Q on Alchemical Formula for Ammunition

[taechar]

I am seeking clarification on the above and it's application to play with the created item from the formula. So let's posit it as a practical application:
1. I am a gunslinger pistoliero, level 12.
2. I have alchem crafting feat and the formula to make "Exsanguinating Ammunition (greater)". I spend the time, pay the 80gp costs for reagents, and successfully craft the dose of ammo.
3. in play, I want to "use" the ammo. My assumption is the following on action costs and processes:
A - pay 1 action to ACTIVATE (manipulate) the ammo. I expend the alchemical ammo for Exsanguinate - greater.
B - then, pay 1 action to SHOOT a pistol at the target with the activated exsanguinating ammunition. I expend the shot, if I hit, then...
C - the round does it's normal damage PLUS the Exsanguinating part.

Is this correct? Or would I have had to actually activate Exsanguinating Ammo, then, then LOAD that ammo piece, then shoot?
Or am I missing something more fundamental?

[Finoan]

The rules should work the same for activated ammunition that you craft yourself the same as for activated ammunition that you buy. If you are creating the ammunition with Quick Alchemy the duration that it remains potent may become a problem. But as far as I know, it doesn't change the rules on action usage for activating or reloading.

Activated Ammunition

Quote:

The action required to activate the ammunition doesn’t alter how many actions it takes to reload.

So you do need to spend the actions to load the ammunition at some point.

I have heard it ruled that you aren't able to activate firearm ammunition after it is loaded, but I think that ruling is too punishing and there aren't any rules saying that - only a bit of a mismatch between the game mechanics and what people are envisioning for what these firearm weapons look like and how the 'activate ammunition' ability works.

The example in the rule is for a crossbow, but it should work for all weapons that can accept activated ammunition.

Quote:

For example, you could activate a beacon shot arrow by touching it with 1 action, then draw and shoot the arrow as part of a Strike as normal. For a beacon shot bolt, you could activate it, load it into a crossbow, then shoot it, or load it into the crossbow, then activate it, and then shoot it.

So for the firearm ammunition, you should be able to load the Exsanguinating Ammunition in a previous round, or in a separate weapon, or a second chamber of a double barreled pistol. Then activate the ammunition and fire it for two actions of one round and still have your third action available.