Fireforming Questions

[rednek]

I have been fireforming my 243 AI cases for the last couple years just going with a full house 243 load and shooting them as normal. I have a trip out dogging coming up, and while working some loads have had some loose primer pockets, so i have decided to scrap that brass. Since i am pressed for time, and don't feel like wasting bullets and barrel life i want to fireform with cream of wheat.

My question is regarding fireforming using pistol powder/ the cream of wheat method. i have never done it this way, and just need to know how much powder I nned to be loading, and a quick review of the process itself.

I don't really reload pistol, so the only pistol powder I have is BlueDot. How many grains about should i be using?

Prime, drop the powder, fill with cream of wheat and cap with wax?

Do i need to put anything between the powder and cream of wheat?

Any specialty safety precautions i need to take?

Any info would be appreciated. Maybe someone has done a full write up on the subject i have missed?

 

[Hal]

JJ

Why don't you just load your .243 brass with your standard load and fire form them while shooting prairie dogs?
Save on your barrel and have fun while fire forming.
Hal

 

[rednek]

I am using a new bullet to me, going down to a 70g TNT from my primary load of a 85g BT. So i don't really have a standard load. I have been working one up here, and plan to use the rest of my current brass in that regard. They are primed and good for one final firing.

How safe is it to load a well over 243 max charge as a fireform load? Never tried it that way before.

I'm still learning, soaking up the info anywhere i can get it.

 

[mr45man]

I had a new gun, set up for Bore rider bullets, they engraved in the rifling just fine.
After forming 200 cases with pistol powder The bullets no longer engraved in the rifling as before.

So i think that pistol powder must be really hot, eroding the throat.
Now i just load and shoot for trigger time and load development
a copper bullet isnot going to hurt the barrel, its the heat from firing
Thats my story and i am sticking to it
John H

 

[dmickey]

Yes, pistol powder is hot! I had to burn off several ounces of Bullseye. Boy was that HOT!

 

[shooter63]

go to home pg. & scroll down to 243 win. scroll on down youll see the method in blue lol shooter63

 

[Elwood]

Follow the instructions and all will be good. The only thing I do different is to use a piece of tissue as a plug instead of wax.

http://www.angelfire.com/sd/6mmackley/fireforming.html

 

[nonliberal]

JJ

Why don't you just load your .243 brass with your standard load and fire form them while shooting prairie dogs?
Save on your barrel and have fun while fire forming.
Hal

This would be my approach as well. Even fire forming should easily be Minute of PD.

 

[rednek]

JJ

Why don't you just load your .243 brass with your standard load and fire form them while shooting prairie dogs?
Save on your barrel and have fun while fire forming.
Hal

This would be my approach as well. Even fire forming should easily be Minute of PD.

So you guys are using a full charge AI load when fireforming?

I am running RL17, and I have a potential case volume of just over 53 grains loaded to the top of the neck. My load workup is at 48g right now, with a couple more test rounds to go up to about 49g.

I am assuming that 48 is going to be a compressed load. I have never actually heard of anyone using a full value AI load in a parent case, so i have been wary of trying it. I have to work up the rest of this load this weekend, maybe I will have to try.

<----Still learning, but living by the credo "the only dumb question is the question never asked"

 

[Hal]

Re: Fire Forming Questions

JJ

I would use a .243 load to fire form with.

As Shooter suggested check out the home page and look up .243, there is some loading data on the .243 AI and the have a few fire forming loads listed.

Let us know how it turns out.


Hal

 

[bozo699]

JJ,
Everybody has there opinions but I don't like to use Max loads to FF with, loads at the upper end is okay but I see no reason to push the envelope on your new brass. The AI's were designed to be fired with factory off the shelf loads, which are not going to be MAX loads! The ground hog WILL not know the difference if it was hit with 3100fps or 3200fps
Wayne.

 

[Ackman]

I am using a new bullet to me, going down to a 70g TNT from my primary load of a 85g BT. So i don't really have a standard load. I have been working one up here, and plan to use the rest of my current brass in that regard. They are primed and good for one final firing.

How safe is it to load a well over 243 max charge as a fireform load? Never tried it that way before.

Not sure what you mean by "good for one final firing." If that means you're fireforming with once or twice or several times fired brass......use new brass.....fireform with new brass.

You're firing a standard case in a chamber that's significantly larger. It's very safe to load over max for the .243 when fireforming.....somebody tells you different, don't listen. My 243AI fireforming was a 70TNT and W760 powder. Max load in the Speer manual says 46.0gr....my load was 48+gr., velocity 3790. Accuracy was all holes touching. A friend's load/velocity/accuracy were very similar. Just start about max for a .243 and go up until you find best accuracy, just like with any other cartridge. It'll be wherever it is, but probably not too different from mine.

Don't waste time messing with fillers, just find your good load and use it for shooting. With this case your fireform load will be nearly the same as with formed brass.

 

[Ackman]

The AI's were designed to be fired with factory off the shelf loads, which are not going to be MAX loads!

Bozo you're forever unclear. The AI chambers were designed to use standard unaltered brass, either handloads or factory ammunition. Factory ammunition was designed to be fired in a standard chamber. If it were made for a larger AI chamber, it would have more powder.

 

[JJH]

I am using a new bullet to me, going down to a 70g TNT from my primary load of a 85g BT. So i don't really have a standard load. I have been working one up here, and plan to use the rest of my current brass in that regard. They are primed and good for one final firing.

How safe is it to load a well over 243 max charge as a fireform load? Never tried it that way before.

Not sure what you mean by "good for one final firing." If that means you're fireforming with once or twice or several times fired brass......use new brass.....fireform with new brass.

I was referring to the lot of brass I have currently. Primer pockets are getting loose, so I am firing it all one last time. I am just trying to extract some data from the brass I am scrapping, before working the new brass up.

Thanks for the rest of the info. I decided to FF with a stout charge and am working it up to find something accurate, for the FF process.

 

[Ing. Michael W. Mayerl]

I have been fireforming my 243 AI cases for the last couple years just going with a full house 243 load and shooting them as normal. I have a trip out dogging coming up, and while working some loads have had some loose primer pockets, so i have decided to scrap that brass. Since i am pressed for time, and don't feel like wasting bullets and barrel life i want to fireform with cream of wheat.

My question is regarding fireforming using pistol powder/ the cream of wheat method. i have never done it this way, and just need to know how much powder I nned to be loading, and a quick review of the process itself.

I don't really reload pistol, so the only pistol powder I have is BlueDot. How many grains about should i be using?

Prime, drop the powder, fill with cream of wheat and cap with wax?

Do i need to put anything between the powder and cream of wheat?

Any specialty safety precautions i need to take?

Any info would be appreciated. Maybe someone has done a full write up on the subject i have missed?

Ask Hornady for a hydroforming die. They are realy great.
Your barrel will be happy about it.


http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.co.at/2011/03/reloading-hornady-hydraulic-forming-die.html