Fire forming dasher brass

[Mulligan]

The only time I have fire formed Dasher brass I tried several loads 28.5-30.5gr of Varget with 108 Berger's .010 jammed ignited with a BR-4 using the false shoulder method. Worked great. Plenty accurate to shoot at midrange.
I have read you should use a stout BR load to to FF with, however I had gmuch better results with a lighter load ( the 28.5 gr load). Better meaning more consistent in appearance, shoulders formed and length.
I plan to start loading my FF loads tonight and wonder if this is the norm.
Did I miss something along the way?
CW

 

[ShootDots]

Back when I did Fireform, my BEST fireforming load was 30.0grs of VV N540. The brass was almost completely fireformed, from my fireforming load, and I only dropped 3 points at a 600 yard F-Class match>>>2 of which were from split shoulders! I only did have 2 split shoulders. Having said that, I have now gone to DJ's Brass Service. He does what you want him to and it is done RIGHT. Cost is just a smidgen more than if you did your own fireforming. The cost of bullets, primers, powder and not to mention the wear on the barrel, is just about the same as DJ's Hydroforming!

 

[bsumoba]

My FF load is 29.5 gr Varget and 108BT or 105 VLD, jammed 30K into the lands. No more false shoulder for me. I have not had a single FTF with just jamming them 30K.

It is also incredibly accurate.

 

[dbramley]

Hey Ben, what kind of neck clearances are you guys running in your dashers? 0.0015 ish?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[ShootDots]

Hey Ben, what kind of neck clearances are you guys running in your dashers? 0.0015 ish?

Thanks,

Dan

I like to run at least 3 thousandths and my own "standard" now is closer to 4 thousandths. It never seems to ill-effect accuracy, neither does it stress the brass in the necks..

 

[falconpilot]

Dan,

I've run up to 8 thous before using some older brass that I'd neck turned...shoot just as well as 4 thous clearance..

 

[Sheldon N]

My FF load is 29.5 gr Varget and 108BT or 105 VLD, jammed 30K into the lands. No more false shoulder for me. I have not had a single FTF with just jamming them 30K.

Are you able to extract a loaded round with this method? Been thinking about trying this and shooting some smaller square range matches with the fireforming loads, but didn't want to do anything that could leave me with a stuck bullet and powder all over the action. Would likely just be loading virgin Lapua 6BR brass without sizing.

 

[dbramley]

Thanks guys, that makes sense.

 

[bsumoba]

Are you able to extract a loaded round with this method? Been thinking about trying this and shooting some smaller square range matches with the fireforming loads, but didn't want to do anything that could leave me with a stuck bullet and powder all over the action. Would likely just be loading virgin Lapua 6BR brass without sizing.

never tried to extract one. the bullet only exits from the muzzle end

 

[Bob Metcalf]

The only time I have fire formed Dasher brass I tried several loads 28.5-30.5gr of Varget with 108 Berger's .010 jammed ignited with a BR-4 using the false shoulder method. Worked great. Plenty accurate to shoot at midrange.
I have read you should use a stout BR load to to FF with, however I had gmuch better results with a lighter load ( the 28.5 gr load). Better meaning more consistent in appearance, shoulders formed and length.
I plan to start loading my FF loads tonight and wonder if this is the norm.
Did I miss something along the way?
CW

Depends on hardness of brass. Modest load my work for virgin brass, but multi-fired brass definitely needs a full charge. Use slowest powder and heaviest bullet. I decided this wasn't worth the trouble and went back to a standard 6BR. Happy I did.