Seriously considering a 9.3x62mm... I have read various places that the cases can be easily fireformed from .30-06 brass. Anyone care to explain how this is done?

Jim

You load up some and shoot them.

They usually say that you should use a full power load to do this, otherwise the case may not fill the chamber properly. You don't need hot loads, just normal pressure loads for fire forming.

Regards,
Gene

You load up some and shoot them.

They usually say that you should use a full power load to do this, otherwise the case may not fill the chamber properly. You don't need hot loads, just normal pressure loads for fire forming.

Regards,
Gene


You are not saying that I load up 30-06 shells in this thing and shoot it, are you????? Figured I would have to expand the neck and then use 6.3mm bullets.

Jim

Dakota, perhaps gene was being a BIT too lackadaisical. It can be a bit more involved than that.

Yes, you'll certainly have to neck up and use 9.3mm bullets. I'm not intimately familiar with the 9.3x62, but you may have headspace issues to contend with as well.

I hope some others with more direct experience will answer here. For now, hold tight until they do.

First, you need to confirm that you can use the .30-06 case for your 9.3. I am not sure.
If you can, you then need to make sure that the headspace is the same, as mentioned above. That is, the two cartridges headspace on the shoulder at the same distance. IF, that is, IF the above two are correct from your research, you could shoot a .30-06 round and have the neck expanded to 9.3. A very expensive way to do it.
If the .30-06 case is OK, then you should get a neck expander set. Do some research on how to fireform if the headspace is in a different location. It involves several steps to make sure that the base of the cartridge is held firmly against the bolt face when fireforming.

For head spacing while fireforming you expand the neck for a caliber larger than 9.3 and then use a 9.3 sizing die to squeeze the neck back down to form a temporary shoulder . Through trial and error and with an empty case , you would set the temporary shoulder back a little at a time until you can fully close the bolt on the empty case and feel slight resistance as you hit the temporary shoulder , or you could smoke the case and look for rub marks. If you use this false ( temporary ) shoulder technique and you have a Mauser or other controlled round feed type of bolt , remember to place the extractor rim of the case behind the extractor when you run the case into the chamber. then you won't wreck the extractor.

Thanks for the more detailed replies, guys! Found some great articles on fireforming on loaddata.com...even the "old style" using corn meal instead of a bullet. Very interesting read, but decided it didn't sound too practical to me. Sounds like a lot of work just to save a few bucks....just found new brass for $36.99 per hundred.

Thanks again,

Jim

Can't beat that price - you'd spend almost an equal amount scrounging '06 brass, fireforming and then cleaning up.

I do a lot of fireforming for the few wildcats I have and must say, it's a labor of love rather than practical. Good luck with your project.