Recently finding myself in need of some 8mm Nambu ammo and everything I've read thus far pretty much says "Hang on THIS ain't gonna be cheap!" And searching for molds --- $200 and up, searching for dies $200 and up...well that just doesn't work for me.
So what's a cheap bastage do? Well, here's what I did:
First I needed a mold. I took a 30-115 (30 carbine I think) mold and opened it up to make .323" 100 gr. bullets. I did a separate post on that.
Next I read a bunch about using 30-30 dies to swage a 40 s&w case, made sense, but the info was somewhat conflicting. In the end I went with a 32 Spl die and swaged/reformed the entire case shoulder and all. In retrospect I think I may modify this die just slightly to get the extra base diameter...maybe not I guess we'll see how they shoot with the smaller base Dia.
Then I took a 38spl expander die and modified it to IIRC .318" At that size I machined pretty much completely thru the case hardened exterior but it will suffice for several hundred rounds until I have to worry about it. This is a learning exercise so for now that was acceptable to me.
Next I took a 9mm seater die and tried just readjusting the seater not realizing I left a mark near the base of the case. I think I can readjust this die to prevent any case marks on my next attempts. If not I will consider modifying the die (I will search out an extra first).
The only thing left is to figure out how I want to crimp these. The method I used was rather unconventional and I'd really like to not have to do that.
So total cost this far? I spent 35 bucks on the bullet mold and another 10 to ship. I had the other dies laying around except I'd like to buy another 9mm seater - so I'll be on the hunt for one I can modify. I also bought a Nambu shell holder for another 12 bucks. $57 bucks so far. Leaves me quite a bit to come up with a crimp solution.
I did have to open up the primer pockets as the swaging did affect them and I also narrowed up the rim to the original nambu rim thickness. After swaging I did ream the necks using a .312" reamer.
Will these work? Well so far all I can tell you is that they do chamber. The rest?
To Be Continued
I hope this helps a fellow cheap bastage save a buck or two. If not well I hope it was entertaining just the same.
Jacin