Fire Forming Discussion

[BORGY76]

So I can't be the first person to think of this. So you're gonna fire form your brass to YOUR chamber. So you load up your ammo ( whatever your favorite recipe/method is ), then you go blow these rounds through your barrel. I imagine alot of people have to go to some sort of range to do this.

Why not do it in your garage, basement , your living room??? I'm thinking thick steel container , sealed, some type of exhaust, baffling. Fill with water, Baffling would control water movement and could be used as a kind of deflection device. Maybe a 4-6" section of steel block chambered with the same reamer that your barrel was done with.

For me , I would put this on a cart with wheels in the shop. Use a cheapy action for firing pin action, I would think just about anything would work for primer striking.

Anyone done or heard of something similar? I was watching a video with Shiraz Balolia using a rail gun for his fire forming. Got my gears spinning.

Would save considerable wear on your rifle barrel, assuming you are competing. Otherwise it wouldn't make much sense.

 

[Sandstorm]

Why....or
Why not load up and Fireform on the line in a Match..Depending on your setup, you can be competitive and even have at chance at winning a Midrange match. I have many times and would never waste components.
Unless your creating some crazy wildcat round......
works for me and my 2c

 

[BORGY76]

Why....or
Why not load up and Fireform on the line in a Match..Depending on your setup, you can be competitive and even have at chance at winning a Midrange match. I have many times and would never waste components.
Unless your creating some crazy wildcat round......
works for me and my 2c

True, I was thinking along the lines of a non production cartridge. Or maybe you are modifying existing brass because of availability. Let's say you have a 1000 rounds of 6BR brass, but you decided your gonna change up to BRX.

 

[Sandstorm]

I shoot a 284 Shehane and do some of my best shootin Fireforming brass.
Im more comfortable doing it a 500 and 600 yds....than 1000.
but I have done it at 1000 also and only dropped a few points...probly wind calls anyway.
Im not alone in this as I learned this right here from my friend @Shotdots
among others that shoot way better than me.

 

[BORGY76]

I shoot a 284 Shehane and do some of my best shootin Fireforming brass.
Im more comfortable doing it a 500 and 600 yds....than 1000.
but I have done it at 1000 also and only dropped a few points...probly wind calls anyway.
Im not alone in this as I learned this right here from my friend @Shotdots
among others that shoot way better than me.

So you just take a 284 win and run the bullet long? I guess I'm not familiar with the shehane and wheeler geometry compared to a 284 win.

 

[Sandstorm]

I prep and load like any other bullet...and pull the trigger.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I always fireform in competition or practice. An alternative is to get a hydroform setup. That would save the powder and primers.

 

[BORGY76]

I always fireform in competition or practice. An alternative is to get a hydroform setup. That would save the powder and primers.

So let's say you hydro form and push the shoulder out .100 from original case. Would you want to anneal, FL Size to square off the radius, or just fire it in the hydro formed state?

 

[Webster]

True, I was thinking along the lines of a non production cartridge. Or maybe you are modifying existing brass because of availability. Let's say you have a 1000 rounds of 6BR brass, but you decided your gonna change up to BRX.

I have a 6BRX for GH hunting. Kreiger barrel. I just load with 58 gr Hornady bullets. Jam 0.010" to keep the case head against the bolt face and shoot at the range. It's been about 4 years but as I remember the groups were under 3/4" when FF. If you just chamber a piece of steel there is no rifling to hold the case against the bolt. A gunsmith would probably give you a barrel stub. It's not worth the time to build a contraption and hope it's safe. I also have a a 6br. Bought 200 Lapua cases in 2009 and I am still shooting them. About 500 shots a year. A little over 20 shots per case.

 

[Sandstorm]

You can always Hydroform but its an unnecessary step and youl find it works
just fine to to load and jam them .010 ...( Give it a whirl ) Can always get
a Hydroform die after that if your not happy.

 

[Ackman]

True, I was thinking along the lines of a non production cartridge. Or maybe you are modifying existing brass because of availability. Let's say you have a 1000 rounds of 6BR brass, but you decided your gonna change up to BRX.

I've fireformed many thousands of different AI rounds, all out in the field. They've shot very well. Latest fireform adventure was a 6BRX. Mind you because of range peculiarity these were at 75yds, they were also looksee loads, 2 shots each, with a new-to-me chambering. First two shots were before a sight change. Next four groups if overlaid would be just punching the hole bigger. I was amazed at how well that thing shot.

