Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Fireforming in Summer Heat

Not a problem if you have the right stuff. Went to the range today with my 7mm RCBS to fireform 40 new Norma .280 cases. Sometimes you have to grab range time when you can. Temp this afternoon was pushing 90 degrees- could have been worse.

I take along a bag of ice cubes, double bagged in zip locs, and a towel to get wet and put on the barrel.
I fire three rounds, then put the ice on the barrel just foreward of the scope, and a wet towel on the rest of the barrel. After a few minutes, the barrel is cool to the touch. Then fire three more rounds, put the bag and towel back on, to cool while I go downrange to check targets. I'm not really shooting for accuracy, but it is surprising how some of these fireform loads group.
Anyway- in about an hour and a half, I had all 40 cases fireformed, with no barrel heating issues whatsoever.

Beats the heck out of waiting between rounds for a barrel to cool, for sure.

Why not do it without bullets? You can do about 10 cases before having to cool barrel that way. Also saves on bullets. Accuracy and velocity are different with fire formed brass vs. new brass anyway so you don't learn much firing new brass for accuracy. Unless you intend to use new brass for your 'real' loads.

When fireforming, there are several options- shoot factory ammo of the parent case, load up new brass to near normal pressures, or do the cereal and crisco thing. I like option number two, as I believe it results in a better finished product. Whatever. But, it is hard to argue against the benefit of trigger time with the firearm you intend to hunt with, especially if you have a stash of cheap bullets laying around.

I've done 60 per hour.

For me, and this rifle, 60 rounds would likely last a lifetime!

i find my 338-06ai fireforming load is one I woudln't be afraid to use on deer, I didn't do anything special but it's very accurate and has killed a few groundhogs.

I will have to give the ice method a try, I have some flexible ice packs that I think would work great.


also beautiful wood on that rifle bighorn

I agree. That is the way it has worked out for the last three or four rifles I have done. Though I have a substantial surplus of virgin brass, I may never use it. On my last two 300 WSM's I am still on the first 40 cases.

I have used an air compressor with a fitting to reduce it down to plastic tubing that will slip in the barrel. The fast stream of air really cools it down quick

Have used various methods of cooling barrels on a hot day, but like to keep things simple, so take along a couple gallons of cold water and pour it on the barrels. This often shocks people but it works really quickly, and doesn’t do the barrels a bit of harm.