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Thread: trials and tribulations of my Destroyer caebine

  1. #21
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Got the bolt fixed, again, tonight.
    Will size the rest of the rounds, and take it out on Sunday.
    Should stop raining by then.

  2. #22
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
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    In a couple weeks I can show you how I fixed the extractor pulling forward problem?
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  3. #23
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Coming ti hawaii????

  4. #24
    Boolit Grand Master


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    No, just don't have access to mine to take a picture for you. Been to Hawaii several times though.......
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  5. #25
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    ...............I had a couple of the Spanish 'Destroyer' carbines. Mainly used 38 Super cases/loads. Sold the first and turned the other one into a 45 ACP shooter .

    GPC had some steel "Lyman Made" right hand apurture rear sights available for $15 each. These were made for a Mossburg (?) left handed target rifle.

    .......


    They worked very well on the Destroyer.

    I was doing some rather intrepid load development and had a Lee 405gr slug (sized to .451") going a tad over 1000 fps, from a 45 ACP case. This was when foreign importation was rampant, and I dis-recall where the ammo came from. The cases were brass and headstamped CCC. Upon inspection after firing, internally the casewall had a faint crack around the base (EGADS!). I had a bunch of EC43 (Evensville Chrysler) steel boxer primed cases, so no more cracking However I figured that was pushing things a tad and quit experimenting in that direction.



    The 45 cal barrel came from GPC also. The issue bottom metal handled the 45 ACP magazine just fine. Had to make a new latch hole on the 45 Auto magazine. The problem was in feeding. It would feed the first round just fine. But upon extraction the next round in the mag would push the empty up, and out from under the extractor's claw, to drop it right there in the action. I thought about an interuptor like the M91 M-N has or similar but never could work up the enthusiasm to do anything with it. Just stands there gathering dust!

    ...............Buckshot
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  6. #26
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Gibson View Post
    No, just don't have access to mine to take a picture for you. Been to Hawaii several times though.......
    Pictures would be nice.
    I think I'm the problem.
    A shell get's stuck, so I hold the extractor down, and try again.
    It pulls off everytime.

    Shells stick because the chamber is to long.
    Had to get some 9mm mag shells and trim them down to fit.
    Works much better with the longer shells.
    Some were just a little to long.
    Trimmed the long on, so problem should be solved.
    Fun little rifle.

  7. #27
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Last Sunday, I tried some Win 231 powder.
    Same boolet, primer, case.
    3.0, 3.2, 3.4.
    3.4 was the best load. 1" to 2".
    Didn't do as well was the Unique powder.
    Since W 231 is faster than Unique, I'm trying HS-6 this Sunday.

  8. #28
    Boolit Grand Master


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    To keep the extractor from being pulled forward and off the bolt as the bolt is withdrawn when extracting a fired case I made a small pin to block the cutout in the extractor.

    Attachment 244830

    The pin was mad out of small diameter piece of rod (doesn't have to be hardened, a piece of coat hanger might work) cut to fit in the length of the slot. A shim (I used a slice of soda or beer can) is made to form a horse shoe shape around the pin with feet bent out under the extractor to hold it in place. I started with the shim the correct width but longer than needed. A 90 degree bend (foot) was made in one end. That was put into the slot and the foot slipped under the extractor edge. The pin was then placed into the slot and the shim wrapped around and put down into the slot between the pin and the extractor. The edge was slipped under the xtractor and then cut off even with the extractor edge.

    Attachment 244831Attachment 244832

    Easier to do than to explain. The simple modification holds the extractor in place.

    My favorite load is the Lee 356-120-TC sized .357 and lubed with BAC over 3 gr WST or 3 gr Bullseye in 38 Super cases with CCI 500 primers. Velocity runs 970 fps.

    Attachment 244833

    Accuracy is very good given the quality of my Destroyer make. Here is 15 shots at 50 yards with the aperture rear sight.

    Attachment 244834
    Last edited by Larry Gibson; 07-07-2019 at 04:33 PM.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  9. #29
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    I remember a man from several gun shows over a period of time that had a couple of them. His price was too high for me but he had a sign that said” These Spanish Destroyers will shoot 9mm Largo, 9mm Steyr, .38 ACP, .38 Super, 9mm Bergman Bayard, and 9mm Bayard Bergman......