 

[Sandstorm]

Its kinda funny they shoot that well...and we spend hours agonizing over shoulder setback
and neck tension...Dont get me wrong... I spend time working on my brass and neck tension.
Hell i even turn the necks.....just saying that I have shot amazing scores in competition Fireforming brass.

 

[BORGY76]

Interesting stuff. I was just watching some youtube stuff, couple guys were hydro forming, fl sizing then ff.

 

[Webster]

I've fireformed many thousands of different AI rounds, all out in the field. They've shot very well. Latest fireform adventure was a 6BRX. Mind you because of range peculiarity these were at 75yds, they were also looksee loads, 2 shots each, with a new-to-me chambering. First two shots were before a sight change. Next four groups if overlaid would be just punching the hole bigger. I was amazed at how well that thing shot.

I've fireformed many thousands of different AI rounds, all out in the field. They've shot very well. Latest fireform adventure was a 6BRX. Mind you because of range peculiarity these were at 75yds, they were also looksee loads, 2 shots each, with a new-to-me chambering. First two shots were before a sight change. Next four groups if overlaid would be just punching the hole bigger. I was amazed at how well that thing shot.

I have shot many different bullets including match grade. The 60 gr Sierra Varminter may be the most accurate I ever shot. It's a great bullet.

 

[Sandstorm]

Bought 200 Lapua cases in 2009 and I am still shooting them

That my friend is impressive..my primer pockets will never live that long.
Then again were not comparing Apples to Apples here with a BRX and a Shehane.
But if I can do 10 plus Ill be ecstatic...lol

 

[Ackman]

I have shot many different bullets including match grade. The 60 gr Sierra Varminter may be the most accurate I ever shot. It's a great bullet.

Shot off bags, not a rest. And it is, that 60 Sierra HP is just an excellent bullet, I was surprised at how good those things are. Credit though, also to a really good barrel with an excellent chamber done by a good friend who does extremely meticulous work. This will be for varmints, rockchucks and most likely pd's also.

 

[1shot]

I shoot a 284 Shehane and do some of my best shootin Fireforming brass.
Im more comfortable doing it a 500 and 600 yds....than 1000.
but I have done it at 1000 also and only dropped a few points...probly wind calls anyway.
Im not alone in this as I learned this right here from my friend @Shotdots
among others that shoot way better than me.

I'm in the same boat as @Sandstorm. I've shot more that a few 197-199 scores at 1K fireforming brass. The X count is low, but the scores are still good enough to be competitive. At least in my frugal mind, this just makes sense to me.

Lloyd

 

[1lessdog]

Why not do the cream of wheat load. I have did 1000's of rounds. I do 6BR to 6BRX, 6MM to 6MM AI and 22-6MM AI and 260 Remington to 260 AI.

I use 10 gr of Red Dot, fill with cream of wheat then stick the neck into a bar of soap and fire it. I fire about 10 rds at a time and let barrel cool down. It works really good.

 

[1shot]

Why not do the cream of wheat load. I have did 1000's of rounds. I do 6BR to 6BRX, 6MM to 6MM AI and 22-6MM AI and 260 Remington to 260 AI.

I use 10 gr of Red Dot, fill with cream of wheat then stick the neck into a bar of soap and fire it. I fire about 10 rds at a time and let barrel cool down. It works really good.

The COW method is messy and time consuming is why I don't use it any more. Stick with whatever fast burning powder you use, tamp in a 1/4 sheet of TP and have at it.
I've successfully formed 6.5GWI from 6.5x55 Swede, 6SLR from 243 and 6BRX from 6BR.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[1lessdog]

The COW method is messy and time consuming is why I don't use it any more. Stick with whatever fast burning powder you use, tamp in a 1/4 sheet of TP and have at it.
I've successfully formed 6.5GWI from 6.5x55 Swede, 6SLR from 243 and 6BRX from 6BR.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

The TP sounds like a lot more work then COW. I run COW threw my powder dispenser. I load up 50 at a time. Drop in 10 gr Red Dot then switch over to COW then push neck into bar of soap. I shoot it into a 4 inch piece of PVC filled with water. I put PVC pipe in a box to hold it at a angle