Question for the 284 Shehane guys - Fireforming.

[CyaN1de]

So I have only ever fireformed brass for my Shehane using bullets shooting in smaller matches or practices. I have barrel that is shooting really well but getting up there in rounds and I would like to try and get a few more matches out of it.

Wondering if anyone has used the Pistol Powder/Cream of Wheat method for initial fireforming and if so how much and what brand/type of powder did you use?

I have BlueDot available to me and also some Titegroup.

Last time I tried this method I was forming necked down 308 brass to a 260 variant and was using about 8gr of Titegroup topped off with CoW and some TP to hold everything in. Not sure if the 8gr is enough to give a 95% (or better) fireform to the Shehane.

 

[RDavies]

Years ago I did use this method but ended up with varying neck lengths. Now I just use up old bullets and fire them with Trail Boss powder. You can fire form with around 14gns of trail boss and 180gn bullets. Even shooting 100 rounds at casual plinking rate your barrel will barely warm up. Makes for a fun day out shooting clods of dirt with 180s at around 1600 fps and decent accuracy. Cases will be fully formed and right to go after this.

 

[rpierce]

I use 54 gr of 4831sc w a 180 Berger for Fireforming. At 600 yd f class matches it's shot a couple 800 out of 800. I've also had several 200-17 and a 200-18x while Fireforming. Fireforming in my experience has had phenomenal accuracy. I won't use the cow due to the accuracy I'm getting.

 

[Elwood]

Years ago I did use this method but ended up with varying neck lengths. Now I just use up old bullets and fire them with Trail Boss powder. You can fire form with around 14gns of trail boss and 180gn bullets. Even shooting 100 rounds at casual plinking rate your barrel will barely warm up. Makes for a fun day out shooting clods of dirt with 180s at around 1600 fps and decent accuracy. Cases will be fully formed and right to go after this.

Rod gave me this little gem 12-18 months ago and can certainly confirm that it works.
The safe way using pistol powder is to fill the 6.5x284 case up with the powder of choice, measure the load and then use 10% of the measured amount of powder. Example if it was 50 grains of Unique then start of with 5 grains and work up.
Looking back at some old data I used 7 grains of Bullseye to form .284 to 284 Shehane, which doesn't seem like a lot but remember you're only blowing the case walls out by about 5 thou each side so it probably takes a little less powder than trying to move the shoulders.
Just to make sure I have done a double check, a Lapua 6.5x284 case holds 47.30 grains of Bullseye, so that would be 4.7 grains and I worked up to 7 grains.

 

[CyaN1de]

Thanks for the replys.

As stated I would do a normal fireform load but I need to get 2 more big matches out of this barrel and it's getting up around 2000 rounds now. The less wear I put on it the better right now.

 

[JBO]

Thanks for the replys.

As stated I would do a normal fireform load but I need to get 2 more big matches out of this barrel and it's getting up around 2000 rounds now. The less wear I put on it the better right now.

WOW, 2000 rounds out of your Shehane ! I'd be more then happy using that barrel for a tomato stake with that many round down the tube. I think you got your money out of it.

 

[CyaN1de]

WOW, 2000 rounds out of your Shehane ! I'd be more then happy using that barrel for a tomato stake with that many round down the tube. I think you got your money out of it.

I don't run it hot and the only time it gets string fired is when I come to the US. When we shoot pairs or triples is hard to get the barrel smokin hot and it's still shooting cleans at 1000yds if I do my part.