Fire Forming Question

[Rocky Raab]

I'll recommend Hodgdon LilGun as your powder AFTER you fireform, but it is a low-pressure producer in the Hornet, and might not give you fully formed cases the first time. Instead, try a regular load of 4227 from the bullet maker's manual. Just load the maximum load or a bit under, not the Start load as you usually would. The extra work to blow out the case and the subsequent larger volume will take a lot of the "steam" out of the first firing. I use Rem 6 1/2 (NOT 7 1/2) primers in the Hornet.

After forming, switch to LilGun at about 13.0 and work up to a casefull if your primers stay tight. Stick to the mild 6 1/2 rifle primer or even the CCI small pistol primer. And if you don't have one yet, get a Lee Factory Crimp Die. Most Hornets group much tighter with this primer/powder/crimp recipe.