fire forming 223AI

[Willoughby]

when fire forming 223 AI
should I use new brass & reduced loads ?
I have 300 or so 2x fired cases left over from my 223 barrel
but I'm thinking new brass & a reduced load would produce the best results
any comments appreciated

 

[jonbearman]

I dont see any reason why not to fireform them.they only have 2 firings on them which isnt bad,if they were 12x fired I would anneal.I would say go ahead.If a couple get cracks in them ,no big deal anyways.

 

[bigedp51]

Below is from the main page of accurateshooter.com and it has a wealth of information on many topics.

223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide
What is the Best Method to Fire-Form the Cases?

Fire-forming .223 AI brass is very easy compared to some of the other Ackleyized wildcats. This is because the overall geometry doesn’t change very dramatically other than the shoulder angle. You’re not blowing the shoulder forward into the neck. Graymist simply loads a stout charge of H335 with 40gr V-Maxs: “Fireforming was straight forward. Put the 223 cartridge in the rifle and pull the trigger. None of the complications I had when forming other Ackley Improved cartridges. I lost no cases when fireforming. Fireforming loads are superbly accurate, so don’t waste them on punching paper. Form your brass while you hunt.”

Jason Baney, to save on barrel wear (and bullet costs), is fireforming using pistol powder and cornmeal: “Try some Bullseye powder along with cornmeal and a patch to give you 95%+ formed cases. In my testing, I used 8 grains of Bullseye, topped with 12 grains of cornmeal (you have to settle it a little bit to fit it all in), with half a .22 caliber (1/2″ x1″) patch stuffed in the neck to secure the charge. This will give you a mostly AI-formed case with no bullet. The shoulders will not be as sharp as a case that has been 2-times-fired with a full-house load, but in my opinion, the cornmeal-forming procedure will help get to a true ‘Ackley’ load sooner. NOTE: Though there is no bullet, the cornmeal charge is still very dangerous–use the same precautions you would employ with normal ammunition. Likewise, use hearing protection.”

223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/

 

[Hal]

Use a standard .223 load to fireform.



Hal

 

[MildBill]

I found a standard load that the rifle liked and use it and the bullets for either varmint control or practice shooting to get something useful out of fire forming.

 

[284driver]

I wouldn't use a light 223 charge. A moderate or moderate plus a little will get a good shoulder formed. Generally the Ackley's shoot good during fire forming.
I was forming 22-250 Ackley once when I first got one, and loaded them with a middle of the road standard 22-250 load and got less than desirable shoulders. Had to bump up closer to a max standard load to form well.

 

[pikespeakgoat]

Use a standard .223 load to fireform.

Hal

This ^^^^^, it works very well.

 

[kelbro]

Standard 223 load. It may take two firings to fully form 223AI. Annealed brass works the best.

 

[Ackman]

when fire forming 223 AI
should I use new brass & reduced loads ?
I have 300 or so 2x fired cases left over from my 223 barrel
but I'm thinking new brass & a reduced load would produce the best results
any comments appreciated

I've always fireformed using new brass. Once by accident I shot some .223 loads with once fired brass in the AI, they formed just fine. Try the 2x fired stuff and see how it works.

There's lots of nonsense written about AI cartridges. The AI chamber is larger than std. 223. The case blows out and a formed case will use about 2gr. more powder. So why would a reduced load or even a standard load produce best results? It doesn't and that's not how to fireform AI cases. Find a load the same as you would any other cartridge. Just use a powder you like in the .223....I've used a lot of AA2015 but there are plenty of others that work fine. Fireforming, start about where the reloading manual says is max load for the std. 223 and work your way up until you find best accuracy. With a perfectly formed case. That's all there is to it.