333 diameter bullets?

kevin.303

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so once again my love of obscure calibers in old rifles has cost me money, i impulse purchased this week a BSA 1923 Commercial Sporter in 33 BSA HV. i'd never heard of the cartridge but as i suspected it uses a .333 diameter bullet. i wasnt particularily worried as i knew woodleigh makes them, until i saw the threads about las decembers fire. hawk bullets out of new jersey makes some, and very reasonable price too but an inquiry about canadian sales has gone un answered. so is there anyone else that makes them? and also is this cartridge found in quickload? my computer died and i cant access mine.
 
Slug the bore, chamber/throat casting, gauge pins or whatever method you think most accurate instead of guessing. Once you know the size it will be easier to narrow down what you need.

My fallback for very odd sized diameter bullets is a custom mold to cast and size lead bullets but if 33 BSA HV refers to high velocity you probably want to stay with jacketed.
 
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Any reason jacketed .338 bullets could not be swagged down? Elmer Keith had a wildcat that used .333 bullets was the .318 Westly Richards .330 or .333 ? Speer once made .333 bullets.
 
Any reason jacketed .338 bullets could not be swagged down? Elmer Keith had a wildcat that used .333 bullets was the .318 Westly Richards .330 or .333 ? Speer once made .333 bullets.

That will work. Woodleigh and Barnes (in their original line) both used to make 33 cal bullets. So did Winchester, but that was a very long time ago. - dan
 
Any reason jacketed .338 bullets could not be swagged down? Elmer Keith had a wildcat that used .333 bullets was the .318 Westly Richards .330 or .333 ? Speer once made .333 bullets.


The 333 OKH. That was developed using english bullets originally intended for the 33 bsa and 333 jefferies. Corbin makes the die to swage down to the proper diameter, just not sure yet if i wanna commit to the cost as how much will i actually shoot it. Will have to wait till it arrives, slug it inspect see how it shoots with cast or if i can find some woodlieghs and go from there
 
Guys swage LEE .338 cast bullets down to .330 to shoot in the oversized bore 8x56R Hungarian so less should be easy. The LEE mold for the 8x56R is the wrong size.
 
As per Posts #2 and #5 - probably need to slug that bore - find out what that one's groove size is, and make or buy bullets to fit that groove size or close. Is not likely based on the bore size - the hole drilled before rifling was cut - typically need to know the groove size, to select or make jacketed bullets ...
 
I wonder if you look at a 30-30 die it is .330 at the neck. Could one remove the guts and use it as a sizing die for .338 bullets? A shell holder with an appropriate sized extension rod welded on to push a lubed bullet through the die.There may be jacket spring back ? It could be opened up if needed a little.
 
Slug your bore, and check with Cartridges of the World, because I seem to recall the .33 BSA uses .338" diameter bullets.

well look at that. you are indeed correct. i just assumed given its age and place of origin that it would be .333. i will of course still slug the bore just to be sure but if so that makes life far easier.
 
Guys swage LEE .338 cast bullets down to .330 to shoot in the oversized bore 8x56R Hungarian so less should be easy. The LEE mold for the 8x56R is the wrong size.

I'm one of those guys. You could buy a custom 0.333" (or 0.332" like I did, as sized jacketed bullets tend to "spring-back") Lee-style push-through sizer, or you could ream out the stock Lee 0.329". A "Q" drill (0.332") might work or a dowel with emery paper.
 
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