Searching for 30cal Jackets, or, A Quest for 7mm Pinfire

BlackPowderBurner

BlackPowderBurner

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I'm going down (another) rabbit hole looking to reload 7mm pinfire for a pretty little Belgian Lefachaux copy. I'm thinking long 30cal jackets used for swaging are just the ticket for the piddly 5.5gr of fffg these rounds take. I'm only looking for a small quantity and all the usual suspects are out of stock or don't ship to Canada. Anyone have suggestions or a line on these wee beasties?
 
I think the op is wanting to use the bullet jackets as a starting point to make pinfire cases? I would try contacting chinchaga bullets and see if they can help you out with a supply.
 
7mm pinfire cartridge cases can be made from .30 bullet jackets. I wouldn't mind getting some myself.
 
Yes I'd like to make up some 7mm pinfire cases. As the devotee to the Great Galena in the sky that I am, I have over 80 bullet molds at the moment and am intending on ordering a custom mold for this caliber as well. The Eley Bros. drawing that I found shows a .298 hollow base bullet that sits within the case. Some surviving continental examples seem to be a heeled design and likely flat based. It may be cheaper to order a heeled mold from Accurate than find someone willing to do up a hollow base. Crimping would then be the challenge...
 
BlackPowderBurner said:
Yes I'd like to make up some 7mm pinfire cases. As the devotee to the Great Galena in the sky that I am, I have over 80 bullet molds at the moment and am intending on ordering a custom mold for this caliber as well. The Eley Bros. drawing that I found shows a .298 hollow base bullet that sits within the case. Some surviving continental examples seem to be a heeled design and likely flat based. It may be cheaper to order a heeled mold from Accurate than find someone willing to do up a hollow base. Crimping would then be the challenge...
Click to expand...
I make jackets by drawing down 5.56 brass. That leaves about 3/8”” solid brass in the base of the jacket which may complicate placement of the pin. Maybe some base material could be removed on a lathe?
 
Rather than trying to source .308 bullet jackets, why not just use .308 bullets? I took a bullet and cut off the tapered ogive portion. This leaves an essentially parallel sided cup from which the lead core could be melted out. Fits the chamber nicely.
 
A kind CGNer reached out and offered me a box of Herters 30cal jackets. I accepted and received them in the mail, finding a nice, unopened box of original jackets. I finally opened them up and turns out Herters also made 30cal PISTOL jackets! So I'm back to square one. I think melting the core out of some bullets seems like a great idea. I might have a few orphans from mostly shot up boxes tucked away.
 

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And for those interested, here are some pics of the wee beastie in question. I haven't yet identified the maker, maybe someone has an idea?
 

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BlackPowderBurner said:
A kind CGNer reached out and offered me a box of Herters 30cal jackets. I accepted and received them in the mail, finding a nice, unopened box of original jackets. I finally opened them up and turns out Herters also made 30cal PISTOL jackets! So I'm back to square one. I think melting the core out of some bullets seems like a great idea. I might have a few orphans from mostly shot up boxes tucked away.
Click to expand...

What's wrong with the 30cal pistol jackets? Just too short? Or wrong diameter too?
 
Doing some experimenting... .30 bullet jackets vary in thickness. I was surprised to find that some .30-30 bullets had thicker jackets that some 180s made for '06 and .308.
Cut, drill, then melt out the lead. The case can be supported by a wire in the hole while heating.
Fiddley job getting the cap positioned under the pin. Cap seems to pop predictably.
 
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