I have a long range benchrest rifle build in process. It will be chambered for a wildcat cartridge which requires, in part, necking down a 300 Remington SAUM case (actually, Norma Custom branded case in that caliber) to 6.5mm. Using a high capacity case (read standard “barrel burner” drill), I’m concerned about fire forming the 200 pieces of new brass I just purchased when my barrel’s life expectancy (even with the Isonite QPQ coating and barrel bore and bullets coated in Hex Boron Nitride) may only be 800-1000 rounds. That noted, I recalled a few years back reading about the use of an alternative “bullet” for fire forming, Neco P-wads. While Neco’s website does not note fire forming as one of the applications of P-wads, I called Neco and confirmed my memory had not failed me – they are used for fire forming, sans bullet – just powder and P-wad or powder, “cream-of-wheat”, and P-wad.
Does anyone have experience using P-wads for fire forming wildcats? If so…
1. One or more P-wads in place of the bullet?
2. How much and which powder?
3. Cleaning – clean after XX (number) of “shots”? Clean as if cleaning for lead bullets, i.e., no “Copper Killer” needed?
4. Fire as “slow” as normally shooting a 10 shot match string or no problem (just keep shooting one after another until all the cases are fire formed)?
5. My custom die maker says he will need the forming die (and 3-5 fire formed sample cases) back to check the die AFTER I have fire formed those cases through three passes – i.e., fire formed the same cases three times. As such, is it “OK” to just de-prime (use a hand de-primer/punch), prime (hand primer), add powder (measuring spoon and funnel), load the P-wad, and then fire again – all right at the range - until I get three passes on the sample cases, that is, WITHOUT using any dies or press? [This would save me two trips to the range.]
6. Other thoughts, experiences, comments re using P-wads for fire forming?
Thanks.
Ed
Does anyone have experience using P-wads for fire forming wildcats? If so…
1. One or more P-wads in place of the bullet?
2. How much and which powder?
3. Cleaning – clean after XX (number) of “shots”? Clean as if cleaning for lead bullets, i.e., no “Copper Killer” needed?
4. Fire as “slow” as normally shooting a 10 shot match string or no problem (just keep shooting one after another until all the cases are fire formed)?
5. My custom die maker says he will need the forming die (and 3-5 fire formed sample cases) back to check the die AFTER I have fire formed those cases through three passes – i.e., fire formed the same cases three times. As such, is it “OK” to just de-prime (use a hand de-primer/punch), prime (hand primer), add powder (measuring spoon and funnel), load the P-wad, and then fire again – all right at the range - until I get three passes on the sample cases, that is, WITHOUT using any dies or press? [This would save me two trips to the range.]
6. Other thoughts, experiences, comments re using P-wads for fire forming?
Thanks.
Ed
