case forming 17 ackley hornet

[goodtime7]

This would seem to be a fun, economical, etc cartridge.   How difficult is it to form the cases?   Can one simply run the hornet case into the sizing die, until it will allow closure of the contender..ie necking down to 17 cal in one step, to the point where the newly created shoulder will be after the case forming operation.  Then proceed to load in standard fashion after trimming to length?   Or, are there multiple steps, annealing cases, etc that must be done to successfully create the case?   thanks for your thoughts.

[csterner]

I'm sure you'll get a few replies on this one.  Alan in Ga is one that will probably reply, and he has LOTS of experience with this caliber.  There are several ways to do it, but you'll have to try a few to figure out which works for you.  Some simply run their brass through a FL die, load and fireform.  Others use a forming die (Bullberry is the most popular).  Running through a FL die first didn't work for me.  I was crushing brass.  I got around it by first running the 22 hornet case through the 17AH Seater die, then through the FL die.  The first step brings it down slower, then the FL die gets it to 17 cal.  Whichever way works for you.  The result before fireforming is a very strange looking case.  But don't worry, it'll iron itself out during fireforming. 

You should set your die to headspace your brass off the newly created false shoulder, so your brass fits tightly in the chamber and doesn't stretch.  This will prevent neck splits and lost cases.  I don't anneal.  As for FF loads, there are several common ones, with AA1680 being one of the most popular.  Simply load and shoot.  Don't bother with cream of wheat method of fireforming...just use your fireforming loads to hunt/shoot.  They'll be plenty accurate for hunting loads while you're blowing out the cases.

Charlie

[alan in ga]

I'm sure you'll get a few replies on this one.  Alan in Ga is one that will probably reply, and he has LOTS of experience with this caliber.  There are several ways to do it, but you'll have to try a few to figure out which works for you.  Some simply run their brass through a FL die, load and fireform.  Others use a forming die (Bullberry is the most popular).  Running through a FL die first didn't work for me.  I was crushing brass.  I got around it by first running the 22 hornet case through the 17AH Seater die, then through the FL die.  The first step brings it down slower, then the FL die gets it to 17 cal.  Whichever way works for you.  The result before fireforming is a very strange looking case.  But don't worry, it'll iron itself out during fireforming.  

You should set your die to headspace your brass off the newly created false shoulder, so your brass fits tightly in the chamber and doesn't stretch.  This will prevent neck splits and lost cases.  I don't anneal.  As for FF loads, there are several common ones, with AA1680 being one of the most popular.  Simply load and shoot.  Don't bother with cream of wheat method of fireforming...just use your fireforming loads to hunt/shoot.  They'll be plenty accurate for hunting loads while you're blowing out the cases.

Charlie

I think you nailed it down pretty well. Some get great results from polished [interior] FL dies, others have to use the seater die or form dies as you said. I use 11.7 grains of 1680 under 20 grain Vmaxes which turns out to be about the most accurate load as well as a fireforming load. I use 12.4 gr under 20 gain Vmaxes for 'the' load. FIRST work up, some chambers are tighter than others as you probably know. I hunt with my fireforming loads!
If I anneal, it's after the first FIREforming shot. Winchester brass is what I use. I've been reloading since 1968. The 17 Ackley Hornet has been THE most fun round I've ever owned.