Non fire formed brass accuracy

[goober]

For those of you the reload have you noticed much accuracy difference in non fire formed brass compared to a fire formed cases?

I am about to neck up some lapua 6.5 x 284 to .284 shehane and cant afford to fire form before a national shoot for a few hundred rounds -things cost a bit here , powder per 500gr $70 180gr bergers $115 per 100 , cases $180 per 100 plus $280 range fee plus travel and accommodation .

Anyway your findings would be appreciated

 

[gcoulsey]

Re: Non fire formed brass accuracy

The 'accuracy' bit comes from load recipe and consistency,
So if your using quality brass, you've got a degree of consistency out the box.
If all your rounds are prepped and loaded the same, you should be fine,
Factory match ammo isn't fire-formed after all..

Having said that, your out of the box brass will behave a little differently, (different internal volume etc) so expect that this will have an impact on YOUR recipe's result.
If your load is forgiving, you should be fine.
As an example,
I have a load with lap brass, that shoots 42.2grn varget box fresh brass,
And 42.4grn fire-formed.
Each gives same consistent accuracy.

There really is only one way to be sure, and that's to shoot and see!

 

[Headgear]

Re: Non fire formed brass accuracy

All rifles are going to take new brass a little differently. I have a GAP custom and a CZ, both in 308. I can't see any difference in the custom but I do in the CZ. The chambers are night and day.

 

[John L]

Re: Non fire formed brass accuracy

I dont notice a big difference in the accuracy of my non fireformed brass versus the fireformed. A few X's maybee but not the overall accuracy. I generally do my fireforming at matches and dont feel handicapped one bit. If I had to pay what you guys do for components it would be a no brainer, those prices scare me.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Non fire formed brass accuracy

I have often read posts from BR shooters reporting that their fireforming loads tend to be the most accurate the brass ever shoots.

I don't fireform per se, I just F/L resize and load up my customary load for the first cycle.

I have also discussed loading with a multi-year H/P National Champion, and his approach is to F/L resize each time. He's never firing fireformed brass.

Greg

 

[Barrel Nut]

Re: Non fire formed brass accuracy

I have fireformed plenty of 6mmBRX brass in matches. The BRX case uses about 10 % more case capacity than the 6mm BR. The shoulder is pushed forward .100 during fireforming. You have to Jam the bullet to fireform this cartridge becaude you cannot make the shoulder touch to headspace there. This is a pretty radical fireforming of the case. I just use a 6mmBR accuracy load for fireforming and then go up to the BRX node after fireforming. The reduced powder loads shoot the same as a 6mmBR load and plenty accurate for the 600 yd. matches that we shoot.

 

[DocB]

Re: Non fire formed brass accuracy

ch'e,

I've heard folks fire-forming with stuff like dry grits or dry cream of wheat on top of a mild charge of a pistol powder if you don't want to use a loaded round. Keep the loaded case and the rifle pointed up.

DocB

 

[goober]

Re: Non fire formed brass accuracy

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have often read posts from BR shooters reporting that their fireforming loads tend to be the most accurate the brass ever shoots.

I don't fireform per se, I just F/L resize and load up my customary load for the first cycle.

I have also discussed loading with a multi-year H/P National Champion, and his approach is to F/L resize each time. He's never firing fireformed brass.

Greg </div></div>

Thats an interesting Greg hearing a Nat Champion full lengths away from the fire form .Thanks to all for your observations also