I have herd some of you talking about fire forming cases, can you tell me what this is ?
I am thinking about getting in to reloading, just trying to get as many ducks in a row as I can before buying the equipment
Bought the ABCs of reloading to get started, it has gotten my interest even more
I am most interested in reloading for the 7-30 waters for my contender
I know the 7-30 is a necked down 30-30 just need to know how to do it
Thanks for putting up with my dumb questions
Nick

the 7-30 is a good example, it is not only necked down but the shoulder is further forward with a steeper angle and the taper is blown out of the 30-30 case. To fireform you would run the 30-30 case through the sizing die and then you would load it with a fireforming charge (normally a light 7-30 load) and what you have is a funny looking case. Once you fire the cartridge the pressure will blow the sides out and the shoulder forward until they contact the chamber walls which completes the forming of the case. Some guys will use fireforming loads to hunt with but I normally buy the cheapest bulk bullets I can find and I find the lightest powder charge I can use and I'll go out and plink with it to form the cases and then I'll load my hunting rounds with the fireformed cases.

here is a link to a pic of the different stages.

http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1541&ppuser=1771

Do I need to use new brass or will cases once fired in my 30-30 rifle work ?

new brass is better but I have used once fired brass before without any real problems other than a few split during the forming.

Thanks Rod
I'm learning

yes thanks for the info, I have been reloading since i was 13, but never knew this. i had just been doing the typical 243,270,25-06,308. Now i understand the wildcat loads. thanks again

we are all still learning and that's what's cool about this site, no matter what your experience level your going to learn something new.

I am going through the 257 Roberts AI learning curve ---not to rain on the show but if I was to do it all over again I would have just done the 257 Roberts.

I will be shooting about 2.5 gr over max on a 257 Rob +P so it is a bit better but ---MAN-----All the fire forming. Once I get some brass done it may be fun but for now it is a pain in the @#$

One note the fire form loads are shooting 1-1.25" groups @100

You could hunt with the fire form loads!!!!