Fireforming problems

[Hapnin]

Hello all.
I'm having trouble forming brass for my.243 Ackley. I'm using the "cow" method, but I cannot get that tight chamber fit to form the brass all the way. The primers are backing out and the headspace is way short on the formed brass. Am I going to have to load bullets to the lands in my preformed brass in order to get it right? ( Without the cow of course)

Thanks

 

[Greyfox]

If you have the tools to do it, another way is to make a false shoulder with a crush fit. You would need to expand the neck to the next largest size (probably .257), then put the case in your die backed out a few turns. Run the die down a little at a time, while trying the brass in your chamber and closing the bolt. When you can close the bolt with a tight fit, you're good to go.

BTW- you don't need to use COW, a small cotton ball or even a patch on top of the pistol powder will work without the mess of the COW.

Rick

 

[Hapnin]

Thanks Rick. The false shoulder never even crossed my mind. Shoulda figured that one out on my own.

Thanks again.

 

[jo191145]

I'm not an expert on Ackley chambers!

but either your smith headspaced the rifle incorrectly or your using inferior brass.
an AI chamber should be crush fit on virgin brass. At least thats the popular opinion I've heard.

It could be your using Remchester brass in a chamber cut for Lapua.
Lapua is pretty consistent in my expierience while I've seen some Remchester brass headspaced so short I leave it in the bag and hang it on the X-Mas tree.

The false shoulder is your best bet either way.

 

[Hapnin]

Was experimenting with some Winchester brass. Will try some Lapua that I've got.

I tried the false shoulder and it worked great as long as I used the cow. Nice sharp shoulders and headspace was spot on. Without the cow, rounded shoulders.

Still gonna see if the Lapua case works better.

Thanks guys.

 

[Hapnin]

The Lapua fits much better. Too bad I already trimmed the others.

Thanks again, take care.

 

[Greyfox]

Was experimenting with some Winchester brass. Will try some Lapua that I've got.

I tried the false shoulder and it worked great as long as I used the cow. Nice sharp shoulders and headspace was spot on. Without the cow, rounded shoulders.

Still gonna see if the Lapua case works better.

Thanks guys.

When I get rounded shoulders, I just add more powder. You put enough go-bang in and the shoulders will come out just fine. COW works, but there is more than one way to git er done. Glad it's working for you.

Rick

 

[bozo699]

Steve,
Joe is correct you don't need a false shoulder nor jam bullets on a AI chamber there designed to form using virgin brass, I think Rick has given you the solution,...more pistol powder. What is your ff load?
I have several chamberings in AI and there so accurate even with std. loads I quit using cow, I load and shoot and in my 22-250, 6mm, and .257 they are all accurate for groundhogs out to 600 yards, so I am having fun and learning as I shoot with no wasted barrel life because I am doing something.
Wayne.