41 Swiss

[butch2570]

Has any of you that has converted the 41 Swiss, tried to form your brass from anything else besides the 8 mm lebel or 348 win brass? My chamber cast is showing a base diameter dimension in front of the rim at .553 . The rim diameter of the .348 win varies in some of my manuals on the dimension drawings some are saying .608 and a couple of others saying .610 . Some of the 45-70 brass I have measures .604 - .605 on the rim diameter and .505-.506 on the base diameter in front of the rim, with that being .046- .047 smaller than my chamber cast dimension. Has anyone pondered the idea of whether the 45-70 case could be trimmed to length and size the neck down to get it to chamber and give a light charge and cream of wheat the brass to see if it would possibly make the .046-.047 difference?? I have cut one piece of brass down and ran it through a 45 colt and then 44 mag size die , just the neck, it will chamber and the bolt will partially extract the empty case. My bore slugged a fat .435 also. Just thought I would ask some of you guys that has been fooling around with this cartridge for a while all ready.

[texassako]

The main problem is the base of .45-70 is going to swell a lot to fill up that chamber. You could try it and see if it splits, might want something like an o ring or tape to center it in the chamber when fire forming. Wouldn't want to go through the work and end up with an off center case.

[butch2570]

I see what your saying, I looked at the rim of the case while it was setting in the chamber muzzle down , and the way the rim sets in the seat looked really good and you can't move it around hardly any. Lots of people on here improvise I was just looking to see if anyone had done this with something other than the 348 win or 8 mm Lebel case.

[pworley1]

The 348 works best for me.

[Brett Ross]

Lebel for me

[JCherry]

I'm using Lebel brass but this thread on "Swiss Rifles" might give you food for thought.

http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/reply/80262/Summary-of-parental-cases-for-the-41-Swiss#reply-80262

Have Fun,

JCherry

[Charley]

.348 needs the base turned down about .005 or so to fit my rifle. 8x50R doesn't, so I use it now. Both need rims turned down.

[butch2570]

.348 needs the base turned down about .005 or so to fit my rifle. 8x50R doesn't, so I use it now. Both need rims turned down.Thank you guys for the replies and the info. What is your 348 base dimension before turning it down? And what are you turning the rim dia. too also. I have had this rifle for about 12 years now , it belonged to my deceased uncle and was given to me after his death, so I will never let it go anywhere , and have been considering this conversion. What boolit are you shooting in your rifles? Are you keeping it under 2.2 oal length and shooting it as a repeater?

[Battis]

I use .348 brass cut to length and sized. I use black powder, and for bullets, I use the Lee .430 - 310 gr and .429 - 240 gr molds. My rifles like the .429 better. Most of the time I use shorter than 2.2" OAL, and 2.2" when I want to use the magazine. I lube the bullets but also spray PAM down the barrel every few shots to keep it all nice and clean.

[Charley]

The Lee 310 grain .430 bullet works well for me. Yes, keep the length correct and shooting using the magazine. Feeding is determined by cartridge length, too long or too short won't feed. Has to be the length of the carrier. I don't remember the base dimension offhand, just know it wouldn't chamber, a magic marker told me where the interference was. I load with A 2400, using data I mined from the Swiss rifle forum on gunboards.

[butch2570]

Is any of your guys groove dimension as big as what mine slugged at .435 , or is yours slugging smaller?

[4060MAY]

mine slugs .440 groove .420 bore
I shoot Lyman 439186 43 Spanish bullet, as cast...this will not feed in the magazine
with SR4759, floral foam wad, and Walters .439 Veg Fiber wad under the bullet
minute of chicken at 200 M....I use the Lebel brass because the rim is bigger in dia and extracts better
I have worked on 4 of these and the groove was large on all of them...model 69 and 69/71
my friend has a model 81, with the round trigger guard and the groove is .429...

[jrap]

If you go to youtube, gunnut357mag has a video covering everything you need to know about reloading 41 swiss

[butch2570]

Thanks J rap, I did watch his video, I was only curious if the brass could be made from something a little more readily available than the 348 or Lebel.

[RugerFan]

8mm Lebel works best in my 69/71. 348 Win won't extract. Seems to have a narrower rim that the extractor isn't griping. My bore slugs at .434"

[Safeshot]

Lebel for me also. I use a Lee sizing die to reform the case. Originally the sizing die required the case to be cut and trimmed before resizing. The case would bottom out in the die and deform it if it was not cut and trimmed. I drilled the sizing die out and eliminated the de-priming rod and threads for it. I now expand the neck first, then resize the full length case and then cut and trim it. I also only expand the case neck enough to load and seat a cast lead bullet. The first firing "fire forms" the case and expands the rest of the neck and forward portion of the case. Just my approach, Safeshot