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2/3/2007 5:00:00 AM EDT
I heard this guy was reloading and exploding gunpowder to expand the cases somehow. Read this.
www.in-forum.com/archive/index.cfm?page=archive_article&id=335212
2/3/2007 5:02:20 AM EDT
[#1]
Fire forming is quite common.

But not in the 2700 block of Elm street!
2/3/2007 5:03:40 AM EDT
[#2]
Im not a reloader but might try soon.  Explain how this works and if there are any alternatives so i dont get arrested.
2/3/2007 5:08:11 AM EDT
[#3]

Quoted:
Im not a reloader but might try soon.  Explain how this works and if there are any alternatives so i dont get arrested.


You won't be doing it.

He may also have been just firing off some primers.  
2/3/2007 5:15:45 AM EDT
[#4]
Don't worry about fire forming for now, learn the basics of hand loading for regular ol' common chamberings first.

Go to the Reloading Forum to learn more.

Fire forming is required when a case must be reformed to either fit an ususual chamber such as an "Improved" type, or to make brass for a wildcat chambering from a wholly different case.  My .300 Mashburn Short Magnum** is one example; cases can be formed from .300 H&H or .338 Win Mag cases.  One more instance is where cases are needed for a factory chambering for which brass and ammunition can't be bought or it's so costly and rare that it's worth more to collectors.

**[If that catches your interest, think about this - Art Mashburn was building short magnum rifles in the 40's and 50's, just a little ahead of the current fad.]

Fire forming can be done with full loads in some cases, or with small charges of fast powders such as Bullseye, topped with corn meal and a dab of wax; this second method was likely used by the man in the news article.  He was safe, but too noisy for the sheeple.

This is a good reason we need unrestricted silencers.
2/3/2007 5:26:16 AM EDT
[#5]
good info, hopefully the states attorney has the same great info to go on so he don't prosecute.
2/3/2007 6:20:23 AM EDT
[#6]
This is why I stick to the basic cartridges!
2/3/2007 7:30:09 AM EDT
[#7]

Quoted:
Fire forming is quite common.

But not in the 2700 block of Elm street!


You cannot fireform without bullets.  You need a healthy dose of pressure.


The guy was probably shooting reduced charges into the ground.


FWIW, you never need to fireform brass unless you are shooting a wildcat cartridge that nobody makes cases for.
2/3/2007 7:41:45 AM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:


You cannot fireform without bullets.  You need a healthy dose of pressure.


Really?

You better tell this guy!


"Cream of Wheat" Fireforming

   When I first started shooting the 6mm Ackley Improved, I formed brass using 100 grain bullets purchased in bulk (cheap) at a gun show. After the forming & break in process, and going through about 400 rounds trying to develop some accurate loads, I decided to start over with some fresh brass. Barrel life expectancy became a concern, so an alternate method of forming brass sounded appealing. The "Cream of Wheat" method is basically using a light charge of a pistol powder, a pistol primer, a small wad of toilet paper, Cream of Wheat ™ or other similar inert filler, and a wax plug, but NO bullet. To determine how much powder to use (I used W231, others would also work), fill a new, unfired case completely full of your pistol powder. I did this step with a FIRED primer in the case. Dump the case full of powder onto your powder scale, and determine the weight. 10 percent of this full case weight of pistol powder is the charge you want to start forming with. Load a new, unfired case with a standard pistol primer, & the 10 percent charge of pistol powder. Drop in a small wad of toilet paper (about 1/4 of one sheet)into the case and tap it down. Next, fill the case to the neck & shoulder junction with your inert filler. Finally, plug the case with paraffin wax. Take the prepared case in one hand and hold the wax over it, forcing the case neck into the wax. The case is now ready to fire.

   You will probably have to increase your charge several times before you hit on the correct charge weight. Just don't increase by more than ½ grain or so at one time. It took several trys before I had the correct charge. The cases come out of the chamber near perfect.

   I form my cases in the garage, with the door down. The first time I tried this, I had my wife stand out in the yard to determine if the noise would disturb the neighbors. I used an old work boot to catch the mess, but it only lasted for about 10 cases (the heal was blown off). The filler and plug come out with enough force to be dangerous near the muzzle, however, when I fired one directly at the garage wall 12-15' way, there were no marks of any kind. No, I am not recommending you shoot at your walls, I am just relating my experiences.


ETA I wonder if he lives in the 2700 block of Elm street?
2/3/2007 7:56:29 AM EDT
[#9]

Quoted:

Quoted:


You cannot fireform without bullets.  You need a healthy dose of pressure.


Really?

You better tell this guy!



He needs to tell a bunch of folks that have been doing it since about the dawn of the 20th Century.
2/3/2007 12:52:28 PM EDT
[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:


You cannot fireform without bullets.  You need a healthy dose of pressure.


Really?

You better tell this guy!



He needs to tell a bunch of folks that have been doing it since about the dawn of the 20th Century.



It doesn't work with everything.
2/3/2007 12:57:20 PM EDT
[#11]

Quoted:

It doesn't work with everything.


Thats not what you said,


Quoted:
You cannot fireform without bullets. You need a healthy dose of pressure.
2/3/2007 12:57:44 PM EDT
[#12]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:


You cannot fireform without bullets.  You need a healthy dose of pressure.


Really?

You better tell this guy!



He needs to tell a bunch of folks that have been doing it since about the dawn of the 20th Century.



It doesn't work with everything.


Reading is fundamental -


Fire forming can be done with full loads in some cases, or with small charges of fast powders such as Bullseye, topped with corn meal and a dab of wax; this second method was likely used by the man in the news article.

2/3/2007 1:06:38 PM EDT
[#13]
I make a couple of calibers this way.  12 grains if Unique will blow them out nicely.  Topped with grits or corn meal, usually.

I prefer corn meal, smells good...
2/3/2007 1:22:22 PM EDT
[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:

It doesn't work with everything.


Thats not what you said,


Quoted:
You cannot fireform without bullets. You need a healthy dose of pressure.





Gee whiz.

I stand corrected.

Time to roll out the keggers for the big celebration.
2/3/2007 1:29:49 PM EDT
[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Fire forming is quite common.

But not in the 2700 block of Elm street!


You cannot fireform without bullets.  You need a healthy dose of pressure.


The guy was probably shooting reduced charges into the ground.


FWIW, you never need to fireform brass unless you are shooting a wildcat cartridge that nobody makes cases for.




Wow... I fireform WITHOUT bullets, depending on the case, Unique or Bullseye, corn media, and wax on top (I think this was mentioned earlier)


I also fireform for cartridges that are still made today, but for which Brass is more expensive than that which it is made from (38-55, .45-60, 7.62x45mm among many others)

it is mostly common, especially for thos eof us who shoot "rarer" firearms, ammo is still available, so is brass, but damned if it isn't expensive. and 30-30 and 45-70 brass is cheap, 6.5 carcano isn't too expensive from shows either
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