17 ackley hornet

[BradY]

Just a couple of questions regarding the forming and loading of 17 ackley hornet brass. Hopefully someone out there can help as the saubier site seems to be gone.

Is the form die any more effective or necessary over the neck down with the seater die with stem removed?

What loads are people using to fireform with? Will be using h4198 as it’s all I can get here.

Anyone using small pistol primers with success or are they too soft?

Thanks

 

[rickiesrevenge]

I used bullberry's double ended from die for necking down my brass. In my experience 17s pressure up much quicker than bigger bores so I've stayed with rifle primers. The one of my 17ah's I used rem 6.5 primers which are very soft and probably comparable to a pistol primer as far as the cup goes. The other didn't like that primer.

 

[Tommie]

Hornet brass is flimsy. I’d highly recommend sizing down a maximum of .020” at a time. If not already a bushing setup it might be helpful to have your form die modified for bushings. Powder selection for the 17 Ackley Hornet is the same as the 17 Hornady Hornet. Powder capacities of these two cartridges are nearly identical. Ackley version is longer but has more body taper than the Hornady version.

 

[searcher]

The .17 Hornet tends to like the soft cup primers. I use 400's (the only gun I use them in). While I have not tried pistol primers, I have read of others using them. I'd not hesitate to try them if that is all you have, though I'd carefully work up from low power - and would prefer to use a rifle primer.

 

[BradY]

Thanks for the replies. So as to forming I’m still confused. Still nothing definite. Anyone forming with just a seating die?

 

[L.Sherm]

I would suggest annealing your brass before fireforming

 

[BradY]

I would suggest annealing your brass before fireforming

Before sizing down and fire forming or after all sizing has been done but prior to fire forming?

 

[L.Sherm]

Before sizing down and fire forming or after all sizing has been done but prior to fire forming?

Definitely before fireforming, you could do it before sizing down and fireforming.
Just be careful if anneal before sizing down you dont do it in big steps could crush the shoulders.

 

[BradY]

Definitely before fireforming, you could do it before sizing down and fireforming.
Just be careful if anneal before sizing down you dont do it in big steps could crush the shoulders.

Thanks