Todays fireforming

[BK7saum]

I would fill the cases with cream of wheat next time and if pointing each round up if in your back yard you don't need to seal the case tightly. There are reports of TP or Dacron ringing chambers if packed down against the powder and I am not sure if the dryer lint will be heavy enough to stop that. COW does not compress much and the force of it blowing out of the case does a good job of fire forming your cases.

The TP or dacron ringing a chamber is reported to be in association with firing a bullet, not a bulletless fireforming load.

The space between the TP/dacron is a piston/cylinder and the bullet is a plug. The ring occurrs at the base of the bullet.

[challenger_i]

One thing to remember make sure you settle the sand after each shot or that wax bullet will go through the bottom of a metal 5 gallon bucket and make a heck of a mess on the carpet , ask me how I know.

Metal bucket? I failed to notice THAT! No worries, I have one with a lid. This looks like a job for a whittled-down section of Tractor Supply horse stall mat to fit the bucket. Have a few left-over pieces from making a bullet trap. I bet a wax wad won't punch through that! Especially with a few inches of 20/40 sand on top! Thanks for the heads-up, sir!

[Texas by God]

I size the 30-30 brass to touch the shoulder with a press fit- and fire with regular 7-30 loads.
I’ve formed 38-55 from 30-30 with Bullseye, MaltoMeal, and candle wax plug- vertical firing. They are short but useable.
I also use regular loads to fireform .256 Win
from .357 mag and 7x57 made from 6mm Rem.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[15meter]

I would fill the cases with cream of wheat next time and if pointing each round up if in your back yard you don't need to seal the case tightly. There are reports of TP or Dacron ringing chambers if packed down against the powder and I am not sure if the dryer lint will be heavy enough to stop that. COW does not compress much and the force of it blowing out of the case does a good job of fire forming your cases.

This was from under a grain dryer after drying shelled corn. Dense enough to do the job effectively, not too dense to ring a chamber. It was not lint from a clothes dryer.

And all the reports I heard of ringing chambers was with TOO much Dacron behind a bullet. Just a grain of two is adequate, NOT packed tightly is supposed to be key to not ringing chambers. I have been lucky enough to always have come up with good shooting light loads that don't require Dacron fillers, so I have no personal experience with them except as fire-forming that don't produce chamber ringing conditions.

[35 Rem]

The only fireforming I've ever done is going from the Remington Benchrest basic brass (thin wall 308 Winchester with SRP) to 22 CHeetah Mk I. I used full power loads and hunted varmints with them. Group size was still around 1/2moa so not that much larger than fully formed brass. I couldn't see the point of using up components forming brass when performance was still that good with the rounded shoulders straight from the form dies. If I were to use the Cream of Wheat or other methods such as wax bullets, I'd go outside. But then I do live in a place where that is an option, and I know others don't necessarily have that luxury.

[racepres]

This was from under a grain dryer after drying shelled corn. Dense enough to do the job effectively, not too dense to ring a chamber. It was not lint from a clothes dryer.

And all the reports I heard of ringing chambers was with TOO much Dacron behind a bullet. Just a grain of two is adequate, NOT packed tightly is supposed to be key to not ringing chambers. I have been lucky enough to always have come up with good shooting light loads that don't require Dacron fillers, so I have no personal experience with them except as fire-forming that don't produce chamber ringing conditions.

I simply avoid any Filler...Except COW (or Grits).. never a problem...and I been fireforming various Wildcats since the early '80's!
as a side note... I use COW (or Grits) to Clean Nasty Barrels...both Military, for fouling and even corrosion.. and to de-lead some..

Edit to Note; it is generally Not recommended to use stuff like COW, which may become Compacted glob...in shouldered Cases.. I do however use it some...carefully (not let them sit for Any time) like 8mm Mauser, and wouldn't hesitate with something like the 35 Remington..

[lar45]

Many years ago I set out to form some 30-30 improved on a Contender barrel in the basement.
I dropped in some powder and squished part of an old candle in the neck. I covered the barrel with an old pair of jeans to catch the wax plug.
Then I thought, maybe I should put a soup can over the jeans.
Then I thought maybe I should put a 2x4 over the can.
That surely would have been enough?
I pointed it up, stacked everything on top and blew a wax bullet through the lighting fixture in the basement.
The wife wasn't very happy with me.
Don't under estimate a wax bullet...

[canebreaker]

I just fire formed 100 303 Britt to 410. Used old rifle primers that I don't know their age. 6 gr HP-38, no wad, case filled with Malt O Meal and topped with a small piece of tissue to hold it all in. A visit with my son and family at their farm was great. Everyone had dandruff afterwards. My 10 and 6 year old granddaughters fired a few too. All brass came out looking good except the necks being taller on one side.

[Garand1911]

I had to use COW method when reloading 7-30 waters. Seating bullets was causing the shoulder to collapse. COW fixed it.
Next time might try used coffee grinds. 4th of july might be a good time for urban backyard fireforming.

[challenger_i]

I had to use COW method when reloading 7-30 waters. Seating bullets was causing the shoulder to collapse. COW fixed it.
Next time might try used coffee grinds. 4th of july might be a good time for urban backyard fireforming.

You are a GENIUS! Kicking myself for not having thought of THAT little trick!

[dryflash3]

I’ve read many posts that describe how to fireform but they don’t use today’s component prices. Some say to use your regular load some say use Bullseye and toilet paper (TP) some say to use in between, and some suggest cream of wheat (COW).
Is there a standard that works? I’m sure everyone has their preferences but can 1 concoction work for others?
In particular I’m trying to fireform 30-30 to a 7-30 Waters.

I do that conversion often.

I anneal the necks first, or you run the risk of the necks cracking when fireforming.
Annealing is not hard, 750 degree TEMPILAQ is the key.

I use a cast 140 gr powder coated bullet at the start load for fireforming.

[cwsword]

I have a Siamese Mauser in 8x52mmR. Can I use 7.62x54mmR Russian brass rounds to fire form ? Should I reduce the load? Thank you. Frank.

[challenger_i]

I have a Siamese Mauser in 8x52mmR. Can I use 7.62x54mmR Russian brass rounds to fire form ? Should I reduce the load? Thank you. Frank.

You would probably have better luck in finding assistance with your question if you were to start a new thread. Better exposure that way, rather than the question being buried in a thread on a separate matter.

Good luck in your quest!

[Half Dog]

Good call ^^^^

[Rapier]

If I want to fire form without a bullet, in my garage, in town, I use 5 grains of bullseye and 1/4 to 1/2 sheet of TP compressed with a flat tip wood dowel and a cardboard box to capture the shredded TP. Saves a lot of bullets. However, on the range with bullets, I use the full load for a one shot only, forming. Some cases require the hot load to do a full form and the old Contender cartridges are cases that need a full power load for a one shot full form and on new brass not used brass. I have had many single shot cartridges in Contenders, BFs and XLs, and they do like a one shot full fire form. The action close must be with resistance to hold proper headspace on the case shoulder, not on the rim for best accuracy.