I contacted Lee and they Say I should get my Custom Seating die for the 6.35x32/28.6mm Cartridges about the end of November and my Custom opened .25ACP Sizing Die (.284") about end of December.
The Wait just Needs Patience I guess.
Best Regards,
Chev. William
Today I received notification that "Ammoguide Has Added my "6.35x28.6mmSR Stewart", as number 958, to Their 'Cartridge Master Data Base'.
A Very Nice Present for Thanksgiving.
Best Regards for a Happy and Enjoyable Thanksgiving Holiday 2015 to All.
Chev. William
Today, Wednesday December 23rd, I received My Lee custom Case sizing die (.284" Dia.) and my custom Seating Die for the 6.35x32mm cartridge with a Bullet Seating 'Punch' to seat Spire Soft Point bullets. This is a 'Deeper Than normal for ".25ACP" Seating Die' and does NOT have Crimp provisions.
The die is needed to allow Seating Bullets aligned with the Case mouth better as trying to do This in a Stock .25ACP seating die was very error prone.
I hope to Try out the New dies after Christmas if we get a 'warm spell' between rains.
Merry Christmas to all,
Best Regards,
Chev. William
I have tried the new .284" Case sizing die and it seems to work as intended, yielding cases that measure .288" Body Diameter. My Previous use of a .288" diameter Die, which yielded .292" to .293" case body diameter, ended when the carbide Ring Broke so I have sent it back to Lee for repair.
I still need to try the Seating Die but I still need to make some ore "parent" cases first.
Best Regards,
Chev. William
Lee Precision, Inc. sent me an email stating they are "out of Stock" of the .25ACP Carbide Ring Sizing Die and do not expect to make more for about Seven Months! They Also informed me that my Order for a replacement/Repair to my Broken .288" Opened Sizing die is Canceled due to the 'out of Stock' condition.
OUCH!
Best Regards,
Chev. William
The Revolver barrel is still out for the Bluing process and the rifle firing pin is still being 'fitted'.
I still need to package and mail the .25-25 Stevens reamer back to PTG so they can give me credit for the replacement chamber reamer.
I got a "Work Call" from my Union Dispatcher that started at 1500 Thursday March 24th and "Wrapped" at 2200 April 1st. over 90 hours of Paid work will help with my Bills as they are rising and my 'retirement pensions' are not.
I spent Saturday Sleeping and resting to recover from the Intense Long Work Hours on a Movie Project that ended April 1st. I am GLAD for the Work and Pay but Tired and Sore from getting it done.
Best Regards,
Chev. William
I have not been able to do much further work on developing this Cartridge due to loss of one of my Sizing Stage Dies and Lee Precision saying a replacement will not be made until after November of this year or longer.
This Loss has also Curtailed my other 5.7x28 Resizing efforts as the process Requires at least Three roughly equal steps in the Swaging Process for Good Yield results. So my Experiments with all five 6.35 . . . Case designs is Impacted by the delay in getting a Replacement die made.
Additionally the Last two Utility Billings have been very high due to 'Adverse Weather' here (Hot And Drought); curtailing my "Discretionary Spending Funds" for the time being.
Please accept my apologies for the delay in further News of Progress.
Best Regards,
Chev. William
"Puttering" with "QuickLOAD" (QL) software and the 6.35x32mmSR/.250ALRM cartridges and both 50 grain FMJ-RN and 63 Grain Lead FN bullets all loaded to 1.395" overall length.
Using 1.250" as case length; 25,000psi as Pmax; .461" for the 50 grain and .535" for the 63 grain Lengths; and 12" as the overall Barrel length (~10-5/8" plus ~1.4" Cylinder length) , i tried Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol, Universal, and H110 powders. I wish QL had data on BE-86 and CFE-Pistol so I could have done 'runs' with them.
With the 50 grain FMJ-RN bullet at .461" length: QL says the Bullet Seating Depth is .316" and Usable Case Capacity is .0382in**3/0.626cm**3.
- 3.02 Grains of Bullseye: calculates to give 17,429psi and 1533fps @51.3% fill and 100.% burn.
- 3.75 grains of Unique: calculates to give 20,773psi and 1644fps @65.5% fill and 100.% burn.
- 4.60 grains of Power Pistol: calculates to give 20,447psi and 1721fps @65.2% fill and 93.5% burn.
