.309 JDJ from .444

[bosterr]

Does anyone on here own a TC Contender in .309 JDJ and successfully form their brass? I own barrels and dies in both .375 JDJ and .358 JDJ that I use to step down closer to .309. I've done it before long ago, but can't remember how I did it.

[Barry54]

I went with the 308 Bellem in a Contender. It just skips the 40° shoulder and fire forming step. 358 JDJ is a breeze. Just run it through the full length sizer.

[bosterr]

I finally figured it out. Lubed .444 case through .375 JDJ size die, then lube case again and through my .358 JDJ size die. I always wiped the outside neck area of the brass clean. Next it goes in my .308 Win. die with the neck expander/decapping rod removed. That was my problem with split and crushed case necks. Then a pass through the .309 JDJ size die. I have NOE's case neck expanding/flaring set-up and with generously lubing the inside of the case neck, all my problems have disappeared. Zero creases, wrinkles and dents. The loaded rounds are a bit tight to chamber for fire forming but the gun closes and fires. Now I need to figure out a charge of faster burning powder to use for fire forming instead of using the slow burning rifle powder I plan to use.

[Barry54]

Glad you got it!

I was cheap and didn’t want the fire forming step back when I got mine rechambered. Really glad I don’t need to use precious large rifle primers for that step these days. I wonder if a Contender has enough oomph to reliably fire Ginex brand LR primers?

[bosterr]

I have no experience with Ginex primers. I have owned Contenders since the early '80s and I've never had any kind of primer issues, but never used anything but domestically produced primers. Thank you Barry for your help!

[Rapier]

With case forming like you are describing, I use 5 grains of Bullseye, 1/4 of 1 sheet of toilet paper tamped with a new flat tip pencil and no projectile. Large pistol primers work fine. I fire them in the garage, outside doors closed, into a cardboard box to keep shredded paper contained. Works like a champ.

[lar45]

I run 444 brass partway into a 308 win die.
For fireforming, jD suggested the starting load of whichever powder you are looking at.
I lost many more with Starline brass than with Remington brass.