first 338-06 ack. improved loads

[bench shooter]

fairly new to reloading as I have only done 257 roberts and 223. I have a winchester model 70 in 338-06 ackley improved that I am staring to load and am curious about fire forming brass. I have full length resized some once fired 30-06 brass, trimmed to spec and primed and am wondering where to start on powder charge. I am using 225 grain hornady sst's as I already have a box and varget powder. I have researched and got conflicting info. Some say to load up against the lands with a minimum charge and other sources say to load like normal ( off the lands a bit ) and start at a mid range load. Just curious what you guys would suggest as the best way to form some brass.

 

[Patocazador]

I have a Rem. Model 700 in .338-06 Imp. and just did the second method with cheap bullets. I did 100 rounds with no loss of brass.

I had a 7x57 Imp. and a .257 Roberts Imp. for decades before I had the .338-06 done up so I had fire formed a lot of brass before always with moderate loads with normal bullet seating.

 

[steve4102]

I use the Pistol powder/Cream of Wheat method.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrzAYk6D8yE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiF6OoPiuvM

http://gunsmagazine.com/fireforming-brass/

https://www.google.com/webhp?source...&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=cream of wheat fireforming

 

[fguffey]

I have researched and got conflicting info. Some say to load up against the lands with a minimum charge and other sources say to load like normal ( off the lands a bit ) and start at a mid range load.

best way to form some brass.

Patocazador's method works. There are two Model 70 rifles, one with 'the claw' and the other is push feed. I would suggest chambering cases to be formed before loading and firing. It has to do with the extractor jumping the rim on push feed receivers.

Then it has to do with dies, I had 338/06 and 35 Whelen dies before I had a rifle with chambers. I determine the length of the chamber from the shoulder to the bolt face then neck up the 30/06 cases to 338 or 35 Whelen. After necking the cases up I size/form a shoulder. Meaning the case will have two shoulders, the 30/06 shoulder and smaller in diameter shoulder.

The formed shoulder will allow for the extractor to jump the rim. Allowing a case to run to the front of the chamber before busting the primer is a bad habit. I do not want the shoulder of the case setting against the shoulder of the chamber when the primer goes off.

F. Guffey

 

[GooseGestapo]

With .338/06ackimp, I suggest starting to mid load of H 4895 or RL15. RL15 is my favorite in .338/06 and 200gr bullets.
Use Hornady or Speer 200gr PtSpt for fire forming.

 

[Curator]

When fire-forming new brass for my .35 Whelen AkImp, I load the bullet long enough so it contacts the rifling leade. I load cases with a moderate load and closing the bolt requires a little effort. That way the case head is held firmly against the bolt face and the case is not driven forward by the firing pin. Cases formed this way last MUCH longer and I have never had insipient head separations. I do neck size only after initial forming. My first .35WAI was a push feed Savage 110, and while very accurate, cases would show head cracking after 3 or 4 loadings when factory ammo was simply fired in the AI chamber. My second I built on a high number '03 action and the extractor claw holds the case from being driven forward but I still fire form with bullets seated way out just to be sure.

 

[DM~]

I've fire formed HUNDREDS of .338-06 to imp., using pistol power and corn meal in a 700 Rem.. (push feed) I really never had a big problem with the extractor not hooking the rim, but when needed, I just hooked the rim manually before closing the bolt.

A moderate load with a long over all length works too, it just depends on if you have extra bullets to throw down range..

I never liked sizing the necks up and then back down for a false shoulder, as it leaves the necks thicker on one side to the other....

DM