  10. #30
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Thanks Larry
    I was thinking almost the same thing.
    Pin to keep the extractor from moving forward.
    Just didn't figure out how to keep it in there.
    Do you have problems with the rounds not wanting to go into the chamber????
    I'm using the same boolet at .358. Barrel sluggs at .357.
    On mines, the shell ridge gets hung up on the top of the chamber.
    I'm hoping a round nose would solve the problem.
    Also I have weak ejection.
    It looks like the shell is coming out of the bolt, before it reaches the ejector.
    I'm working the bolt slow, so as not to have the shells fly all over the place.
    Any ideas???

    Shot it today with the HS-6 powder.
    5.8gr to 6.6gr
    All shot about the same, 1" to 2" at 50yds.
    But all shot low, 3" to 4".
    Had a few three shot touching, then fliers opening up the groups.
    For me, the slower powder is working better.

  11. #31
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Do you have problems with the rounds not wanting to go into the chamber????
    On mines, the shell ridge gets hung up on the top of the chamber.


    I did originally, before setting the barrel back, with one magazine and noticed the lips were farther apart than the other two (I have 3 magazines). A little tweaking with pliers and it seemed to feed after that. Have not had any feed problems since setting barrel the barrel back 1/2 thread/turn which headspaced it for 38 Super cases and making/installing a feed ramp to fill in the old extractor notch (not hard).

    Attachment 244926

    I'm hoping a round nose would solve the problem.
    Also I have weak ejection.
    It looks like the shell is coming out of the bolt, before it reaches the ejector.
    I'm working the bolt slow, so as not to have the shells fly all over the place.
    Any ideas???

    Yes, The Destroyer was advertised to shoot almost all the 9mm cartridges including 38 Super.....that was "fake news"........
    Mine has 9mm Berman/Bayard stamped on the receiver. I never found any of that ammo at the time but the few 9mm Largo I had did not headspace correctly either. As to the cartridge case coming out of the bolt the large variation in rim thickness and diameter is probably the problem. I had the same problem with 38 Super cases as the rim was slightly too large for the case head recess in the bolt face. Once I opened the bolt face recess to fit the rim the problem went away. Putting the pin in the extractor to stop the extractor from pulling forward may also have helped solve the problem.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  12. #32
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I noticed, from your picture, that you seat the boolet out a little farther than I do.
    Is that on purpose????
    I found a mold that I think might work.
    It has some bad screw holes I need to fix before using.
    No markings on it.
    3 cav, metal, Saeco spruse,
    Numbers have been stamped over.
    I'll post it in the mold forum.

  13. #33
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Cast some of the round nose boolets and tried them today.
    Solved the feeding problem.
    I think I may have seated them deeper than with the other boolets.
    More pressure.
    They shot OK, but not as good.

  14. #34
    Boolit Grand Master


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    I seated those so they just kiss the leader when the bolt is closed and that they fit the magazine.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  15. #35
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I'm waiting for a Lee round nose mold.
    I decided to load some condom bullets.
    I think these are Berry plated.
    I've never had much luck with Berry bullets.
    Don't expect much from these.
    Also loaded more of the Lee TC that shot well.
    I'll try to work on the bolt tomorrow.
    Also want to check the stock again.
    Might be pushing on the barrel when it warms up.

  16. #36
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Put the pin in today.
    I really wasn't having it pop out, unless I do something wrong.
    But at least now it won't pop out.
    Didn't have time to check the stock. Will try next week.
    It's a fun little rifle.
    So far only shooting at 50yds.
    Once I find a top load, I'll go to 100yds.

  17. #37
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I guess the pin made a difference.
    Extraction and ejection was much better.
    If I don't have my hand over it, the shells would fly up and out.
    Those Berry bullets worked like I thought.
    Not all that great.
    Lee round nose should be here tomorrow, according to the USPS web site.
    Will cast some up, and try them next week.

  18. #38
    Boolit Grand Master
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    So I cast up some of the Lee 356-125-2R.
    Came out 356-357. I did PC them.
    Loaded with......
    6.0..HS6
    6.2..HS6
    6.2..HS7
    6.4 HS7
    All shot about the same 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 at 50yds.
    Powder is really dirty.
    After a few rounds, I had to brush out the chamber.
    Shells were sticking.
    I want to try and make the boolets bigger.
    Probably try beagling.

  19. #39
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    HS6 runs clean at near max loads. But recoil and muzzle flash come with it. At least in pistols

  20. #40
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Suggestions on a clean burning powder????

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check