Reloading metallic cartridges

[villiers]

It´s off the the Wannsee range next week to try the new `M `71 bullets out ... starting out at only 50 metres. If all´s ok ... up to 100 .... and then (just for laughs) 3oo. Can then start casting with dash of tin.

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

If you have a micrometer that will measure to less than 0.001", or a metric mike that measures to 1/100 mm, try measuring the diameters of the bullets in the various mixes - pure lead, 3% etc. The diameter should increase very slightly as the tin content increases. This will also have a 2nd order effect on the bullet/bore compatibility. Hensel may have calibrated the mold for a pure lead or a specific tin/lead ration, depending on what you asked for. He certainly did for the mold for my Gibbs muzzle-loader, and wrote that the bullet should be used as cast, and not sized down at all.

[villiers]

Yes, remember he did advise not to size.

[ogre]

Greetings gentlemen. When pouring your powder into the case do you use a drop tube of say, 60cm or more? While reading through these posts I did not notice a specific reference to one being used.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Well I don't. I tried it once, as a beginner, and found it was an awful bother to set the thing up. Now I am older, and if not wiser, at least lazier, with the leading motto being KISS. I use a small dispensing "shovel" (about 10cc capacity) which I load and pour into a cartridge case that serves as a measure. The whole shovelful is poured into the case, so that it spills over, and then I scrape the excess off the mouth of the case.

That may sound simple, but it produces BP loads with a tolerance of +/- 0.2gn in weight and about 0.0 in volume. Since the case is a nitro case with a mouth in the range 6.5-8mm (I have a range of these things), the next step is to place the mouth of the BP case over the neck of the "measure" case, upend the combination, tap on table 3 times to make sure that nothing sticks, and the BP falls into the BP case.

Quick, easy, repeatable... what more do you want. I can fill about 4 cases in the time it took me to write this far. In fact, this evening I prepared loads for 4 rifles that I want to test fire tomorrow. There's a BP competition coming up, and I have to decide which rifles I am going to use.
The loading went in no time at all. What cost me half the evening was looking for the Dr Goodwin diopter for the Sharps. If you know what one of these costs, then you will understand why I was worried. I found it in the end - in a box marked "sights". Amazing how you can outsmart yourself!

It's not simply that I'm untidy - I prefer to think of it as the "geological" method of arranging things - the stuff you used most recently is at the top. Being under firm orders not to let the chaos spread outside the workshop, the arrangement inside the workshop makes a WWII submarine look like wide open spaces. But it's all in there - somewhere!

Now I am whacked. But there are 4 rifles ready to go tomorrow.

[jmoore]

It's not simply that I'm untidy - I prefer to think of it as the "geological" method of arranging things - the stuff you used most recently is at the top. Being under firm orders not to let the chaos spread outside the workshop, the arrangement inside the workshop makes a WWII submarine look like wide open spaces. But it's all in there - somewhere!

Hmmm, I seem to have a bit of that syndrome as well...

[ogre]

Interesting. I started out by using a "shovel and pour method" similar to what you describe but my accuracy measurably improved when I switched to a drop tube. My drop tube is permanently affixed to one of my reloading benches so there is no bother in setting one up. Very simple.

Well, I have a new, untried can of powder to screen. I wish you good day.

[villiers]

The drop tube that came with my BP dispenser is much too long, so that the dispenser´d either be at ceiling height or the end of the tube below floor level.
I´ve found that there definitely is an advantage in accuracy to be gained in measuring precise BP weights per case. So now I place an empty case on the digital scales and press "zero". I then fill the case at the desired setting on the dispenser and check the measurement on the scales. I tap the full case to let the powder settle and seat the bullet. Thus I now use precise loads. The only component that is NOT precise is the blob of grease under the bullet.

I´ve now found that (unexpectedly) the short Werder cav. carbine is very accurate ... unlike the Mauser, even though the Mauser is in practically new condition. Cleaning is a lot easier than I thought it would be. The whole of the Werder action is removed to clean the barrel.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I´ve now found that (unexpectedly) the short Werder cav. carbine is very accurate ...

Patrick, could you quantify that, or post a target?
I do make the grease blob quite precise, because the amount of grease is going to affect the powder compression in the case. I admit, this may be a 2nd-order effect, but as you have to dispense the stuff with something, I use a disposable plastic syringe, allowing me to insert a fairly precise blob without any particular effort - apart from getting the syringe loaded with the grease to start off with!

[ogre]

, I use a disposable plastic syringe, allowing me to insert a fairly precise blob without any particular effort - apart from getting the syringe loaded with the grease to start off with!

This grease looks to be much softer then my lube. I use a mixture of beeswax and lambs tallow but I am always ready to experiment.