Mainmechanic
Well-Known Member
Recently acquired a 35 Whelen imp. Long time reloader myself never any fireforming though. My question is could somebody explain to me their process for forming these from 30/06 brass ?
First, I would NOT be using .30/06 brass. .35 Whelen brass is readily available. Necking .30/06 to .35 will result in the neck walls (of the brass) being thinned, resulting in a sloppy fit in the chamber and a light bullet pull. Chamber neck dimensions are generally quit generous, and you'll be over working the case necks when you re-size them. Proper bullet pull amounts to the tension that is applied to the bullet. How hard is it to "pull" the bullet or in other words how much pressure does it take to push the bullet from the case mouth? Too light a pull, and ignition may suffer. Too heavy a pull and pressure may spike. Both conditions can cause accuracy problems, caused by a large extreme spread in velocity. With .35 Whelen brass, if the chamber is properly head spaced, there should be a slight "crush" felt (a slight resistance) when closing the bolt (if you do this with a .35 Whelen case that is not loaded it is easier to feel. Remove the firing pin so you're not 'feeling' the trigger/cocking piece relationship, and be sure you're not forcing the extractor over the case rim). This indicates that the case is "trapped" between the bolt face and the neck/shoulder junction in the chamber. If this condition exists, as it should, load the .35 Whelen cases as you normally would and fire them. The cases will be fully "improved" as Ackley intended. Accuracy can be very good with fire form loads, so don't waste the opportunity to "put 'her on target". It certainly 'aint rocket science or nuclear engineering. P.O. Ackley designed fire forming to be simple, where factory loaded cartridges can be fired in the improved chamber, and come out in the improved form. If the .35 Whelen cases don't 'crush', there are ways around that.Recently acquired a 35 Whelen imp. Long time reloader myself never any fireforming though. My question is could somebody explain to me their process for forming these from 30/06 brass ?
First, I would NOT be using .30/06 brass. .35 Whelen brass is readily available. Necking .30/06 to .35 will result in the neck walls (of the brass) being thinned, resulting in a sloppy fit in the chamber and a light bullet pull. Chamber neck dimensions are generally quit generous, and you'll be over working the case necks when you re-size them. Proper bullet pull amounts to the tension that is applied to the bullet. How hard is it to "pull" the bullet or in other words how much pressure does it take to push the bullet from the case mouth? Too light a pull, and ignition may suffer. Too heavy a pull and pressure may spike. Both conditions can cause accuracy problems, caused by a large extreme spread in velocity. With .35 Whelen brass, if the chamber is properly head spaced, there should be a slight "crush" felt (a slight resistance) when closing the bolt (if you do this with a .35 Whelen case that is not loaded it is easier to feel. Remove the firing pin so you're not 'feeling' the trigger/cocking piece relationship, and be sure you're not forcing the extractor over the case rim). This indicates that the case is "trapped" between the bolt face and the neck/shoulder junction in the chamber. If this condition exists, as it should, load the .35 Whelen cases as you normally would and fire them. The cases will be fully "improved" as Ackley intended. Accuracy can be very good with fire form loads, so don't waste the opportunity to "put 'her on target". It certainly 'aint rocket science or nuclear engineering. P.O. Ackley designed fire forming to be simple, where factory loaded cartridges can be fired in the improved chamber, and come out in the improved form. If the .35 Whelen cases don't 'crush', there are ways around that.