I need to fireform 100 .32-40 cases.  The current plan is to use a 200gr Spitzer and 15 gr 4759.

Which would be more effective:

1: Firing loaded rounds, the bullet taper crimped with the sizing die.

2: Breech seated bullet, charged, primed case with as much of a bell to the mouth that I can still insert the case with a dowel to seat it in the chamber.

3: A variation on one of the above or a method I haven't thought of (including using a different powder).

The rifle is a Falling Block Works Model K.

Thanks

I have fired formed many 32-40 as well as other cases by the following method.
Load primer as normal, fill case with about 7-10 grs of fast shotgun powder (I use 700x) and fill the remainer of the case with cream of wheat leaving enough room for a thin floral foam wad.
shoot them in a safe direction.
You should now have fire formed cases.

A. J. Palik

I should have started this thread by saying that I've already tried fireforming these cases with breech seated 148 gr bullets. 13.5 gr 4227, and a belled mouth.

The cases came out blackened back past the mid point because they didn't expand enough. 

So I cleaned up the cases and fired some loaded rounds with 187 gr spitzers backed by 13.5 gr 4759, which produced only slightly more recoil than a .22 RF.  The fired cases are still showin leakage back along the case.

For my next step I've belled the cases to the point where I can just push them into the chamber.  These I'll fire breech seated, with 15.5 gr of 4759 and a 200 gr bullet.   

Hopefully this will do the job.  I want to shoot this at Raton next month and I want to have 100 primed and charged cases for benchrest matches.

Am I missing something? I've never felt the need to fireform a .32-40 case. As stated above, load them and start shooting them (if fixed ammo). Breach seating is similar - one spanking new fresh case for a weekend's match shooting.

I guess you preload your cases before a match instead of just using one all day?  If so I think they'll form better with a seated bullet to get the pressure up before it can get around the case.  When I ordered my breech seaters from Russ Weber he told me it takes about 4 shots when breech seating in order for the case to fully fit the chamber.  He wanted to make sure you sent him sample cases that were fully formed.

With that said I just use a single case all the time.  I have, for the most part, been using the same case all year in my Wyoming Armory highwall.  With a new case I just shoot it a few times at the sighter target.  I don't know how much it affects the consistency of velocities shot to shot but using the same case, my shots are mostly within 20 fps of one another.  Always a few outliers though. 

With all that said, I am not a benchrest champion.  A score of 245 or better makes me almost happy 

Chris.