An impact extrusion procedure was developed to fabricate a tantalum container approximately 9 in. long, 0.375 in. i.d., 20 to 30 mils in wall thickness, and closed at one end. A solid slug was given five impact steps to form a thick-walled cup. The cup was ironed through six stages to the final shape. The material used initially was powder metallurgy tantalum; high purity, electron-beam melted tantalum and tantalum containing 0.1 wt. % tungsten was used in later work. Aluminum bronze dies and a cold beeswax lubricant were used to prevent galling between the tools and the tantalum. Thirty to forty tons were required to form the metal in the impact extrusion steps. Draw force needed in the ironing operation ranged from 600 lb to 3600 lb. The Ta + 0.1 wt. % tungsten alloy consistently required greater impact extrusion and draw pressures than were required by the high purity metal. The investigation showed that heat treating procedures had a considerable effect on the surface finish by controlling the grain size in the metal. In general, tantalum was found to form satisfactorily in both the impact extrusion and ironing procedures.