Cleaning while Fire-forming

[DLCrocket]

Getting ready to fire-form 100 .243 Winchester cases to AI in newly rechambered barrel using factory equivalent reloads. Any suggestions on cleaning frequency or methods during forming? Thanks!

 

[JMayo]

For my competition rifles i clean Every round until coppering stops.
I then clean every 2-3 and let it cool totally a few times.
Them 5-6 and let it cool totally a few times.
I have to fight myself from shooting it too hot when just for forming.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Fireform the first 50. Then as you do load development work in the second 50 as foulers. It will save you 50 rounds on your new barrel.

 

[JSH]

Newly rechambered, so I take it as a used barrel, setback/cutoff chambered in 243AI.
If so the only thing may be very fine burrs at the throat. The barrel itself if used won’t change any for better or worse than it had done before.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Newly rechambered, so I take it as a used barrel, setback/cutoff chambered in 243AI.
If so the only thing may be very fine burrs at the throat. The barrel itself if used won’t change any for better or worse than it had done before.

Sounds like 50 wasted shots to me, unless you don't shoot competitively or have money to burn but then your not the OP. My thought was to give him a better option until you butted in. So I will just shut up and keep my 60 years of experience to myself. Have a nice day.

 

[Bill K]

Do you

Getting ready to fire-form 100 .243 Winchester cases to AI in newly rechambered barrel using factory equivalent reloads. Any suggestions on cleaning frequency or methods during forming? Thanks!

need all 100 fireformed right now ? If not form say 40, two boxes of them for your hunting loads or target practice/load development and clean you barrel as you usually do. Then as needed fireform the rest of the rounds in simular manner, when needed.

 

[DLCrocket]

Sounds like a good plan. Yes, just want to do some load development now so no need for all 100 now. Thanks!

 

[JSH]

Sounds like 50 wasted shots to me, unless you don't shoot competitively or have money to burn but then your not the OP. My thought was to give him a better option until you butted in. So I will just shut up and keep my 60 years of experience to myself. Have a nice day.

I have absolutely no idea what you PO’d about? Nothing directed at you.
All I saw from the OP was newly RE chambered, not new chamber or new barrel, so I take it as used.
He asked about cleaning and methods. I see no use in shoot one and clean on a used barrel as far as break in.
Must be the heat.
Have a quality day sir.

 

[DLCrocket]

I have absolutely no idea what you PO’d about? Nothing directed at you.
All I saw from the OP was newly RE chambered, not new chamber or new barrel, so I take it as used.
He asked about cleaning and methods. I see no use in shoot one and clean on a used barrel as far as break in.
Must be the heat.
Have a quality day sir.

You're right JSH. It's a used barrel with worn throat so going to have a few threads cut off and re-chambered.

 

[DaveTooley]

So you have some history with this barrel. Clean as you did prior to the fresh chamber but I would clean every round for the first 10 or so rounds until the leade smooths up some.

 

[HTSmith]

You're right JSH. It's a used barrel with worn throat so going to have a few threads cut off and re-chambered.

You didn't ask but I think I'd at least cut the old threads off to get some fresh steel for the reamer.

 

[DLCrocket]

You didn't ask but I think I'd at least cut the old threads off to get some fresh steel for the reamer.

Will be taking it to a gunsmith (which I'm not) so expect he'll cut off what's necessary.

 

[JSH]

Last two AI’s I fooled with frazzled me and several buddies.
30-06, I was warned about this one. Took more powder to get same results with a 165. 180-210 it made some head way.
Buddy did a 260AI. It shot fireform loads better than formed brass did. We tried numerous things and suggestions on that one.

Best of luck with your project.

 

[Dolomite]

This maybe a dumb question but why clean after every so many shots if breaking in the throat? Wouldn't you get the same affect as if you shoot 20-30 rounds at a steady slow pace then clean all the copper and carbon out at once. Cleaning every so many rounds just lets you know when the copper fouling stops, is that the main reason?

 

[DaveTooley]

This maybe a dumb question but why clean after every so many shots if breaking in the throat? Wouldn't you get the same affect as if you shoot 20-30 rounds at a steady slow pace then clean all the copper and carbon out at once. Cleaning every so many rounds just lets you know when the copper fouling stops, is that the main reason?

No dumb questions.
You don't want the copper fouling build up to become extreme. That takes more time to remove. In this case it's a used barrel which will reduce the chances of excessive copper fouling but why take the chance. Shoot and clean for a few rounds then move on.