How I converter centerfire cases to rimfire

[ndnchf]

There has been a lot of interest in the rimfire cases that I make from centerfire brass. Since I'm in the process of making 10 more .44 long rimfire, I made a two part video on the process I've come up with. Maybe this will inspire you to makes some of your own :-)

https://youtu.be/MeQcElAGCBE

https://youtu.be/Fxz9s9kjflI

[pertnear]

Good videos! Thanks for posting.

BTW: Are there any solutions for pin-fire cases?

[ndnchf]

Good videos! Thanks for posting.

BTW: Are there any solutions for pin-fire cases?

I don't know, I never looked into it. But I'm sure with a little ingenuity, it could be done.

[elk hunter]

Good videos! Thanks for posting.

BTW: Are there any solutions for pin-fire cases?

If you have access to a lathe you can make brass cases of any size. It may be possible to use brass tubing and then solder in a cup to close the end. Pin fire Shotshells of standard gauges can be made by swaging down the rim of a modern case and making a brass cup to fit the old primer hole. The case is then drilled for the pin, I use small brazing rod, and you use regular percussion caps for primers. The cap fits in the brass cup substituted for the original primer.

[pertnear]

I'm really impressed with the ingenuity you had in keeping the old classic rifles on the firing line, not to mention your skill & movie making. The first thing I thought about was a book on my shelf by George C. Nonte, Jr. called "The Home Guide to Cartridge Conversions" published in 1961. I got it down & skimmed through it again. Great book & very interesting. Of course it pales in comparison to a YouTube video with its B&W photos. When I first bought the book, I remember thinking how radical he was in soldering neck extensions, swaging down case heads & putting rims on the rimless! BTW: I just checked & copies are selling for a good amount of ca$h! Thanks again for posting & the helpful comments you received.
281881

[ndnchf]

I'm really impressed with the ingenuity you had in keeping the old classic rifles on the firing line, not to mention your skill & movie making. The first thing I thought about was a book on my shelf by George C. Nonte, Jr. called "The Home Guide to Cartridge Conversions" published in 1961. I got it down & skimmed through it again. Great book & very interesting. Of course it pales in comparison to a YouTube video with its B&W photos. When I first bought the book, I remember thinking how radical he was in soldering neck extensions, swaging down case heads & putting rims on the rimless! BTW: I just checked & copies are selling for a good amount of ca$h! Thanks again for posting & the helpful comments you received.
281881
Thanks. I bought that book 30+ years ago. It's getting pretty dog eared!

[AntiqueSledMan]

I have a copy also, wish they would have shown alternative parent cases.

AntiqueSledMan.

[17nut]

Did anyone looking at the #2 video catch what the man did at @ 3:05 mark???
Now he's a true tool worker and after he tightened 1 side of the chuck he did the same for the remaning two sides.
That ensures that run-out is at a bare minimum and not just one side of the chuck clamping up to the two (loose) opposide chucks.

Good work mate :-)

[ndnchf]

Did anyone looking at the #2 video catch what the man did at @ 3:05 mark???
Now he's a true tool worker and after he tightened 1 side of the chuck he did the same for the remaning two sides.
That ensures that run-out is at a bare minimum and not just one side of the chuck clamping up to the two (loose) opposide chucks.

Good work mate :-)

Thank you sir. Yes, it does make a difference.

[ndnchf]

A follow up to the process of converting centerfire cases to rimfire. When making the new offset rimfire primer pocket, the hole is finished with a .224" diameter reamer. This gives the .225"- .226" diameter acorn blanks a press fit. This is good to minimize gas leakage when firing. Sometimes the acorns can be thumb pressed into place, other times it takes a bit more pressure to seat them.

After chewing on it a while, I came up with a way to seat the acorns in the loading press. First I rummaged through my dies to find one that the .44 long rimfire case would slip easily into, yet the rim would seat against the bottom. It turns our that a .45acp sizing die was perfect.

Next a flat topped ram was needed to press the acorn into the pocket, flush with the back of the case. Basically a replacement shellholder, but with a smooth flat top. The critical measurements were taken off an RCBS shellholder. Then over to the lathe to turn it out.

I just primed 20 cases and it worked great.

[j4570]

Nice Work! I've seen these cases before. I think they used to made for something like 41RF? But it's nice you can make just about any with this.

[ndnchf]

Yes, Dixie used to sell them in several sizes.

[ndnchf]

I made a couple more tools to make reloading the rimfires easier - decapping stands in .44 and .50 cal. The fired case is set into the stand oriented so the fired .22 blank is over the small hole. Then a punch is used to knock it out. The stands are hollow underneath to collect the fired blanks.