Need to find someone with a set of forming dies for 221 fireball.
Thanks steve
Thanks steve
221 fireball forming dies
- Thread starter Steve morgan
- Start date
I've got one coming..........what can I help you with?
would you be interested in forming 25 pcs of 222 to221fb.
Sure, I'll do that for you. Contact me via PM and I'll give you my address and phone number.
Buy the 221 fireball forming die from Graf& sons $38 plus shipping less than 5 in stock and form all the 222 brass to 221 fireball ya want by the thousands. Or cut .190" off a .222 form die, with a carbibe tool in the lathe...or .340 off the bottom of common a common .223 die..the .006 difference at the top of the shoulder on tbe case body won't make any difference...after firing, it'll fill out. All that if you want it now but I'd do the easy route and buy the 221 form die today from Graf.
Thanks guys I will be in touch.
divingin
Gold $$ Contributor
Wouldn't those end up with the base too small?
Nope, ya got .200" the same dia .376" on the cartridge head diameter ...the body taper would be about. 001" smaller in dia.because of length reduction... No big deal. I used to make 223 (military 5.56 ) into 222 in large quantities with a RCBS trim die. Trim OAL and champher/deburr. Then run em through a standard 222 die, load and shoot... no further case prep. So 222 to 221 should be very similar.I have thousands if new 222 brass but I don't own the 221.
SBS
Gold $$ Contributor
Went to Graf's website and saw there were two .221 forming dies. One was $89, description said for forming .221 out of .222 and .223; the other one was $38 and was described as a .221 forming and trim die. Are they both necessary or can you get by with just the cheaper one? Thanks
You'll have to check as always with any endeavor into case forming. But I made a few thousand 5.56 into 222 for varmint shooting in the old days.
It was easy...lube, run 5.56 brass through 222 RCBS trim die, trim to length in Wilson power timer, run through normal 222 full length die, load and shoot. No neck prep, no annealing. Cheap fast easy, and ya don't worry about losing brass in the field.
You don't need both....choose one. I used the cheaper trim die to accomplish the 223 to 222 in one easy pass. Should be the same for 222 to 221. Look at some of the reviews from them or Midway...other guys are using just the cheap trim die too with great success, when going down one step, like 222 to 221 going from 223 to 221 the expensive $89 forming die would most likely be your best choice...case necks will probably be thick when going that far 223 to 221...But the form die should definitely get the job done.
Just go to midwsy USA...got and add from them. They had Redding 221 fireball trim die on sale $39 read the first review....another reloader uses this die to for 222, 223, & most other similar cartridge brass to make 221 fireball.
I used the RCBS 222 trim die 45 yrs ago to make 223 into 222 in a single pass ...and tried it yesterday just for fun. Lube the 223 run in the trim die forms the case neck and push back shoulder in one pass. It Works...no other dies needed just a $40 trim die. I'm a retired machinist and make my own case forming dies. Kinda know what works. Had to make case forming dies to take 6.5 grendel basic .443 " straight wall to 6mm 30 degree shoulder + brass thickness to make 6 mm ARC and anneal each step before and after.
Ya don't have to do any of that in this case, just lube em run em in the die...presto 221 fireball....after final trim and deburring.
Nope...
I use the form die and then the form/trim die and they work great. You also need an extended shell holder. 223 brass is rated for higher pressure than 222 so I use 223 LC brass rather than 222 brass
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
The OP wants 221, not 222.
Just went down this road a while back. Made a few hundred (221) from 222 and 223. The neck wall thickness was thick enough I turned necks, I was making 20VT.
I made a couple of hundred 222 from 223. Necks were thicker, but usable.
One doesn’t have to anneal, but I highly suggest it.
L.Sherm
Silver $$ Contributor
Why isn't it? What is 20VT brass then?
Nothing more the 221 fireball brass necked down and shoulder moved forward.
Guess I dont see how you can push a shoulder down almost .500 in one pass and not crush the body of the case.
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