How do YOU fire form?

[waspocrew]

I understand the concern to conserve components and barrel life, but I don't tend to work up a load until I have 100 rounds down the barrel.

Typically, I'll fireform with cheap(er) projectiles. Like others, I tend to use a upper range charge for the parent case. With a crush fit, this yields sharp shoulders.

I've tried COW while forming 6.5 Sherman brass, but the shoulders were still a little rounded. When forming with projectiles, shoulders are much sharper.

 

[.30-06]

Not ideal, but it works.

I just ordered WST. Instead of wasting my rifle powders

 

[BillLarson]

I understand the concern to conserve components and barrel life, but I don't tend to work up a load until I have 100 rounds down the barrel.

Typically, I'll fireform with cheap(er) projectiles. Like others, I tend to use a upper range charge for the parent case. With a crush fit, this yields sharp shoulders.

I've tried COW while forming 6.5 Sherman brass, but the shoulders were still a little rounded. When forming with projectiles, shoulders are much sharper.

I,ve had guns that shot FF loads as good as 3x firewformed loads.
At a match against some Texans,the guy that won was using brand new lapua brass..

 

[waspocrew]

I,ve had guns that shot FF loads as good as 3x firewformed loads.
At a match against some Texans,the guy that won was using brand new lapua brass..

I totally agree - My FF loads have been very accurate. For my 22-250 AI, I form my cases while taking on a prairie dog town. Pretty awesome results out to 400 yards.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Just left the range...
6.5SS
CCI BR2
54.0 H1000
150 SMK
2.284" CBTO
.010" jam
2876fps
ES 13 (5 shots)

First 3 shots

I shot 5 total, and decided to save the other 20 for banging steel tomorrow.

 

[DUCKMAN11]

.30 LARA, I use hydraulic forming die.
.30 Gibbs, I use the COW method.
.270 AI, I developed an accuracy load for .270 Win and .270 AI.

I've thought about the hydraulic forming die method.

With your 270ai are you developing an accuracy load in standard 270win and loading it into a 270ai chamber and it becomes an accuracy load for 270ai?

Sorry if that's a dumb question

 

[DUCKMAN11]

Moderate load of parent case with a slightly faster powder, bullet seated into the lands if the case is not a crush fit.

Work up an accurate fire forming load like anything else. Have fun. I have shot my fire forming loads on steel out to 1400 yards, and hunted with them as well.

.260AI
View attachment 374208
View attachment 374211

6.5SS
View attachment 374209
View attachment 374212
27 shots during fire forming
View attachment 374210

.300NMI
View attachment 374213
View attachment 374214

Ok now this makes sense! Basically you dial in 2 accuracy loads. One fire forming and then one full capacity load! I hope my 115vld 25-06 load might work. It will be a crush fit type arrangement as jamming bullets makes me uneasy.

It's sometimes difficult to see the answer that's right in front of your face....duh!! I got stuck on "rounds down the barrel" and didn't progress to "accurate rounds down the barrel". Thank you so much!!!

 

[FEENIX]

I've thought about the hydraulic forming die method.

With your 270ai are you developing an accuracy load in standard 270win and loading it into a 270ai chamber and it becomes an accuracy load for 270ai?

Sorry if that's a dumb question

Not a dumb question at all. I developed an accuracy load in .270 Win instead of fire forming. Once fireformed, I developed a .270 AI accuracy load.

 

[DUCKMAN11]

Just left the range...
6.5SS
CCI BR2
54.0 H1000
150 SMK
2.284" CBTO
.010" jam
2876fps
ES 13 (5 shots)

View attachment 374286
First 3 shots
View attachment 374287

I shot 5 total, and decided to save the other 20 for banging steel tomorrow.

You take really good pictures btw!

 

[DUCKMAN11]

I understand the concern to conserve components and barrel life, but I don't tend to work up a load until I have 100 rounds down the barrel.

Typically, I'll fireform with cheap(er) projectiles. Like others, I tend to use a upper range charge for the parent case. With a crush fit, this yields sharp shoulders.

I've tried COW while forming 6.5 Sherman brass, but the shoulders were still a little rounded. When forming with projectiles, shoulders are much sharper.

I typically don't start working on accuracy till the barrel speeds up and levels off. My 300prc did that at 85ish rounds. It jumped 60fps in the same box of 212 hornady. I thought something was wrong with the chrono lol

I figured bullets were better than c.o.w. and the last thing I want to jack with is a case that's 85% formed that I have to load again.

Thank you

 

[QuietTexan]

I like a false shoulder for big forming changes, gets a tighter fit IMO. I pull the ejector spring if it happens to still be installed. This is a 243 Win to 243 AI that was expanded with a .2550" mandrel then sized back down with a bushing set somewhat high:

 

[DUCKMAN11]

I like a false shoulder for big forming changes, gets a tighter fit IMO. I pull the ejector spring if it happens to still be installed. This is a 243 Win to 243 AI that was expanded with a .2550" mandrel then sized back down with a bushing set somewhat high:

View attachment 374319

So that donut in the neck creates the "shoulder" then the bottom of the donut becomes the top of the shoulder after firing. Pretty cool. Is this method used because you don't have a "crush fit" style chamber arrangement. Like in a 243win chamber that gets cleaned up by a 243ai reamer without setting the barrel back?

 

[.30-06]

.30 LARA, I use hydraulic forming die.
.30 Gibbs, I use the COW method.
.270 AI, I developed an accuracy load for .270 Win and .270 AI.

COW.... regular or maple syrup ?

 

[DUCKMAN11]

I actually use coffee grounds. It smells way better. I buy the cheap coffee that still somehow comes in the metal cans.

Coffee cans, JB weld and bailing wire are currency around my place lol