question on fire forming a case for 41 swiss rifle

NB.nagantsniper

NB.nagantsniper

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ok im making up some 41 swiss rifle cases from 8mm lebel cases

my question is ---

im ready to fire form the cases..........about what powder charge should i try ? i am currently planning to use left over shotgun powder ( 700x ) could this be ok and safe ??
 
Guarantees of safety are withheld on 160 year old firearms. Are you shooting a Vetterli?

What are you using for wadding?

Last time that I fire formed 41 Swiss brass, I started low and had to fire form twice with an anneal in the middle.

I used unique and think that I started a 6 grains and finished with 10.
 
plan to use cream of wheat sealed with candle wax , yes ill be using theses in a 1871 vetterli unique is faster burning than 700x yes? so a start of how much grains would be ok / safe ???
 
You will have to find someone less liability conscious than I to get that any hard numbers.
700x is faster, so I would try using a bit less. Somewhere between my two listed loads should get the job done.
 
I used 12grs Titegroup, cream of wheat, candle wax. Rough trimmed using pipecutter with a fitted steel rod inside the neck, then final trim on Hornady LNL case prep center to 42mm length so I could use shorter .44 bullets. decide what bullets you want to use first to get the right cartridge overall length for feeding from tube magazine.
 
diopter said:
I used 12grs Titegroup, cream of wheat, candle wax. Rough trimmed using pipecutter with a fitted steel rod inside the neck, then final trim on Hornady LNL case prep center to 42mm length so I could use shorter .44 bullets. decide what bullets you want to use first to get the right cartridge overall length for feeding from tube magazine.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice on matching bullet to correct length of case.

I forgot that issue.
 
BTW, the fitted rod was a 1/2" diameter bolt on a belt sander to size it in fired case. Sand the threads, it's faster.

For 700x i would suggest 10-12 grs.

2 8mm Lebel cases to be reformed on left & 2 formed into 10.4mm Swiss chamber on right but not yet trimmed to length.

20160827-113156-resized.jpg
 
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I have not fire-formed a single case - there's no need to, as it headspaces on the rim. I just shoot my normal load and the case conforms to the chamber after 2-3 firings at which time I trim. In these guns the chambers vary quite a bit. I partial F/L size after that, and as mentioned, the trim length depends on the bullet used. I see fireforming the 41 Swiss as a waste of time, primers and powder.

I use 348 Win brass, but see no special reason why 8mm Lebel should be different.
 
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ok i am starting with un altered 8mm lebel cases, i cut them off to lenth for 41 swiss, they must be fire formed to open up the case mouth to 41 swiss size , how can you just use them or am i missing something ? remember im an experianced reloader but new to creating / altering cases .
 
NB.nagantsniper said:
ok i am starting with un altered 8mm lebel cases, i cut them off to lenth for 41 swiss, they must be fire formed to open up the case mouth to 41 swiss size , how can you just use them or am i missing something ? remember im an experianced reloader but new to creating / altering cases .
Click to expand...

I recall now that with 8mm Lebel, you need to fire-form to avoid split cases that will occur if they are run directly into the F/L due. Once the neck is formed enough to grip a bullet you're good to go.

I find that 348 Win works well, even with its slightly small rim, but I did try out some 8mm Lebel.

I fireformed it using 15.0 grs of Unique, under Cream of Wheat, under tightly packed toilet tissue. I use 13.0 grs of Unique under a 330 gr cast bullet, so I naturally had no issues using 15.0 grs of Unique. Now 700-X is quite a bit faster than Unique, so I'd limit its use to 12.0 grs as already suggested.

Hope that helps.
 
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thanks all, i just got my rifle back now altered to centre fire............after i anneal the cases ill be fire forming and hopefully shooting after that, i have cast up some bullets ( lee mold ) any advise always welcomed , i plan to shoot black powder / live rounds .
 
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