Fire Forming ?????

[JDB]

I am in the build process of a 280 Ack Imp.

I know that I can buy Nosler brass....but is "Fire Forming" as simple as buying 280 Rem Cartridges and shooting them in the Ack Imp chamber???

I have a connection to buy some new 280 Rem loads for cheap...is there any case prep needed when fireforming already loaded rounds?

Can shooting the 280 Rem cartridges in the 280 Ackley chamber cause any harm to the chamber or barrel?

 

[Drifter]

Re: Fire Forming ?????


Should be just a matter of shooting your standard brass in an Ackley improved chamber. I would verify the coal and go from there.

I just fire formed about 200 17 Ackley hornet cases. Loaded up a standard load and went to the range and did some shooting . surprisingly my FF loads were very accurate.

It won't hurt anything, all it will do is expand out those cases to match the new shoulder angle of the Ackley chamber. You may want to anneal after FF , but that is a personal preference there, Some do some don't.

 

[RTH1800]

Re: Fire Forming ?????

I would strongly encourage you to reconsider the Ackly improved ctg. I have shot a few and it is a waste. You will get 7% more capicity and 2-3% more velocity with the same pressure. More expensive dies, brass is an issue etc. Any further increase in velocity is due to increase in pressure or overloading. You can overload a standard .280 just as well, but I do not reccomend it.

 

[JDB]

Re: Fire Forming ?????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rth1800</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would strongly encourage you to reconsider the Ackly improved ctg. I have shot a few and it is a waste. You will get 7% more capicity and 2-3% more velocity with the same pressure. More expensive dies, brass is an issue etc. Any further increase in velocity is due to increase in pressure or overloading. You can overload a standard .280 just as well, but I do not reccomend it. </div></div>

Thanks for your input....but I am going 280AI. Brass/cartridge availibility is not an issue in this instance.

 

[Sportin Wood]

Re: Fire Forming ?????

Load up a standard 280 load, and jam the bullet .015 to .020 into the lands and you should be good to go. I'm in the middle of fireforming 150 pieces of 6ai brass...

 

[JDB]

Re: Fire Forming ?????

I have an opportunity to purchase some loaded factory 280 Rem cartridges for a LOW price...so I dont have the luxury to seat the bullet myself....I guess I could get a bullet puller and pullup .015-.020??

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Re: Fire Forming ?????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JDB</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have an opportunity to purchase some loaded factory 280 Rem cartridges for a LOW price...so I dont have the luxury to seat the bullet myself....I guess I could get a bullet puller and pullup .015-.020?? </div></div>

NO...NO NO NO. Factory rounds are loaded to certain specs. If you change the seating depth you have changed the specs and could cause a dangerous pressure spike. If you did not know this already it makes me worry about your ability to handload. Please be careful. Looking for shortcuts is a bad way to start out in loading your own ammo.
Pull the factory rounds down completely and use the brass if they are so cheap. You can even load the bullets back up and use them to fireform. If you have a custom gun and a custom chamber why do you want to save pennies? Load up some good fireforming loads and do it right.

 

[JDB]

Re: Fire Forming ?????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: armorpl8chikn</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JDB</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have an opportunity to purchase some loaded factory 280 Rem cartridges for a LOW price...so I dont have the luxury to seat the bullet myself....I guess I could get a bullet puller and pullup .015-.020?? </div></div>

NO...NO NO NO. Factory rounds are loaded to certain specs. If you change the seating depth you have changed the specs and could cause a dangerous pressure spike. If you did not know this already it makes me worry about your ability to handload. Please be careful. Looking for shortcuts is a bad way to start out in loading your own ammo.
Pull the factory rounds down completely and use the brass if they are so cheap. You can even load the bullets back up and use them to fireform. If you have a custom gun and a custom chamber why do you want to save pennies? Load up some good fireforming loads and do it right. </div></div>

Agreed. I think I'll just stick with new Nosler brass and reload from the ground up! Thanks!

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Re: Fire Forming ?????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Agreed. I think I'll just stick with new Nosler brass and reload from the ground up! Thanks!</div></div>

That is what I would do. There is nothing wrong with making up fireforming loads that are done correctly with the bullet jamming the lands, it has worked fine for as long as wildcats have existed. BUT. If it were me and I could buy already formed premium brass, made to fit my chamber? No contest. I think you are on the right track good luck with your build, 280Ack is a great round.

 

[69icarus]

Re: Fire Forming ?????

You have some of the same questions I had when I started fire forming for a 22-250AI. I tried the normal "Purchase" cheaper 22-250 rounds but I ended up going from the ground up with Lapua brass and never looked back! Good luck!