Reloading: Antique Cartridge Data

762mm

762mm

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Hey guys,

I just had an "Eureka" thought... :D

What would you say if we were to share our common knowledge about reloading data for antique calibers? We could make this a sticky and post in this thread our own personal working loads for any particular antique caliber. Loads can be either smokeless or black powder for any given cartridge, as long as the pressures produced are deemed to be safe. Cartridges listed can also be of a more modern design, as long as their intended load is meant to be used in an antique firearm (eg. "cowboy'" loads for 45ACP, 45AR, 44 SPL, 41 Colt, etc). You can also add any other pertinent info than the powder charge, such as: fps, exact pressure, accuracy achieved, etc.

The way this would works is that you'd post a 'Reply' and indicate the caliber in the 'Title' Section. Then you could post tables or descriptions of the loads you use, or whatever else you see fit. I think this would be an excellent idea to exchange pertinent and hard to find information about reloading for antique calibers. Also, before anyone points out the 'wrong forum' argument, let me clarify that I truly believe that such a thread is much more appropriate here than in the 'Reloading' section.


Also... before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's all be clear on the following, which applies to all of us here:


CAUTION: The information and data contained on the reloading pages is for informational purposes only. Cross-referencing the posted reloading data information for its' accuracy & safety (before use) is everyone's own responsibility.

The end user is solely responsible for EVERYTHING that may occur using this data.


So... anyone interested in this kind of proposal?

:confused:
 
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.577/450 Martini-Henry

Here... I'll start with something I've put together in a Ms Word table, based on an old article I've found online some time ago:

577-450LoadDataresized.jpg
 
8mm Lebel 1892 Ordinance Revolver (France)

Data from an old reloading manual:

8mmLebelRevolver-ReloadingData.jpg


Another source also suggest safe working loads to be between 3.0 gr (min) to 3.5 gr (max) of Unique behind a 110-120 gr lead bullet.

:cool:
 
By all means, YES.

The sum total of knowledge/data within the membership could become a priceless resource. 'Specially for those of us just getting started with the old ones.

Count me in for my meager couple of .45acp/2400 Webley loads.
 
.41 Colt
4.4gr - Unique (smokeless)
184gr hollow base - Rapine 386185 mold
684fps

NEW LOAD

.41 Colt
5.4gr - Ramshot True Blue
184gr hollow base - Rapine 386185 mold
750fps
 
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577-450 Martini Henry

.458" 405grn cast with gascheck (originally for 45-70)
38grn IMR 4227
1560FPS from a Martini Henry MkIV

* note: you will need a filler as the case is huge :D I use 2 sheets of toilet paper

* note 2: I have gone as high as 43grn IMR4227 but :eek: the old pucker factor was just too high, no chrony data for that one, but the brass was OK
 
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More .45AR or ACP for shaved Webleys

I personally load 225-grain hard-cast .45 FP bullets over 3.7 grains of IMR-700X for something over 600 velocity...:)

Edit: I actually recall that with 3.7 grains of IMR-700-X I got this velocity estimation:

dan belisle said:
Around 650 fps or so.
Click to expand...

Anyhow, it's nice, light-enough and accurate! :p

A caveat and further advice was ;) :

ben hunchak said:
You'll really have to watch here for accidental double charges as 3.7 grs of 700x takes up very little room in the big .45 acp case, I'd play with Trail Boss instead.
Click to expand...

And one more bit of recipe :yingyang: :

ben hunchak said:
Well Lyman's take on this combo is 4.0grs. 700x as min. load for 695 fps, and 10,500 cup pressure.....Max. load is listed as 5.0 grs. 700x for 855fps, and 17,300 cup...........To reduce pressure further you could go with a lighter cast bullet.
Click to expand...
 
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sovereignright said:
Interesting combo there, I will look into it some time. I try to avoid low volume loads. 4.0 grains of WIN231 under a 250 grain lead is as low I go. That itty bit of powder in it's large void scares me.:eek:

Also, for your listed load, how do the cases look like after firing?
Click to expand...

Basically :yingyang: , I've updated my earlier post to reflect comments that came from a thread in the reloading section....:)

Other than the cases looking kinda blackened after firing, they were physically none the worse for wear (nor was the Webley ! :cool: ), which kinda gave me a warm (and plenty reassured!) feeling.....:D
 
Im reloading .32 rf, just wondering if someone can tell me what type of blackpowder to use and and howmuch to put in it. Thanks.

edit: 32rf shorts, does the projectile weight make a differance in the amount of powder I use?
 
Can someone please explain to me why everyone says the (Regimetaire Mle 92/8 mm French Ord) 8mm Lebel revolver has a calibre of .323 :yingyang: , when I find that even a very basic Hornady .312 XTP 85-grain ".32 ACP" bullet fits quite nicely in the barrel ? :confused:

Additionally :stirthepot2: , I've been told that the loaded bullets tare ypically around 120-grain at the upper-end, 115 in the middle and 102 at the low end, so I am curious what an 85-grain bullet might be capable of doing out of that antique French barrel ! :nest:
 
cyclone said:
Can someone please explain to me why everyone says the (Regimetaire Mle 92/8 mm French Ord) 8mm Lebel revolver has a calibre of .323 :yingyang: , when I find that even a very basic Hornady .312 XTP 85-grain ".32 ACP" bullet fits quite nicely in the barrel ? :confused:
Click to expand...


Because the 8mm French Lebel Revolver has a nominal bullet diameter of .330" ; personally, I size mine to .329" after casting from wheel weights (using a custom .330 116gr NEI mold and a Lee .329 sizer).

That said, if you fire .312's out of your 1892, then you're almost .020 too small, which will have an adverse effect on your accuracy. I've read a few old articles saying that although .32 (Colt?) bullets will fit & fire in that revolver, their accuracy (and velocity) will always be piss poor. So, why even bother with such grossly undersized lead? If you do use .312's, then you might want to paper-patch them or something...

reference: please read my post #3

.
 
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(762mm) ... "If you do use .312's, then you might want to paper-patch them or something"...

From all that I've heard, PP,ing does not work in a revolver.
The violent blowby in the barrel/cyl. gap shreds the patch.

After recovering some .308's patched to .315", undamaged from a deep snowbank, the slugs showed irregular dents in the shank. The patch had blown forward in uneven lumps, apparently as a result of a somewhat loose ball seat/leade in that Long Branch #4mk1.

Seems a paper patch needs consistent support to deliver accuracy.

scainna, if you slug that bore, you'll know how to feed it. .... & oh, BTW, how in heck do you reprime those rimfires ??. :confused:
 
vviking said:
(762mm) & oh, BTW, how in heck do you reprime those rimfires ??. :confused:
Click to expand...

I'v succesfully reloaded an orignal .32 RF Long case using the white tips off red bird strike anywhere matches.

I had used a mortar to crush the phosporus "gently" and soaked them into a liquidy paste with distilled water and rubbing alcohol.

I lifted the hammer indent out of the rim using a nail head ground down to the proper width and half mooned and needle nose plyers with a piece of rubber so that you don't damage the outside of the rim when you squeeze the nail head into the inside to flare it out.

Then I just poured the priming mixture into the Clean case and let it sit and dry.

After that I used a piece of plastic tubing sharpend on the end to cookie cutter out the excess phosporus in the bottom as to just leave the rim filled.

I loaded the case with 2.5 GR of unique and an 82gr lead round nose.
Fired it off in my spur trigger and it worked quite well actually.

Phosporus is quite corrosive so I made sure to clean my gun very well afterwards.

This is the hard way though, you can buy reload kits.
 
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