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Fireforming brass

jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
edited February 2002 in Ask the Experts
Suppose one wants to fireform some brass. I have heard various methods. Any recommendations?
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.
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Comments

  • snickerssnickers Member Posts: 359 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The only method I know of is to chamber a round in your rifle then in a safe place, (preferably at a target because eveyone needs a little practice)fire the round and walla a fireformed case. This is assuming that you are using a round that can be fireformed to another. Most often this is done with the Ackley calibers or maybe some of the Weatherbys. Caution should be used if you are not absolutley sure of what you are doing.
    MONEY TALKS mine says good-bye
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've used this method in fireforming reformed 30-30 cases into the .219 Ackley Improved with sharp shoulder and never split a case.Put 10 grains of 2400 powder in the case, point the rifle skyward and pull the trigger.You use no bullet, cotton or cornmeal.Let us know how you make out.
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  • JIM STARKJIM STARK Member Posts: 1,150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    iI generally use 4 or 5 grains of red dot ..depending on case size...fill the case to 1/2 way up the neck with corn meal..... dribble some melted parafin on top of the corn meal to keep it where it belongs until the case is fired... I have used powder in empty cases before, but in .223 military formed to 7-TCU sometimes the case neck didn't blow all the way out to size...military brass especially since it tends to be thicker...hope this helps...
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    7.62X54r to 8X56R. I know it will be a little short.
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  • woodsrunnerwoodsrunner Member Posts: 5,378 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Until recently 32-40 brass was a pretty expensive thing to obtain. The old timer that I got my gun from taught me how to make them from 30-30's. Just run them into the die using about three passes. That is don't try to resize it all in one stroke.Go a little ways then back out, etc. Use lots of lube. For my initial forming I use a heavy lube like the RCBS grease. After you load them the first time they are fire formed. You may want to anneal the necks, I don't. I see cartridges of the world suggests a .323 bullet. You should have no problem expanding a .312 dia case mouth up to that. My home brewed 32-40's last about 6 reloadings before they start cracking where the necks were.One advantage of the short case, you trim once to even up the mouths and you never have to trim after that.WOODS
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