What are you using for .43 mauser brass?

[Gunfreak25]

I've heard mixed results from people using different forms of brass in their .43 Mausers. I hear Bertram is prone to splitting and the rim thickness can be way off sometimes. Some say reformed .348 works well. Some say it's dangerous. Some are saying to use reformed 45-70 or 45-90 shells. I see BuffaloArms just raised their price of .43 mauser ammo to $71 per box. So there goes that plan.
I think I may get a box of loaded ammo from Gads and then save the brass to load myself.

[jonk]

I've tried Bertram and yes, it does split more often than it seems it should, with these low power loads.

The reformed 348 brass works fine but you have to make sure to bevel the rim.

Best so far is Bell but they apparently aren't in business any longer.

[Bull Schmitt]

I made some from 300 H&H Mag. Turn off the belt and expand the neck (use whatever technique work best for you). I made some brass rings from wire that fit is the extractor groove and form a "rim". I then placed the cases base down on a steel plate on a hot plate and heated until high strength solder would flow and soldered the rings in place. Let the cases air cool (DO NOT QUENCH). Run in a FL die and fire form. Trim and load as usual. Because of the soldering I DO NOT recommend using smokeless powder in these cases.

I believe this technique can be used to make 43 Spanish and other similar cases. Other brass instead of 300 H&H may work better but that is what I had on hand.

[Gunfreak25]

Hmm. I think i'd like to try reforming .348, but I ask, how do you bevel the rim? Does it require any special tools? I think .348 brass is the way to go as far as shooting cheaper.

[Buckshot]

Hmm. I think i'd like to try reforming .348, but I ask, how do you bevel the rim? Does it require any special tools? I think .348 brass is the way to go as far as shooting cheaper.

.............You probably wouldn't be able to do the rims correctly unless done on a lathe. I'd just buy 20 Bertram cases and try'em out. I have 120 Bertram 43 Mauser cases used thus:

60 rnds, 9 firings 1 annealing (after 5th firing), no trimming, used in a M1871
40 rnds, 5 firings used in a M71/84
20 rnds , unfired

I have had exactly ZERO defects with the brass. I've been at this long enough to know that brass 'lots' from the same manufacturer can have issues and if identified as such the manufacturer will normally take them back. I understand Jamison did so on either some 577-450 or 577 Snider.

I would not spend the money on 348 Win brass, then the time and effort into creating facsimile 43 Mauser from it, when Bertram offers it already formed and ready to use. I'm not condeming the practice. It's just that I wouldn't do it. You can check with Midway or Graff's and find out if they've had any recent complaints about it. Get 20, try'em and see.

Just checked product reviews at Midway. A couple recommend annealing the necks before using (I never did) but otherwise positive. Geez, last 43 Mauser I bought was $32/20, and 43 Spanish was on sale at $27/20 . I see it's up to $50/20 now.

.................Buckshot

[smokemjoe]

I just read about you using Mag. brass, I just took 2- 458 Mag. case. I ran one into a 43 Spanish FL die and one into a Lee 41 Swiss FL die., That got my neck ID about ready to load a bullet. With this case I can get it longer then the 43 Spanish case which has a longer throat in it and get the bullet out to the lands. Now?? Is there a slip ring that could be placed into the extractor groove instead of soldering a wire to it, How about a pic. if you can post one.
Buckshot- Also Whats your idea . Thanks- Joe

[Bull Schmitt]

This isn't the best photo but you should get the idea. Notice that it gives you the odd shaped base/rim that the 11mm Mauser has:



I don't know of any spring clips that would work but you could probably make some from piano wire. The tool used by fishermen to make spinner baits would probably do the trick.

[smokemjoe]

What size wire do you use, I have been think about turn off the rim now and make a washer and sweat that on also, Just a idea. Thanks, Looks good, I am going for long cases in the 43 Spanish.

[Bull Schmitt]

I used .040" brass wire. I suppose one could epoxy the rings in place and then use some of the recommended smokeless loads - I have never tried it!

My brass in the picture was originally a rimless attempt at a 43 Spanish round. Extraction was a problem so I used them as an experimental 11mm Mauser. They were a little short but worked fine. The next time I will make them the correct length.

This technique could probably be used to make brass for some of the odd calibers in the old military rifles. At least you have enough brass to work with that you can make them the correct length for your rifle.

Let me know how things go.

[Gunfreak25]

I emailed Bruce Bertram about the .43 Mauser brass. I asked why he thinks they are splitting like so many people are experiencing. He told me that he'd never heard of any splitting problems in the .43 Mauser brass, he assured me that they properly anneal all their brass before and after forming and leaving the factory.

Why some people are experiencing splits, and others or not, I have no idea. Is it possible Bertram is not annealing enough?

[Buckshot]

I emailed Bruce Bertram about the .43 Mauser brass. I asked why he thinks they are splitting like so many people are experiencing. He told me that he'd never heard of any splitting problems in the .43 Mauser brass, he assured me that they properly anneal all their brass before and after forming and leaving the factory.

Why some people are experiencing splits, and others or not, I have no idea. Is it possible Bertram is not annealing enough?

..............No idea. As I said, zero issues for me.

..............Buckshot

[smokemjoe]

If I use a heavy charge of black powder I will loose a case as it will burn through out at the neck.

[Gunfreak25]

Would 70 grains of Fg be too much?

[smokemjoe]

Thats what I used, Dupont 2 F and 3 grs. of 4227 on the bottom. Dont leave any air space between bullet and powder. Burns cleaner with the 4227.

[jonk]

Well I can say that I've had 3 of my 20 Bertram cases burn through in the case body, ususally near the shoulder or bottom of the neck. Using black powder. I forget how much but enough FFG + .45 wad so that the combo was up to the base of the bullet. Surely something in the 65-70 grain range.

[Gunfreak25]

Crap. I was going to use a similar load. 70 grains of Goex Fg. I hope I don't get any splits.

Oh, anybody having problems with .43 Bertram brass you need to let Mr.Bertram know about the issues. He relies on our feedback, if we're having problems, he WILL fix them by adjusting his tooling.

You can reach him at bbertram@bigpond.com

[blysmelter]

Would it be possible to anneal and open up 7,62x54R-brass? Works a charm with the 8x58RD wich also has this beveled edge.

[Pavogrande]

11mm/43 mauser - still using my 1888 milt brass till the berdan primers run out --

43 spanish -- when using 348 case try dimpling the rim to increase it to proper thickness -

[Baron von Trollwhack]

FWIW, I posted my BeLL brass, dies, and mould in the "SWAP".

The other BeLL brass of the same lot I used for years was virtually unlimited in life with BP, duplex, and moderate smokeless loads of medium burn rate powder, minimim resizing, and miniscule belling. Anneal every three firings, and if you do get a neck split starting, trim back, anneal and start saving for your set of PP use cases.

BvT

[TAWILDCATT]

I ran a 45/70 in my sizer and found it works but neck is short.I needed to take a hair of the rim diameter.45/90 should work better.what is Bertram making the cases from??