HELP- fireforming to .243 ackley

6.5x284tony

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I would like a recipe for fire-forming the .243 ackley with the cream of wheat method. I have the following fast burning powders: clays, hp-38 and hs-6. If none of these powders will work, what kind do I need, and how much of it?

Thanks,

Tony.
 
I've got three ackleys in the safe and know this is not what you asked but why not just load up the 243 cases and go shootin? If the unit is going to shoot as an ackley it will shoot fireform loads just as well....Just a little slowerlightbulb
 
I've got three ackleys in the safe and know this is not what you asked but why not just load up the 243 cases and go shootin? If the unit is going to shoot as an ackley it will shoot fireform loads just as well....Just a little slowerlightbulb

I'll second that. I found a fire-forming load that shoots 87gr V-maxes at 3225 fps at just over 1/4 MOA. Haven't found an Ackley load to shoot that good yet.
 
yea what they said.just load some up and se what they will do.and if they don't shoot at least they will then be fire formed.
 
have to agree, in my .243 AKLY I just load a decent .243 combination and shoot 'em. Fire forms very well and shoots "ok" (sorta) by the way, I've not had any luck using Hornady bass to do this, lots of neck splits, so use Win or Rem. brass. Anyone else have this trouble ?
 
have to agree, in my .243 AKLY I just load a decent .243 combination and shoot 'em. Fire forms very well and shoots "ok" (sorta) by the way, I've not had any luck using Hornady bass to do this, lots of neck splits, so use Win or Rem. brass. Anyone else have this trouble ?

I split 4 out of 5 using winchester brass. I quit after round five and pulled the bullets, annealed the brass, and started over. Didn't lose a piece after that. That was with new unfired brass.
 
I split 4 out of 5 using winchester brass. I quit after round five and pulled the bullets, annealed the brass, and started over. Didn't lose a piece after that. That was with new unfired brass.

the hornady brass is supposed to be top of the line preped brass, annealed etc.
maybe I did something wrong ?
 
I would like a recipe for fire-forming the .243 ackley with the cream of wheat method. I have the following fast burning powders: clays, hp-38 and hs-6. If none of these powders will work, what kind do I need, and how much of it?

Thanks,

Tony.

Have several Ackley chambers both tight neck and SAMMI. Forget the cream of wheat crap. It serves no purpose other that to act as a case filler. Use a heavy bullet (100gr.) seated 10 grand into the lands. Use .243 Winchester (NOT ACKLEY) max load data for the bullet you select. It may not completely form shap shoulder edges the first firing but thats o.k. as flowing the brass twice always seemed to keep neck concentricity the best. The next question that you will probably be asking is "why do the fire forming loads print better that the loads after the cases have been formed?" - The answer is - don't ask. None of my contacts from Precision Shooting Magazine or any where else has ever been able to ascertain the cause and effect relationship. Good luck and have fun with your new Ackley.
 
I much prefer fireforming with 11gr/Bulleye fill to top of shoulders COW fill neck with tp or cut up cotton balls and I use the same method for my 6RemAI.

Since I can load at the range after getting some fireform case I can start load developemnt take a break fireform some case etc so in one day I get alot done. Been doing it that way over 25yrs in my small calibers like 223AI I'll fireform shooting PD again since I can load at the range I'll get a good load using 15 cases then drop that load back maybe 1gr and that be my fireform load.

Which was is the best hard to say but with the price bullets/powder these days I sure don't want to be fireforming shooting paper.
 
I much prefer fireforming with 11gr/Bulleye fill to top of shoulders COW fill neck with tp or cut up cotton balls and I use the same method for my 6RemAI.

Since I can load at the range after getting some fireform case I can start load developemnt take a break fireform some case etc so in one day I get alot done. Been doing it that way over 25yrs in my small calibers like 223AI I'll fireform shooting PD again since I can load at the range I'll get a good load using 15 cases then drop that load back maybe 1gr and that be my fireform load.

Which was is the best hard to say but with the price bullets/powder these days I sure don't want to be fireforming shooting paper.

I bet the fast burn rate of the Bullseye is what makes it work for you. Hey, you have to stick with what ever works.
 
For all of my improved cases, I use a fast pistol powder, cotton wads on top of a piece of tissue paper, NO COW, it works every time. I have also plugged the neck with candle wax, soap, pumpkin and potato, potato is too wet, don't use it.
If the powder is fast enough and bulkier enough, it should almost fill the case, the pressures developed are NOTHING like a normal cartridge with a bullet and are quite safe. I can't see the point of fire forming with bullets unless you're hunting with them, otherwise you're just wasting barrel life, IMHO. Oh, the powder I use is Clays.:D

Cheers.
gun)
 
I've got three ackleys in the safe and know this is not what you asked but why not just load up the 243 cases and go shootin? If the unit is going to shoot as an ackley it will shoot fireform loads just as well....Just a little slowerlightbulb

I know it's an old thread but I totally agree ... you'll end up with two accuracy loads --- regular .243 and a .243 AI if you develop them accordingly as I did in my .270 AI.
 

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