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> Fire form vs. full length sizing.
Fire form vs. full length sizing.
@ 11:21 am (GMT) |
David AlbinI recently bought Nathan’s reloading book and after reading the section on donor brass I have a few questions.Can I full length size new brass to the same size as my FF brass? I am reloading for 308 and have 200 pieces of Starline brass to work with. I am excited to start developing loads and I am not really sure I want to fire form all 200 pieces as it will take a long time to do while keeping the barrel cool. I plan on bedding my rifle at some point. Should I bed my rifle before developing my pet load? If this needs to be a Skype conversation or can be answered by email I am willing to pay for Nathan’s services. |
Replies
@ 08:25 am (GMT) |
Jake CareyRe: Fire form vs. full length sizing.If the brass is fresh out of the bag then it's the smallest it will ever be. You probably can't even bring it back to that brand-new size with your dies in the future. Even if you put them in the die and get some change you're not doing good things to it. And it'll be even farther from your chamber dimensions than before.So, short version, you need to fireform them. Mr. Foster's point only applies to brass that's already been enlarged by someone's firing pin. It's much bigger than your new brass. one theoretical way around this would be to re-headspace your barrel to have the chamber much, much smaller than it ought to be and closer to the size of the new brass. But then you've effectively made a wildcat and store-bought ammo might not fit. Some people do a minimal headspacing on custom jobs so factory rounds will be closer to a good fit, but a) that's much more expensive than fireforming and b) your brass will STILL be small. Second possible theoretical way around the problem is what I've read in regards to how some Ackley chamber shooters do things: Your 308 barrel is going to outlast the starline brass by, roughly speaking, about 600 years. Work up good data for accurate VIRGIN brass loads and get that established in one notebook so you can reuse that data the next time you need to buy brass. Then when you have enough fireformed brass start working up your FORMED brass loads and keep the data in a different book. The virgin loads won't be as theoretically consistent as the custom-fit ones but they'll be plenty adequate for trigger time and normal-range hunting. They'll still be better than any factory ammunition anywhere, but they won't be the same data at all so treat it like it's a different gun. It's a good opportunity to use available but sub-ideal components, like varmint or flat base bullets or faster-than-ideal powder. Others may feel different but that's my opinion having read the series through at least once now and having a few hundred reloads under my belt. Fireforming is the best way but it's hard to stomach wasting a single primer on pure noise these days. |
@ 08:37 am (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Fire form vs. full length sizing.Hi Alan, it sounds as though a consult might help. You may however find equally useful info in the other books, particularly the steps in the Accurizing book. Its up to you.For now, just work on setting up a batch of brass, say 20 rounds. The rest of the brass can sit there and be slowly added into the mix as and when required. For now, you simply need to get the rifle up and running and see what is going on with you and the rifle. No, you cannot FL size new brass to FF dimensions. Your new brass is smaller than your chamber. I cannot answer the bedding question without knowing the model of rifle. The set up (rifle platform) is very important, but it is also important that you build confidence slowly and surely. I would not want to push you into anything that is too far beyond your comfort level at too early a time. What you perhaps need at this stage is small wins that allow you to want to take on bigger challenges. But again, I would need more info on the rifle in order to provide a better answer. As you suggest, a consult would help. |
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@ 11:34 am (GMT) |
David AlbinRe: Fire form vs. full length sizing.Thank you guys, this really helped me wrap my brain around this concept! |
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@ 03:31 pm (GMT) |
Jake CareyRe: Fire form vs. full length sizing.David,He's certainly not trying to steal your lunch money. Every book has some info you need right now. I wish Id bought them sooner, I certainly spent more money than they cost on wasted shots and a little inadequate gear. I'd buy the rifles and the accurizing books or book a call before you do much. There's a different correct order to every rifle and he can tell you which to do before you invest more time or effort. Way too much for an email. |
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