- 3.41 grains of Universal: calculates to give 20,798psi and 1574fps @59.7% fill and 100.% burn.
- 6.76 grains of H110: calculates to give 18,405psi and 1692fps @91.9% fill and 65.5% burn.
For all except Bullseye, a 10 percent increase in charge weight would yield about 25,000+/-psi calculated.
Bullseye at +10% charge weight calculated to yield about 20,771psi calculated.
With the 63 grain Lead FN bullet at .535" length: QL says the Bullet Seating Depth is .390" and Usable Case Capacity is .0345in**3/0.566cm**3.
- 2.61 Grains of Bullseye: calculates to give 17,338psi and 1310fps @45.9% fill and 100.% burn.
- 3.57 grains of Unique: calculates to give 24,928psi and 1497fps @68.8% fill and 100.% burn.
- 4.40 grains of Power Pistol: calculates to give 24,988psi and 1612fps @69.0% fill and 98.1% burn.
- 3.26 grains of Universal: calculates to give 24,993psi and 1426fps @63.1% fill and 100.% burn.
- 8.42 grains of H110: calculates to give 24,953psi and 1676fps @97.7% fill and 75.8% burn.
Bullseye at +10% charge weight calculated to yield about 20,601psi.
The other powders with a +10% charge exceed the chosen Pmax (calculating to yield around 30,000psi to around 35,000psi).
On the other hand a -10% charge weight drops pressures into the 14,000psi to 21,000psi range.
The 25,000psi Pmax was chosen as similar to that of a .22WMR RF cartridge so I would have reasonable comparison to a known cartridge performance.
"Ballistics By the Inch" found that .22WMR with 40 grain JSP bullets yielded between ~1700fps and ~1800fps at 12" barrel length. This is with Commercial Loads to SAAMI and CIP Specifications depending upon Source Manufacturer.
The H110 Calculations may have some 'worry' in them as this powder is known for not liking excess empty volume in the case nor light bullet/unseating Pressures. I do NOT think I will be trying the H110 loads in my testing (As of 7-13-2017 I have reconsidered this and have Loaded single Rounds of H110 at 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, and 8.0 Grains charges behind Hornady #2510 60 Grain Half Jacketed Soft Flat nose bullet resized to .250" Diameter, Awaiting my Next Range trip with my chronograph to test the in my Ruger Single Eight Revolver.).
CAUTION: the Recipes discussed have NOT been Test Fired by myself yet so they are for discussion Purposes ONLY at this time.
Best Regards,
Chev. William
Reviewing the "QuickLOAD" 50 grain bullet results I posted yesterday, it seems that as 'slower powders are employed the Charge Weight go up but also the Velocity goes up with little increase in Pmax Calculated.
The results for the 63 grain bullet calculations also seem to follow the same pattern.
I think Power Pistol may be a Viable powder for this cartridge, and from what i have Read on BE-86, it may also be Viable in this cartridge at slightly lower Charge Weights than the Power Pistol ones. Sadly QL does NOT include either CFE-Pistol nor BE-86 in its Repertory of Powders for use in its Calculations. "Alliant" has not yet tested BE-86 in .25ACP size Cases according to data posted on their Web site.
More thought is needed on these Powders in this application.
Best Regards,
Chev. William
Some Further Consideration has resulted in Experimental Loading of Five Single Test Rounds of "6.35x32mmSR" cartridges with the Following characteristics:
Brass = reformed and trimmed 5.7x28mm.
Case Length = 1.230" as trimmed.
Bullet = 60 Grain Hornady #2510 resized to .250" diameter.
Primer = CCI Small Magnum Pistol.
Propellant = H110.
Charge Weight(s) = 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0 Grains respectively.
Overall Length as Loaded = 1.395"
Roll crimp used.
These are Planned To be fired through My Ruger Single Eight Revolver with its 10-5/8" long .25ACP/6.35 Browning Barrel and custom ".250ALRM" chambered Spare Cylinder.
when is still Uncertain.
Best Regards,
Chev. William
I bought a New Lee Universal Expander Die and Set About Modifing It for a Dedicated Expander die for my 5.7x28mm case reforming process.
Just Tried out my New Lee "Universal Expander" Die with the Small Cartridge Expander stem Turned To .250" diameter. Outstanding results!
