I run about 2-300 cases per barrel so to fire form that's a a lot of barrel life wasted just to get straight cases. Even to use a fire forming barrel the 7saum is fairly pricey on powder and bullets just to fire form brass.
The only one Ive seen the bloke just preps and weighs normal remington cases and the thing shoots bugholes. Dont think he necks up or down or does anything. The thing just shoots. Lots of people rave about 284 cases with lots of runout when necking up, shooting them they seem to do fine (runs in a barrel and figure out an accurate fireform load for club shooting) and hey presto cases sorted. But if you want to run that sort of cal that gets toast by 1200 rounds then I cant help you. I would still be loading and shooting and not worrying about it.
Trailboss would probably be a better option as a pistol powder given it's significantly larger bulk volume (low density) if you can get a hold of it. I don't think Trailboss was around in 2007 when the article was printed.
I'll be fire-forming myself in a couple of weeks hopefully.
Gday Adam,
I am about to go through this process with some new Norma brass. I didn't really want to dive into it yet but might run a handful through just to see how they go and report back to you. I had previously used the Remington cases because I couldn't get any Norma/Nosler.
I have a custom FL die and normally start by winding the die up to top then gradually (quarter turn at a time) wind down the die whilst pumping the handle through the cam over point. It only takes about 20 seconds a case but seems to do a great job on my other cases - I ill try on the Saum.
A couple of things I will say - with the soft Remington Cases I did get the feeling a soft fireforming load was "beneficial" for case life rather than pushing them straight away. Also I am lucky enough to have a fireforming barrel so will put them all through the paces once in this barrel with a light, jammed VLD load.
Ok - just ran half a dozen through and came out with 1-2 thou runout. Most of this from the expander mandrel.
I forgot to mention (reminded when I went through the process) that I remove the neck expander on the FL die. unless tapered and well designed these can give massive runout especially if the FL die could be overdoing the job with regards to squeezing in neck too far (and thus having to be opened up too far again). And I expand with a polished, slow tapered, K&M neck expander mandrel.
This process should see you improve neck runout but it will never be perfect. If you wish I can post you the dies to borrow.??
DaveMc wrote:Gday Adam, I am about to go through this process with some new Norma brass. I didn't really want to dive into it yet but might run a handful through just to see how they go and report back to you. I had previously used the Remington cases because I couldn't get any Norma/Nosler. I have a custom FL die and normally start by winding the die up to top then gradually (quarter turn at a time) wind down the die whilst pumping the handle through the cam over point. It only takes about 20 seconds a case but seems to do a great job on my other cases - I ill try on the Saum.
A couple of things I will say - with the soft Remington Cases I did get the feeling a soft fireforming load was "beneficial" for case life rather than pushing them straight away. Also I am lucky enough to have a fireforming barrel so will put them all through the paces once in this barrel with a light, jammed VLD load.
Stay tuned....
I used to use rem cases and the seemed to be quite good but i was running very hot loads. When i started with the 7saum there was barely any load data and it took me a fair bit of brass and barrel wear to determine how far i could push it.
Once i swapped to norma brass i had to do load development all over again because of the smaller capacity of the norma brass.
As far as how tough norma brass is. I did some testing by loading one case over and over and got to 8 firings at 64gr of 2217 behind a berger 180 and primers were still tight with my barrel / chamber.
bat,
have you fired any of the 0.007 runout ammo at a target?
or are you condemning that on heresay.
I would nearly bet money you could not tell the difference in a match, and your cases would be straightened out in the process.
if you were really worried you could index them.
keep safe,
bruce.
Hi Batt,
I got to 10 firings and my Rem brass was toast, I needed a mallet to get it out of the chamber.lol
No sign before the last load primers were still OK Nk good but the case when i got them out had grown big time, right at the base, from memory it had grown 5 or 7 th these cases were toast.
So SAUM's not only go through barrels but match prepared brass just as fast, do we love em. Duhhh!!!!!!!!!!
Gadget
bruce moulds wrote:bat, have you fired any of the 0.007 runout ammo at a target? or are you condemning that on heresay. I would nearly bet money you could not tell the difference in a match, and your cases would be straightened out in the process. if you were really worried you could index them. keep safe, bruce.
yeah i did when i formed my first batch and they seemed ok. not erratic but not x ring either. i know a lot of people say they don't have any problems with a bit of run out BUT in my way of thinking reduced run out can not be a bad thing??
Rebel have a list of Norma U/P cases advertised in the latest Australian Shooter Magazine including 6.5/284 @ $134.00 per 100.
No SAUM but they do have at the bottom of the list 'Full stock of Norma cases finally expected early September'.
Maybe worth a phone call????
Their website is hopeless!!
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