Making 8mm Lebel Revolver Ammo...

[762mm]

Hey all,

As my continuing interest in antiques grows, I decided to grab a French 1892 Lebel revolver and it arrived in the mail last week. Many thanks to Jethunter for being such an honest guy... the iron was actually better than I thought it would be, which is always a nice surprise (hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst, lol!).



I also ordered dies (Buffalo Arms) for it and custom made casings/bullets from Tallman Industries. While waiting for the dies delivery + cases/lead bullets to be produced by Tallman, I decided to look up some load info and... I wasn't very successful in locating a load that suits my needs. The primary problem I have is that the two only local gun stores in/around our socialist soccer-mom owned city (Le Baron & Dante) seem to only carry Hodgdon & Winchester powders and the loads I found use Unique or Bullseye (by Alliant Powders).

Le Baron is so badly sold out of powder + primers that last time I was there, they only had BP left - with no info on when they will be able to restock!

Anyway, I would need the load info for a 110 gr lead round nose bullet that would travel 550-600 fps to maintain minimum pressures - I don't intend to turn my antique into a magnum, lol! The key is that I only seem to have a limited selection of powders available; I already have a pound of HP-38 for my .38 spl... but I haven't seen an 8mm Lebel revolver load with that particular powder though. Basically, I would need a list of everything that's usable for this caliber, if such a list even exists - or some personal experience feedback would be good too.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[jethunter]

Possibly your best bet would be to email Hodgdon directly.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Delete

 

[Sig_1959]

Hey all,

I also ordered dies (Buffalo Arms)
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

If you ordered related item 8mm Lebel Shell Holder (8x50R Lebel) RCBS
Item #: RCB8MMLEBSH. Call them and make sure they sent you shell holder for revolver.
I got mine set today and dies looks OK, but despite proper item number on shell holder plastic bag, it looks like it can hold 50 caliber. I have no clue what is it and how to use it.

Can somebody advice please?

 

[fiscus]

I've been wondering the same thing, I'm in montreal too and want to get started loading for mine next month. I'm 100% new to reloading but I think you might be able to use your hp38 powder if you're careful. Hogdon's 2008 reloading manual shows hp38 used for some similar calibers. I was thinking of trying hogdon universal.

from hogdon's manual, the following is with hp38 powder

32 s&w long, 90gr cast, 1.6gr, 600fps
32 s&w long, 90gr cast, 1.9gr, 700fps

32 h&r magnum, 90gr lead rnfp, 2.8gr, 828fps, 9600cup
32 h&r magnum, 90gr lead rnfp, 3.2gr, 919fps, 12500cup

32-20, 90gr lead rnfp, 3.2gr, 833fps, 11900cup
32-20, 90gr lead rnfp, 3.5gr, 969fps, 16000cup
32-20, 90gr lead rnfp, 4.5gr, 1177fps, 22800cup
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 3.2gr, 839fps, 11100cup
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 3.5gr, 915fps, 15600cup
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 4.3gr, 1045fps, 22600cup

38 special, 125gr lead rnfp, 3.8gr, 876fps, 10300cup
38 special, 125gr lead rnfp, 4.8gr, 1071fps, 16900cup

38 long colt, 125 gr lead rn, 2.6gr, 636fps
38 long colt, 125 gr lead rn, 3.2gr, 766fps
​

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
from hogdon's manual, the following is with hogdon universal powder

32 s&w long 85gr jhp, 3.0gr, 865 fps, 12000cup, 1.16", cci 500 (start @ 2.7gr)
32 s&w long 90gr jhc, 2.9gr, 838fps, 11200cup, 1.17", cci 500

32 h&r magnum 90gr JHP, 4.0gr, 1072fps, 20000cup, 1.34", fed 100, start @ 3.6gr
32 h&r magnum 90gr lswc, 3.0gr, 819fps, 8400cup
32 h&r magnum 90gr lswc, 3.2gr, 908fps, 11500cup
32 h&r magnum 100 gr jhp, 3.7gr, 973fps, 19900cup, 1.345", fed 100

