I am attempting to return a vetran varmint rifle to service. It is a High Wall in a form of .219 Zipper Imp, using the full Zipper case length and radius shoulders. I have an RCBS .219 Zipper Imp. forming die set, a .219 Zippoer Imp 28 degree shoulder sizing die from Hollywood gun shop and a radius shoulder sizing and seater die set, maker unknown. I have found that it is necessary to complete a case through the 28 degee sizer before using the radius sizer or the shoulder will crumple. My first batch of cases were new Rem 30-30 brass. I used Imperial wax liberaly and sized slowly, but still lost about 10% to crumpled shoulders in the sizer. I am new to wildcats. Is this loss rate excessive? Would annealing first help on make it worse? Thanks in advance for your opinions.

How many dies in the form set? 30-30 brass can be a little soft, annealing could help..... or make it worse! I have a set of 219 donaldson wasp form dies, that seem to work well with very little case loss, and thats with fired brass to start with. Make sure you dont use to much lube as that can also cause problems.
I wish you were nearby, I enjoy working out case forming tricks and troubles.

Thank you for the reply "theback40". My RCBS forning set has three dies, 1st and 2nd forming and file trim. I think the trouble starts in the 2nd forming die as a few cases come out partially collapsed. They feel different also. I think fired cases may perform better by being harder and able to take more force to push the reformed shoulder in. This case shape is pretty severe. I shoot a 30-30 in lever action shilouette so I have a suppy of well used brass to try. This first shot at case making has given me some brass to load, so my next step is to see if the old rifle wiil shoot well enough to be worth further effort. I fireformed my cases today using the pistol powder and cornmeal method. That's enough of that, what a mess! Next time I'll just load bullets and blase away.

Get a set of Butch's bushings. I doubt if you loose any first go round. roger

"Butch,s bushings" are something new to me. What are they? What do they do and how do you use them? Where do you get them? I am eager to try them, Thanks for the help.

quote:

Originally posted by L. Rivard:
"Butch,s bushings" are something new to me. What are they? What do they do and how do you use them? Where do you get them? I am eager to try them, Thanks for the help.

PM Butch Lambert. He'll be glad to fill you in. roger

I just sold out and probably won't make any more. The CNC shops wants quantities of 100 sets at a time. That means 900 bushings and 100 die bushing holders and 100 threaded nuts. Not enough profit in them for the investment. I had my money tied up for more time than I would like for the return.
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
I just sold out and probably won't make any more. The CNC shops wants quantities of 100 sets at a time. That means 900 bushings and 100 die bushing holders and 100 threaded nuts. Not enough profit in them for the investment. I had my money tied up for more time than I would like for the return.
Butch

Bad news Butch! I really liked your product. On to better things I hope. roger

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
I just sold out and probably won't make any more. The CNC shops wants quantities of 100 sets at a time. That means 900 bushings and 100 die bushing holders and 100 threaded nuts. Not enough profit in them for the investment. I had my money tied up for more time than I would like for the return.
Butch

We still have one set left, Butch's Case Forming Dies

I have a 5-10% attrition rate when reforming or fireforming. Necking up .338 Win to .375-338 is one example. Blowing out '06 cases to .30 Gibbs is another. Over 10% and I'd re-evaluate my methods.

In the big picture, I can't relate to how folks worry about losing a few $0.25 to 0.40 a piece cases. I have a 100% attrition on bullets costing $0.25 to $1.00 a pop and I don't worry about it one bit!