The Die / Stem expands the Neck/Shoulder of 5.7x28 Cases Enough so the Swaging Process removes the felt evidence of 'The Prior Neck and Shoulder Junctions'.
My Prior Expander was a .2500" Drill Blank machined With a tapered end and chucked in my Bench Drill Press for use. It left a Slight Felt difference in diameters in the Area of the Neck and Shoulder Joints in my Swaged cases.
Very Happy with this new Modified Expander and Die!
Best Regards,
Chev. William
Time for another Update to this thread:
The "6.35x32mmSR Stewart" or, 'short hand Label', ".25ALRM" is derived by multiple step Swaging /Sizing the 5.7x28mm case down to .278" body diameter from it original ~.314" Body diameter in multiple stages / steps.
The Cartridge is published by "Ammoguide Interactive" as their case number 950:
http://ammoguide.com/gfx/ctgs/diag/sae/950.gif
SPECIFICATIONS:
Bullet Diameter: .250 in.
Max Overall Length: 1.653 in.
Rifling Twist: 1-in-9.0 in.
Rifling Lands: 6
Case Capacity (est): 13.6 gr. water
Primer Size: .175 in.
NOMINAL PERFORMANCE:
Bullet Weight: 50 gr (useful weights from 35 gr to 75 gr)
Muzzle Velocity: 1,830 fps
Muzzle Energy: 371 ft-lbs
(above from "Ammoguide Interactive" Case #950 write-up).
Note that the '1 in 9.0 inch Twist' is an obsoleted Lothar Walther specification as their current production is listed as 1 turn in 9.8 inches.
As cases are Formed by Swaging / Sizing down from 5.7x28mm cases, the pressure limits are about 50,000psi Pmax MAP, the same as the parent case.
Chev. William
Hi Chief I Just read through the whole series of posts and found both your cart development and personal travails interesting -
I do have a 25 stevens favorite in rather poor condition and may just reline it to 22rf --
since you are retired ET I expect you are nearly as old as I.
Best to you
I don't know how 'old' you may be; but I am 75 Years (as of 2018) and counting. I thank GOD for every New Sunrise I wake up to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pavogrande
Re: Your Stevens 'Favorite' What do you mean by "rather poor condition"?
They seem to keep relatively good accuracy in spite of appearances of action and barrel bore.
Have you really looked at it or done a thorough cleaning?
I have purchased a few Stevens barrels that were "Sewer pipes" as received; but after a through cleaning they showed remaining rifling and when fired would hit what I aimed at often.
100 years of Lead fouling buildup can try your patience to clean out.
Also, 50 years of Black Powder Cartridge use without proper cleaning also looks worse than it may actually be.
Please Consider converting the Action to Center Fire if you don't chose to try Powder Actuated Tool loads (PTL) behind breech seated bullets. A "27 caliber Grade 2 (coded Green in a Brass Case) PTL" behind a Breech seated Lead or half jacketed 50 to 75 grain of .250"-.252" Diameter Bullet may shoot good enough for enjoyment.
Best Regards,
Chev. William (ETC USN Retired)
Well Chief if i make it till tues next i will be 85 --- I was e-5 in an e-7 navy - pre master and super chiefs --
I will reconsider the favorite. I need to weld/braze a cracked tang as the first part of rehab -- bore is not terrible so your point is taken -
Making form dies on the wee grizzly should not be too difficult --
The move here to ga was rather traumatic, I had to leave many useful bits and bobs of 60 years accumulation --
Hopefully I will get my shop in shape this summer --
thank for the encouragement ---
george now in georgia
Pavogrande,
Congratulations! You have already outlived my Late Father, who was born in 1900 in Strzi, Galatia, Austor-Hungarian Empire and brought over here in 1913 by his parents; They were all Naturalized as Citizens in 1917 and my Father Registered for the Draft in 1918.
He was not called up before the WW1 ended in November 1918. Eventually he met and married my Mother, they had two Children (myself and my Older Brother) moved from Chicago to Roscoe, California (Now Sun Valley, CA) and he went to work for Lockheed Aircraft Corp in WW2. After the end of WW2, he Worked at 'Librascope' in Burbank until his second retirement in 1968; then did 'Job Shop Work' until his Third, and final, retirement at the age of 74. My Family has moved among three addresses here in the Sun Valley area finally building a home on the present location, which I still occupy.
