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Fire forming brass?

mazo kidmazo kid Member Posts: 648 ✭✭✭✭
I should probably just go out and try this, but thought I would get any insight: I form brass for several obsolete calibers and some need to be fire formed. Some brass seems to work OK, but some just doesn't seem to expand well. I was wondering if fire forming using black powder would would work better than the smokeless currently being used, since black powder obturates cast bullets better than smokeless. Or do you need the slightly longer pressure spike of smokeless? Any thought?? Emery

Comments

  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Other than the pain of cleaning the corrosive soot out of you cases and barrel...................
    As long as the headspace is controled (false shoulder etc), you can simply load and shoot a standard (starting load) or use the "fast powder, filler and plug" methiod (weigh out the amount of bullseye required to fill the case, than use 10% of that amount of bullseye, fill the case with a TP or corn meal and plug the neck with wax or soap). This may not fully form the caseing, but will get you close enough to finish the forming with a standard loading for the finished cartridge (for minor forming IE: a Ackley Imp. it's easier to start with the standard load).
  • HighballHighball Member Posts: 15,755
    edited November -1
    Personally..given the nature of black powder...I would shy away from it for the purpose you mention.

    One thing you might try is annealing the brass first.
  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A fast burning powder works best Black powder is too low pressure to do a good job.
  • mazo kidmazo kid Member Posts: 648 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    OK, thanks for the responses. Guess I will stick with the smokeless routine or use a fully loaded cartridge as before. Also will anneal the cases beforehand. Emery
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