Loving my Lebel! 1st time reloader. Need help reloading 8mm lebel.. much appreciated!

Clotho said:
In your first post you asked:



If you plan on buying some bullets, the first tool you need to buy is a set of calipers. You need to know the diameter of the bullets you are buying and you need to verify this yourself. They come in two styles. Dial or Digital and two formats Metric and Imperial. For you I would recommend a digital set as they usually work in both formats. You will know you have ones of the right type if they say accuracy: .001 or something similar but they need to be accurate to thousandths.

You will be using this tool a great deal so it pays to spend some time learning how to read it. You can measure things like the shells for your shotgun (both diameter and OAL, Over All Length). The diameter of a quarter, .9375 etc.


By the way. Have you actually fired a gun? You say you have your PAL and a shotgun. Do you belong to a range?
Click to expand...

its more like belong to the range as there is only one normal range and one trap range but he does not need to belong to a range NR and antiques dont need to be shot on a range
 
antiqueguy said:
if someone can give me some info on trim length and maybe a fireforming load to make some brass from .32-20

also who is selling the bullets
Click to expand...

Again from Cartridges of the World 6th Edition: 8mm Lebel dimensions are listed as follows - bullet diameter .323"; neck diameter .350"; base diameter .384"; rim diameter .400"; case length 1.07"; cartridge length 1.44". These numbers I understand are taken by measuring existing cartridges so from cartridge to cartridge there won't necessarily be an exact match to the thousandth of an inch. This cartridge is straight and rimmed.

For comparison from the same book: 32-20 WCF listed as follows - bullet diameter .312"; neck diameter .326"; shoulder diameter .338"; base diameter .353"; rim diameter .405"; case length 1.32"; cartridge length 1.59". This cartridge is bottlenecked and rimmed.

You will have to resize to iron out the 32-20 bottleneck and enlarge the case body it's entire length, then trim to length using the numbers above. The rim shouldn't be an issue because the difference is only .005" divide in two to get .0025" either side which shouldn't be enough to displace the rim of center when seating in the extractor star. I don't have a Lebel nor have I worked with customizing existing cases so beyond mechanically resizing existing cases in their respective dies, my opinion is worthless.

And the caveat - I double checked when I typed in the cartridge dimensions BUT I am a man, get a manual to verify the numbers.
 
New Camper said:
Again from Cartridges of the World 6th Edition: 8mm Lebel dimensions are listed as follows - bullet diameter .323"; neck diameter .350"; base diameter .384"; rim diameter .400"; case length 1.07"; cartridge length 1.44". These numbers I understand are taken by measuring existing cartridges so from cartridge to cartridge there won't necessarily be an exact match to the thousandth of an inch. This cartridge is straight and rimmed.

For comparison from the same book: 32-20 WCF listed as follows - bullet diameter .312"; neck diameter .326"; shoulder diameter .338"; base diameter .353"; rim diameter .405"; case length 1.32"; cartridge length 1.59". This cartridge is bottlenecked and rimmed.

You will have to resize to iron out the 32-20 bottleneck and enlarge the case body it's entire length, then trim to length using the numbers above. The rim shouldn't be an issue because the difference is only .005" divide in two to get .0025" either side which shouldn't be enough to displace the rim of center when seating in the extractor star. I don't have a Lebel nor have I worked with customizing existing cases so beyond mechanically resizing existing cases in their respective dies, my opinion is worthless.

And the caveat - I double checked when I typed in the cartridge dimensions BUT I am a man, get a manual to verify the numbers.
Click to expand...

there is no manual for odd/obsolete cartridges even the complete guide to handloading has nothing and that was made quite a few years ago and there is not alot of info out there on it
 
antiqueguy said:
there is no manual for odd/obsolete cartridges even the complete guide to handloading has nothing and that was made quite a few years ago and there is not alot of info out there on it
Click to expand...
The handloader's manual of cartridge conversions are full of oddball/obsolete cartridges with very limited load data (one bullet wt. and one power per cartridge, sometimes none), unfortunately the newest edition failed to include 8mm lebel revolver data.
 
1fastjeep said:
The handloader's manual of cartridge conversions are full of oddball/obsolete cartridges with very limited load data (one bullet wt. and one power per cartridge, sometimes none), unfortunately the newest edition failed to include 8mm lebel revolver data.
Click to expand...

yeah this cartridge seems to be a forgotten little bugger many times over but i got what i need now
 
The Bullet diameter Is not .323 as is written in cartridges of the world but usually .330 the .323 can be fired but shoot like Sh-t
Do not trust cartridges of the world they also list the 32-44S&W target as the same as 32S&W Long and they are not even close the 32-44 Target has a much longer case and the bullet is seated flush with the case mouth and is a Larger Diameter. I know because I have one of the few antique ones in Canada
 
hi guys having a difficult time finding a lebel revolver die supplier in Canada - I see Hornady makes them but they are all US sellers...

thank you very much and I am glad I get to keep this beautiful lebel revolver, yehawwwwww
 
DEZ said:
The Bullet diameter Is not .323 as is written in cartridges of the world but usually .330 the .323 can be fired but shoot like Sh-t
Do not trust cartridges of the world they also list the 32-44S&W target as the same as 32S&W Long and they are not even close the 32-44 Target has a much longer case and the bullet is seated flush with the case mouth and is a Larger Diameter. I know because I have one of the few antique ones in Canada
Click to expand...