(colt pistol)
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 3.0gr, 808fps, 14200cup
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 3.2gr, 869fps, 16000cup
(ruger pistol)
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 4.0gr, 1037fps, 22600cup

38 special, 125gr hdy xtp, 5.2gr, 1019fps, 17000cup, wsp, 1.455"
38 special, 125gr lead rnfp, 4.3gr, 872fps, 8700cup
38 special, 125gr lead rnfp, 4.7gr, 1036fps, 16800cup
38 special, 135gr lead rnfp, 4.1gr, 924fps, 13400cup
38 special, 135gr lead rnfp, 4.6gr, 1025fps, 16900cup

38 long colt, 125gr lead rn, 3.2gr, 626fps
38 long colt, 125gr lead rn, 3.7gr, 772fps​

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

*I don't guarantee the accuracy of these loads*

 

[DEZ]

You could maybe try the 32 S&W Long loads but stay away from 32-20 as they are more powerfull and stay away from the magnum loads

 

[sunray]

Have a look at this. The guy did use .32 S&W Long data though.
http://members.nuvox.net/~on.melchar/8lrev/index.html

 

[762mm]

Thanks guys! All your input is very much appreciated!



Like I said, my access to Unique or Bullseye is very limited... I am positive that Le Baron won't have any (they never have ANYTHING - last time I was there I got pissed and gave them a piece of my mind, but all they said is "sorry, we don't know when it'll be restocked" - they didn't even have basic stuff, like a BP gauge for muzzleloaders or PATCHES! - all sold out with no possibility of knowing when it'll be restocked! No smokeless powders either, no 9mm/.38spl bullets and no primers. WTF ?!?)

Anyway, back on topic... my only chance will be to give the guys at this other store a call and find out what they have. And if that's a negative on unique or bullseye, then... I'm royally screwed.

Btw, do any online stores ship smokeless powders?

 

[fiscus]

You could try higginson in hawkesbury

 

[762mm]

You could try higginson in hawkesbury

Hmm... excellent idea!

I am going there every once in a while to stock up on some quality... booze (lol). The LCBO there has some unique and hard to find european beer + hard liquors at reasonable prices... so maybe the other store has some hard-to-find powders too. Hurray for Hawkesbry... 1/10,000 the size of Montreal, yet they have all they need... including a respectable gunstore. Kudos to all the Hawkesburians!

Next time I go, I'll remember to visit that store also. Thanks for the idea once again!

P.S. Doesn't it just suck to live in this socialist soccer-mom controlled province of Quebec? Seriously... phuckin ridiculous! I used to have a female dog and it had more balls as a puppy than most of the people living here these days... (I'm just sorry to see an excellent gunstore like Le Baron go down the gutter... it hasn't stopped getting worse and worse ever since the owner died and his wife decided to do away with the evil "military guns"... that's according to some people who used to work there in the old days, when I was a regular milsurp customer there).



(One more reason to move out west... far west, but not as far as BC, lol!)


By the way, this post is excellent... Thanks!

from hogdon's manual, the following is with hp38 powder

32 s&w long, 90gr cast, 1.6gr, 600fps
32 s&w long, 90gr cast, 1.9gr, 700fps

32 h&r magnum, 90gr lead rnfp, 2.8gr, 828fps, 9600cup
32 h&r magnum, 90gr lead rnfp, 3.2gr, 919fps, 12500cup

32-20, 90gr lead rnfp, 3.2gr, 833fps, 11900cup
32-20, 90gr lead rnfp, 3.5gr, 969fps, 16000cup
32-20, 90gr lead rnfp, 4.5gr, 1177fps, 22800cup
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 3.2gr, 839fps, 11100cup
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 3.5gr, 915fps, 15600cup
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 4.3gr, 1045fps, 22600cup

38 special, 125gr lead rnfp, 3.8gr, 876fps, 10300cup
38 special, 125gr lead rnfp, 4.8gr, 1071fps, 16900cup

38 long colt, 125 gr lead rn, 2.6gr, 636fps
38 long colt, 125 gr lead rn, 3.2gr, 766fps
​

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
from hogdon's manual, the following is with hogdon universal powder

