
The forming stages of the brass from start to finish. The cases go from left to right.
Untouched 32-20 case, Step 1 Case, Step 2 Case, Step 3 Case, Step 4 Case, Step 5 Case.
Please Note: Cases on either side look fatter but they are all the same width, my poor photo taking ability.