This is why it is important to slug the barrel and measure the cylinder on any antique gun. You have to reload to the specs of the firearm itself. After 120 years who knows who has done what to the piece or how tight the tolerances of the original manufacturer were or how many rounds have gone down the barrel. Hence my recommendation of buying a set of calipers and learning how to use them.
 
lone.gunman said:
hi guys having a difficult time finding a lebel revolver die supplier in Canada - I see Hornady makes them but they are all US sellers...

thank you very much and I am glad I get to keep this beautiful lebel revolver, yehawwwwww
Click to expand...

you can order dies from the US but like i said midway does not ship here

i think ellwood epps can get you dies
 
Clotho said:
This is why it is important to slug the barrel and measure the cylinder on any antique gun. You have to reload to the specs of the firearm itself. After 120 years who knows who has done what to the piece or how tight the tolerances of the original manufacturer were or how many rounds have gone down the barrel. Hence my recommendation of buying a set of calipers and learning how to use them.
Click to expand...

i'll take care of sluging but i think most will be about the same
 
Wish I was there to help you out as I re-load for this cartridge.
But looks Like antique Guy is doing you a solid .
I bought my dies direct from CH-4d tool and die Buffalo arms is anouther place to try.
 
DEZ said:
Wish I was there to help you out as I re-load for this cartridge.
But looks Like antique Guy is doing you a solid .
I bought my dies direct from CH-4d tool and die Buffalo arms is anouther place to try.
Click to expand...


THANK YOU!!! can't wait to actually shoot this gun, and then throw her in the safe :)

I will be ordering dies immediately. --- quick question, will any shell holder work, like a lee one? or do i need a particular shell holder to match with the die?? sorry if it's a silly question.

ALSO - I guess antiqueguy is on my 'buy-a-christmas-gift-for' list.... just to show my appreciation!

THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS, sincerely appreciated.

I also had another CGN member contact me - he saw I was looking for a CSA vz 58 and took time out of his day to tell me that he found a cheap one at a supplier close to me - if everyone in the world was as nice/helpful as some of the people on this forum, hell, we'd have a lot less to worry about.


LGM
 
lone.gunman said:
THANK YOU!!! can't wait to actually shoot this gun, and then throw her in the safe :)

I will be ordering dies immediately. --- quick question, will any shell holder work, like a lee one? or do i need a particular shell holder to match with the die?? sorry if it's a silly question.

ALSO - I guess antiqueguy is on my 'buy-a-christmas-gift-for' list.... just to show my appreciation!

THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS, sincerely appreciated.

I also had another CGN member contact me - he saw I was looking for a CSA vz 58 and took time out of his day to tell me that he found a cheap one at a supplier close to me - if everyone in the world was as nice/helpful as some of the people on this forum, hell, we'd have a lot less to worry about.


LGM
Click to expand...

dont worry about a gift just let me shoot a few rounds :)
 
May I make a suggestion? Pardon the US-centric viewpoint, but would it not be easier to work with an importer (e.g Prophet River or IRunGuns) to get brass? Some importers charge around $50 for importing parts, so perhaps they would import reloading components too... (Doesn't hurt to ask?) It would be rather expensive brass, but it could make sense for rare ones like the lebel. I have not actually done the research but it would be the direction I would go if I were in the same situation - I think resizing brass is one of the more advanced tasks for a reloader. [Just checked and Borderview advertises that they do import ammo and components - expensive, but it may be worth it to you?]

FWIW I'm glad the OP may be able to get a mentor - I believe it is important to have one when learning to reload and makes the process much more enjoyable. I had a friend show me how and I think he got as much enjoyment out of it as me (I mean free and MOTIVATED labour - could it get better?) It is also much easier to learn on a modern caliber - I started with 45 ACP and 41 rem mag, then moved to 223 and 308 and am only hoping to reload for an antique in the future. I think that makes for an easier progression than jumping in at the deep end straight away. Even with only a PAL you could own a rifle that uses 44 mag and practice reloading for that.

Good luck either way and I do hope you keep your lebel, learn to reload for it and enjoy it safely :)
 
DEZ said:
The Bullet diameter Is not .323 as is written in cartridges of the world but usually .330 the .323 can be fired but shoot like Sh-t
Do not trust cartridges of the world they also list the 32-44S&W target as the same as 32S&W Long and they are not even close the 32-44 Target has a much longer case and the bullet is seated flush with the case mouth and is a Larger Diameter. I know because I have one of the few antique ones in Canada
Click to expand...

I'll keep that in mind: I've always verified any loads found therein with my reloading manuals.

Unfortunately, my vintage 1960's Speer reloading manual doesn't list the 8mm Lebel, otherwise I'd share that data.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom