358 Shooting Times Alaskan

8x68 said:
If you choose to try the Sierra 225gr's send an email to Sierra and ask their advice. I've sent requests to them and they're pretty quick to reply.
You can also resize 375H&H to 358STA.
This is a quote from another forum "My fire forming consisted of necking down the 375 H&H in the 358STA Redding dies and then a 250gr bullet and 80grs of H4350. Then the cases were put through the FL dies and trimmed and de-burred and load testing started."
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Isn't that an awfully stiff load for fireforming? I thought most people did it with very light loads, just enough to blow the case out and expel the boolit?
 
Papaclaude said:
Isn't that an awfully stiff load for fireforming? I thought most people did it with very light loads, just enough to blow the case out and expel the boolit?
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Why Not has done plenty of full-speed fireforming with his 9.3x62 to allay any fears. Fast loads do as good a job of fireforming with no difference in accuracy so you might as well use that firing to help work up your load rather than shoot a low-powered load and then start developing your load.
 
Papaclaude said:
Isn't that an awfully stiff load for fireforming? I thought most people did it with very light loads, just enough to blow the case out and expel the boolit?
Click to expand...

You don't need full power loads to fireform, but it doesn't hurt anything... I use full power fireforming loads for many of my rifles. Yesterday I fireformed 100 rounds of 300 WSM brass to my 7mm WSM M77.
 
medvedqc said:
not easier to hand form them? less bullet and powder to burn???
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The shoulder has to be blown forward... they designed the 7mm WSM with the shoulder further forward (and a shorter neck) than the .270/.300 WSM.

I run the .300 WSM brass through the 7 WSM FL die to create a false shoulder to headspace on... then shoot a 154 SP with H4895 reduced load of 32.0 - 44.0 grains... 44 grains being my full (reduced) deer load... basically duplicating a 150 grain .308 load.
 
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Papaclaude said:
Isn't that an awfully stiff load for fireforming? I thought most people did it with very light loads, just enough to blow the case out and expel the boolit?
Click to expand...

It takes very little pressure to form cartridge brass, as evidenced by the fact that you can easily bend it with your fingers when held in a vice. Consequently, fireforming the brass adds nothing to the pressure created in actually firing the cartridge.

Cases often end up sooty and only partially formed when fired using "very light loads" as stated in your post..

Ted
 
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Right, same as for using 8mm Remington Magnum cases (wherever those can be found??) to form 358 STA -

"TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

Brass for the “STA” is easily formed by necking-up 8mm Remington Magnum cases in a sizing die equipped with a tapered expander ball. To fire-form, we recommend reducing our starting load of IMR 4350 by 2.0 grains, and seating the bullet to contact the lands of the barrel. Fire forming in this manner will help prevent the possibility of premature case head separation. For subsequent firings, seat the bullet deep enough to avoid contact with lands (rifling)."

https://www.nosler.com/358-shooting-times-alaskan-sta/
 
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Fireforming anything with light loads is a good way to produce brass which is too short in headspace. A good, snappy, load is best.
 
When I got the barrel it came with 100 8mm mag brass so should last a very long time as this is big cartridge and they tend not to get shot as much as smaller centre fire cartridges as a rule. I'm a hunter not a target shooter so I would imagine if this rifle sees 40-60 rounds a year I have a lot of time on my hands, which I don't haha
 
My long action (increased COAL for increased case capacity) 24" barrel Remington 798 350 Rem. Mag. could be readily converted to 358 STA because the pre-build for it is already done. Just finish reaming the chamber. It could then fire 310gr bullets about 10% or ~200 fps faster. :)

But requires about 30% more powder. :eek:

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350 Rem. Mag. custom Remington 798 with Leupold VX-2 Ultralight 3-9x33mm



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Barnes Reloading Manual No.1 data, 26" barrel

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Fireforming went really well for the most part only had two head scratching moments, one round I had a light primer strike and round fired next time no problem. I've read that Winchester mag primers have been an issue in the past hopefully it was just bad luck. I also had one round where the neck split a tiny bit. Nit sure on the cause of that but the other 48 rounds fired and formed beautifully.

My forming load was 82grs of rl22 which is 2gr below min load with a 250gr Speer hotcores. I chrono'd the load out of curiosity and I was getting between 2750-2800fps

I also started my hunting load development with the 200gr ttsx, min load started at 87gr I only went up to 89grs because I was already getting some serious velocity numbers 3200fps no pressure signs and clover leaf accuracy so not sure if I will chase it any further. I'm sure I could ring 3300-3400fps out of it with no issues if I feel inclined too.
 
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