My Father died in March, 1984 one month before his 84th birthday (of Metastasized Pancreatic Cancer) and my Mother died in 1998 at he age of 92. She had been a Registered Nurse, working Private Duty until her retirement in 1972.
I still miss them both.
Now Back to the Subject At Hand:
Please look at my thread on the "6.35x28.6mmSR Stewart", or .25ALS, which is my way of making Center Fire Copies of the .25 Stevens (Long) Rim Fire cartridge.
This is a Good Replacement if you Do Choose to convert to CF and also can be converted to adapt .22RF Blanks for use in an unmodified RF .25 Stevens 'Favorite'.
Current and readily available bullets are 'light but usable' without problems. Your Stevens Bore and Groove dimensions should be measured by 'Slugging the bore'; but probably are around the same as Modern .25ACP Bore and Groove dimensions (~.243" Bore and ~.250" Groove diameters).
If your 'Favorite' is marked for ".25 Stevens", "25-10", or ".25 RF" it is most likely chambered for the .25 Stevens (Long); which used a case length of 1.124" and a 67 grain Lead bullet.
If it is marked ".25 Short" or similar, it would be chambered for the ".25 Stevens Short RF" Cartridge which is both shorter and of lesser performance than the 'Long' cartridge.
Occasionally, you can find 'obsolete' or 'collector' priced Cartridges of either type for sale at Gun shows if you are interested in having samples / examples.
I believe the Last Production of both cartridges in volume ended with the entry of the USA into WW2. After WW2 I have only heard of occasional production of the short version by a Canadian Manufacturer, or a Brazilian Manufacturer, last (I believe) in the 1970s.
Best Regards,
Chev. William
"June is Busting out all Over . . . " and I have another finish chamber reamer on order from JGS Precision.
This will be a fifth version of my series of Cylinder Body chambers for my various cartridge designs based upon the .25ACP and .25 Stevens (Long) cartridges.
This one will be of modified form (custom design) straight cylinder to ease extraction of the 1.250" long case from a Rifle Chamber. the breech end is widened out from the .2795" Diameter main body to about .280" diameter at the Rim end. This is tapered down to the original body diameter about .500" from the Rim.
The New JGS Precision reamer is called ".25 ALRM WS#5".
Chev. William
Mid 2019 and 'all is quiet' here this morning which is forecast to be a 93 degree Sunday with Bright Sun all day.
I have been neglecting my case development efforts while both waiting for my gunsmith to complete modifying .22MAG 8-shot Cylinders to my 'wildcats' for interchange in my Custom CF converted Ruger 'Single Eight' .25ACP Revolver.
Interim projects have been:
- Reworking a 2.5 inch to the foot scaled Uintah Railway 32x9 foot wood construction Flat Car to bring it up to current LALSRM operations Standards on their 7.5" gauge demonstration railroad in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California.
- Making custom .25ACP magazines to fit a Custom CF converted 8-1/8" barreled .25ACP Ruger Standard Auto MKII Pistol i had made lately.
- Making a 7 foot long section of Steel Tube built 7.5 inch gauge track for use as a portable work track section (on two sawhorses) or in my Pick up bed to transport my Flat car to and from home and LALSRM.
- Fixing broken Sprinklers in my Yards.
- waiting for 'shop time' to be available in my friend's Special Effects Shop so I can use his machines to make some more sizing dies.
Chev. William
Coming up on Thanksgiving holiday 2019 now and it is getting tiresome seeihe "Impeachment Debacle/Circus" on TV every night.
My Special effects Friend has been Busy this year which is GOOD for his finances.
However; it is bad for my 'shop time' access to his machine tools.
My gunsmith is out of the shop this month on a Location Movie production.
Just finished getting my Driver's License renewed this year, it took from September 14th to November 22nd as the November date was the First Available Driving Test appointment date available when I was at the DMV office.
My new license is also supposed to be a Federal qualified "Real ID" and have the word "Veteran" on its face.
My Experience Living in California, County and City of Los Angeles under long term Democratic Party Political dominance is disheartening because of the damage the Politicians have done to my State, County, and City. Unfortunately; I doubt they will be removed form Office, or Power, anytime soon.
Sad.
Best regards for Thanksgiving,
Chev. William
Spring Bump.