33 Winchester info

[bigbear]

Any recommendations on mold(s) to get for a 33Win rifle? Thanks!

[jtaylor1960]

RCBS still lists a special order 33-200-FN .NEI has a few.There are some obsolete Lymans you see once in a while.The RCBS is probably the easiest to get your hands on and I have heard a few good reports from people using them.

[6pt-sika]

As JT says the RCBS 33-200 is a good mould for the 33WCF . However you need to be aware of a couple things .

First and foremost , the older RCBS 33-200's are gas check moulds (which I prefer) . The RCBS 33-200 that is manufactured now is a plain base .

Secondly should you get a RCBS 33-200 that is of the GC variety , Hornady no longer makes a 33 cal gas check . However ............... Gator Checks does :drinks:

I have been looking for a RCBS 33-200GC mould myself for a year or so , as I have an "original" Marlin 1895 in 33WCF . I do however have a Lyman #338320 (200 grain) mould that works great in my rifle . Again this is a gas check bullet and no longer made . They also "made" a Lyman #33889 which was very similar to the 338320 except its a 250 grainer (gas check as well).

So far I have not had to order any Gator Checks for the 33WCF , I've been picking up whatever 33 cal gas checks I see at the gun shows . At the moment I have about 3500 . That should last me quite a while [smilie=1:

[6pt-sika]

I should also add that Hornady has stopped production of their 33 caliber 200 grain jacketed flatpoint bullet as well . I realize your intrest is in cast as is mine .

However when the oppurtunity presented itself I picked up 4 boxes of the Hornady 33 caliber 200 grain FP's . And I expect if I see some of those at the local gun shows I may very well pick up a couple more boxes .

[jtaylor1960]

Buffalo Arms lists the RCBS mold as a gas check but the picture looks like a plain base as 6pt. pointed out earlier.I passed up one of those molds not too long ago on E-bay and as usual I regret it .You might want to call Buffalo Arms to checkout that mold.

[6pt-sika]

More worthless information :roll:

My Lyman #338320 is a double cavity mould that I bought from a dealer in California . Someone on this forum or leverguns or marlinowners turned me on to the guy . Anyway I paid $100 for that mould plus shipping and am happy I was able to get it [smilie=1:

Since then I have "tried" to get a couple single cavity #338320's on fleabay . Wanted to drill them for HP pin . And the two or three that I bid on almosy got to $100 for a SINGLE cavity :???: So needless to say I never got a single cavity for turning into a HP mould .

I also bid on a couple RCBS 33-200's that were GC . Ran them up to about $80 and was unable to defend my bids , so they got away from me . But if memory serves they went for about $100 as well "used" [smilie=1:

I think a new RCBS 33-200PB will set you back between $100-120 , although I am not totally sure !

[Bullshop Junior]

I have the RCBS 33/200 and mine is a gc.
BIC/BS

[bigbear]

From what has been said, maybeI should stick to 348Win, as 33Wcf has no brass,no bullets (except Hawks),no molds ,nor gaschecks! I may have to pass on this calibre:(

[6pt-sika]

From what has been said, maybeI should stick to 348Win, as 33Wcf has no brass,no bullets (except Hawks),no molds ,nor gaschecks! I may have to pass on this calibre:(

There is 33WCF brass , from Quality Cartridge but it's almost $2 a stick , but then it is fairly easy to make it from 45-70 . Gas checks as I said before can be ordered from Gator Checks in Louisiana . And of course you can get the 33-20 RCBS although as I said before the present manufacture mould is plain base .

I also think Buffalo Arms has some of the Hornady 33 caliber 200 grain jacketed flat points in stock "at the moment".

[Bullshop]

Just a caution to anyone trying to make 33 win from 45/70
I have had chambering problems converting 45/70 to 33 win even using rcbs form dies for the conversion. I found that at least for my rifle the web just in front of the rim was too large in diameter and could not be sized down but had to be turned down. The best solution was to use starline 40/65 brass. The web is a couple .000" smaller diameter and at least in this case a better fit.
BIC/BS

[6pt-sika]

Just The best solution was to use starline 40/65 brass. The web is a couple .000" smaller diameter and at least in this case a better fit.
BIC/BS

I have been told to take whichever brass you use and run it thru a series of dies .

For instance with the 40-65 brass , first run it thru 38-56 sizing die and then run it thru a 33 WCF sizing die trim load and shoot .

I am sure you have tried this approach . And I'd be intrested to here the results .

When I got my 33 WCF I chickened out and bought 40 pieces of the "Quality Cartridge" brass . Might add I did the same for my 38-56 WCF .
I do however use the Starline brass in my 40-65 .

[Bullshop]

It wont matter how many differant dies you put them through the solid web never gets sized. If the web is too big it has to be turned to make it smaller, there is no way to size it smaller. The web on the Starline 40/65 brass was smaller diameter than the web on any 45/70 brass. I cant say weather current production will be the same.
BIC/BS

[Last Spike]

Interesting - I use the RCBS case forming dies along with the #14 shell holder and have had no problems sizing right down to the base. Others have used Lyman's X17 shell holder or ground down a RCBS #14 holder to get that extra bit of sizing. I use Remington 45-70 cases exclusively with a bit of Imperial sizing die wax and have been fortunate not to lose any cases. Haven't annealed any prior to sizing and no problems encountered. Checking the web on 5 random pieces from a run of 100 Rem 45-70 brass I converted recently that haven't been fired - the web averages .498 inch. Must have been fortunate to get a good case forming die set along with shell holder as I have had no complaints.

I agree with the scrounging on the discontinued Hornady bullets - have 2K plus stashed away along with 14 K in gas checks. My source here in Canada still has both the last time I looked.
Got the plain base RCBS bullet mould, but am looking for the GC version or one of the Lyman GC moulds. I may just get a Mountain Mould made up if I can't find either one of these.

[6pt-sika]

Just for reference ;

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0049-small.jpg

The empty case on the left is for my 40-82 ,next to the right is a 45-70 loaded with the 330 grain "Gould" HP bullet , followed by a 40-65 loaded with a Lyman PB 260 grain bullet . Next in line is a 38-56 loaded with a Lyman 264 grain GC bullet and last but not least is the 33 WCF loaded with a bullet from my 200 grain Lyman GC mould .

As far as the brass is concerned the 40-82 is old Bell brass , the 45-70 is Winchester , the 40-65 is Starline , the 38-56 is Quality Cartridge and the 33 WCF is also Quality Cartridge .