How loud is the report from fire forming brass (32 spec to 8.15 x 46r) using COW?    I don't really want to drive 1/2 hr to the range,  but I don't want the neighbors here in the 'burbs calling the cops.   

And what sort of load does one use to fire form brass?

Thanks in advance,

-06

At the risk of sounding like this is my first attempt (it is),  how do you anneal them?

As far as the load to use for fire forming, this is how I do it.

I look in my Lyman, Cast Bullet handbook and find the highest pressure load with the lightest cast bullet in a pistol powder. Substitute a full case of COW for the bullet, cap it with about 1/8" of grease and fire.

Example,6mm Rem Imp.

Data,
6mm Rem
12.5 gr 4756, 85 gr bullet, 40,700 CUP

I use that load for the Imp and instead of the bullet I fill the case with COW, that I add with a powder measure. Weighted it came to 25 gr.

It came out with the brass formed fully to the chamber, maybe not like a 50,000 cup load but, it looked just like a new factory case and yes, it's loud but, I live in the country. Boats idea sounds very good for the city. You might try more flu pipe, say 10 ft and put a shop vac, steel reinforced filter on it to try to keep the particles and smell down.

Frank

Instead of using Cream of Wheat, toilet paper is a good alternative plus 3gr Bullseye or 4gr Red Dot.  As for the noise abatement, a length of high density pipe insulation wrapped with duct tape in a plastic bucket packed with newspapers at the back and around the pipe.

Me?  I close the garage doors and point the muzzle to the ceiling!

I've fireformed cases indoors once.  The noise was not a problem as I shot into a rolled up piece of discard carpet.  But the smoke set off the fire alarms.  Only shot 50 pieces.  Went to the range for the rest.
I have to form some 38-50 Rem from 30-40 cases and will do them at the range too.

I have arrived at the same conclusion, Marlinguy.  If I resize them slowly, in increments, I get picture perfect cases.  If I am a bit to quick, I get a dimple where the shoulder straightens out.  So I'm going slow.

Now for the "add a humor sect...."  I decided to build a pvc supressor for my garage fire form project. Drilled a series of hole  3/4 inch pipe, slipped that inside a 1 1/2 pipe with fittings on each end,  lathed out a  pvc bushing to fit the end of the barrel  and Voila.    My son was impressed.    Now into the garage with a dimpled case,  12gr of 2400 ( load data that would give me 1400 fps if I had a 160gr bullet)  packed full of COW, capped with grease and BANG!.....  my ears are still ringing!

The case fire formed beautifully ,  and the cops haven't show up,  but it was loud!    I'll try the stove pipe, carpet or pipe insulation next time.  and use ear plugs.

-06