In the framework of the development of new nuclear plants, we have studied the feasibility of producing cladding tubes in new grades adapted to the severe mechanical, thermal and irradiation conditions. ODS steel grades have been identified as promising material solution. However they exhibit low formability characteristics at room temperature. To set up predictive numerical simulation of cold pilgering of ODS cladding tubes, we have developed a accurate numerical model. This model has to be fed with data describing precisely the behavior of the material under the complex mechanical loading of pilgering. This paper describes the numerical model and the adapted testing device. The inverse analysis procedure developed by the authors and based on the optimization module of the software Forge® leads to a set of 10 parameters able to describe the non proportional cyclic history. The simulation of pilgering is validated with hardness measurements. Copyright © 2013 Trans Tech Publications Ltd.