Drydock
08-24-2017, 08:06 PM
I did a search, and no one else seems to do it this way, so I thought I might post this. :coffee:
Guy on "Etsy" forms brass from 8x50r Lebel. Well annealed, shoulder forms on firing. After the first firing I trim if needed with a Lee 44-40 cutter.
Neck size and decap on Lee 41 Swiss die set. Midway has these. You also need the Lee #17 shell holder, the provided one is too small for the Lebel rim. Prime, then run into a Lee universal flare die just a touch.
Fill with appropriate amount of BP. I use 60 grains OE 3f.
Use the Lee 430-310 bullet mold. This drops from my alloy at .426 just ahead of the first crimp goove, .428 on the driving bands. I dip lube it in a tuna can of 90/10 beeswax/olive oil. Unsized, no gas check. :castmine:
Seat and very lightly crimp in the 2nd groove, using the 41 swiss die.
Run into a Lee 303 Brit sizing die to taper the case into the bullet. I got a RGB 303 set for under $20, then ground off maybe a 10th" of the die base to get the taper I wanted.
These load slick and easy from the Vitali Magazine, the 1st 4 went into 3" at 100 yards. I've got about 4 firings on these cases now, they work great. 1886 Vetterli-Vitali with a beautiful mirror bore. [smilie=w:
Guy on "Etsy" forms brass from 8x50r Lebel. Well annealed, shoulder forms on firing. After the first firing I trim if needed with a Lee 44-40 cutter.
Neck size and decap on Lee 41 Swiss die set. Midway has these. You also need the Lee #17 shell holder, the provided one is too small for the Lebel rim. Prime, then run into a Lee universal flare die just a touch.
Fill with appropriate amount of BP. I use 60 grains OE 3f.
Use the Lee 430-310 bullet mold. This drops from my alloy at .426 just ahead of the first crimp goove, .428 on the driving bands. I dip lube it in a tuna can of 90/10 beeswax/olive oil. Unsized, no gas check. :castmine:
Seat and very lightly crimp in the 2nd groove, using the 41 swiss die.
Run into a Lee 303 Brit sizing die to taper the case into the bullet. I got a RGB 303 set for under $20, then ground off maybe a 10th" of the die base to get the taper I wanted.
These load slick and easy from the Vitali Magazine, the 1st 4 went into 3" at 100 yards. I've got about 4 firings on these cases now, they work great. 1886 Vetterli-Vitali with a beautiful mirror bore. [smilie=w: