Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Fire forming with pistol powder

I recently read an article about fire forming rifle brass (in my case 300 Win) using pistol powder and cream of wheat or tissue paper. Sounds like a great way to save on powder, barrel/throat wear and bullets. Have any of you used this method and had success? Thanks

Yep, used bullseye, can also use Unique.

I've formed wildcat cases from a parent case using the bulletless/pistol powder method. Never "fire formed" a parent case into itself using this method. May as well be fire forming AND working up a load.

Yes.


About 10 grains of red dot, fill the case to the neck/shoulder junction with corn meal or COW, then melt paraffin wax to seal.

I’ve used up to 15 grains to get a good fire form

You FF your Mashburn cases RC?

Thanks for the replies. I'm fire forming some Norma cases, up to now I'd been using Nosler exclusively. I already have my loads worked up for Nosler. Hopefully Norma will shoot the same. I have 1 lb of H1000 left, and would rather not use it up or the TSSX bullets chamber forming the cases.

You need to be careful with COW. Very hard to clean. For years I've used pistol powder and toilet paper. Depending on the size of the case and the amount of powder you use, it's pretty easy to get the barrel too hot. In 338 Jamison using RWS brass I used 8g Red Dot, TP and 8 cases and stop, and let the barrel cool off. I can now use RUM cases but have not tried forming those as that RWS brass is pretty good and I haven't had to replace.

I've had very good luck fireforming .25-06 to AI with 10 grains of Bullseye and a caseful of grits with a dab of Elmer's Glue on top.