Finding 10.4mm bullets and Reloading of the swiss 1878 revolver

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Joffre1994

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I was looking for input/tips on how to reload correctly this antique revolver. I know you can trim down some 41 mag cases and cast your own bullets but was wondering if There was any others options? Maybe suitable for 10.4mm bodeo?
Also anyone know where i could find 10.4mm bullets for sale ?
Thanks a lot!
 
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I've had two of these in the past, one had been rechambered in Belgium (S/N 1065 if I rememeber correctly) and the one I currently own is in the original caliber.

Old west bullet molds has the heeled bullet and the custom crimping die you need. The original charge was 15 grains of 2f. A 41 rem mag die and 41 rem mag brass trimmed down to 22mm will work well. The original bullets were paper patched.

You have to cast if you want to shoot it, there are no modernsubstitutes for the original bullet AFAIK.
 
Joffre1994 said:
Also can i run 3f instead of 2 f if i reduce the load by 10%?
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Actually, I was mistaken. The original specs called for 15.4 grains of No.1 (4Fg) Swiss BP but 4Fg is dirtier than 3Fg. I used 15 grains of 3Fg in a 22mm case, this filled the case completely leaving no gaps and slight compression of the charge.

As for paper patching, without it you'll get more fouling in the barrel, quicker. But unpatched bullets still seemed accurate.
 
Joffre1994 said:
Also can i run 3f instead of 2 f if i reduce the load by 10%?
Click to expand...

Black is different from smokeless. You will be fine with any granulation of powder but you want a full case with slight compression. The higher number the finer the powder. As it gets finer it usually has a bit more pressure and burns a bit cleaner but that can depend on your lube as well.

If you want to reduce the charge the space in the case is generally filled with corn meal, cream of wheat or wads of cork or heavy card. Or sometimes the bullet can be seated deeper but that won't work with the heeled bullets. I can't imagine they would work with paper patching either but I'm not familiar with the original loads for this cartridge. Aren't they an odd size around 0.420" or something?
 
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