32 s&w long 85gr jhp, 3.0gr, 865 fps, 12000cup, 1.16", cci 500 (start @ 2.7gr)
32 s&w long 90gr jhc, 2.9gr, 838fps, 11200cup, 1.17", cci 500

32 h&r magnum 90gr JHP, 4.0gr, 1072fps, 20000cup, 1.34", fed 100, start @ 3.6gr
32 h&r magnum 90gr lswc, 3.0gr, 819fps, 8400cup
32 h&r magnum 90gr lswc, 3.2gr, 908fps, 11500cup
32 h&r magnum 100 gr jhp, 3.7gr, 973fps, 19900cup, 1.345", fed 100

(colt pistol)
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 3.0gr, 808fps, 14200cup
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 3.2gr, 869fps, 16000cup
(ruger pistol)
32-20, 115gr lead rnfp, 4.0gr, 1037fps, 22600cup

38 special, 125gr hdy xtp, 5.2gr, 1019fps, 17000cup, wsp, 1.455"
38 special, 125gr lead rnfp, 4.3gr, 872fps, 8700cup
38 special, 125gr lead rnfp, 4.7gr, 1036fps, 16800cup
38 special, 135gr lead rnfp, 4.1gr, 924fps, 13400cup
38 special, 135gr lead rnfp, 4.6gr, 1025fps, 16900cup

38 long colt, 125gr lead rn, 3.2gr, 626fps
38 long colt, 125gr lead rn, 3.7gr, 772fps​

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

*I don't guarantee the accuracy of these loads*

 

[sunray]

"...or PATCHES..." Why buy 'em? Go to a discount fabric shop and buy a meter or two of remnant flannelette and cut it up. Less than $10. You'll get 585 4" x 2"(.30 cal rifle size) cleaning patches out of a 2 meter(78") x 60" wide remant. 351 out of a 78" x 36" remnant. 702 1" x 2" handgun sized cleaning patches out of a 36" x 78" remnant.
Ask the women working there if you don't know what flannelette is. (Think winter bed sheets.) They're used to guys asking questions.
Buy pillow ticking for BP bullet patches. Check the thickness with a micrometer or vernier though.
"...any online stores ship smokeless powders?..." Yep, but shipping won't be cheap.

 

[762mm]

"...or PATCHES..." Why buy 'em? Go to a discount fabric shop and buy a meter or two of remnant flannelette and cut it up. Less than $10. You'll get 585 4" x 2"(.30 cal rifle size) cleaning patches out of a 2 meter(78") x 60" wide remant. 351 out of a 78" x 36" remnant. 702 1" x 2" handgun sized cleaning patches out of a 36" x 78" remnant.
Ask the women working there if you don't know what flannelette is. (Think winter bed sheets.) They're used to guys asking questions.
Buy pillow ticking for BP bullet patches. Check the thickness with a micrometer or vernier though.
"...any online stores ship smokeless powders?..." Yep, but shipping won't be cheap.

Thanks, Sunray... I already got myself some patches, a bag of 300 3" square patches by Butch's (that I can cut up in 4 smaller squares each to fit my .49 round ball Deerstalker rifle). The total cost was $10.49... I found it by accident, as it fell behind one of their counters at Le Baron - the salesman was assuring me that they DO NOT have any patches left though, so I guess I was lucky on that one - he seemed quite surprised to see them himself, lol!

As for somokeless powder, I will try going out to Ontario soon and trying to hunt down some Bullseye or Unique (over at Hawkesbury). It's this bad in socialist Quebec nowadays... we have to travel to "Canada" in order to get our reloading supplies! If you guys let it get bad enough out west, you'll soon be in the same boat. Watch out!

P.S. The Canada comment is heavy sarcasm, by the way... but some actually do think they live in a different country out here, I'm not kidding you. But in some ways, it isn't far from the truth (socialism, anti-gun fear mongers, highest taxes in North America, higher fuel prices, rampant corruption, own sets of laws, always whining for more independence... all because we've got plenty of separatists & non-employed wellfare kings/queens to feed!).

Vive le Québec libre, lol!