This may be a Reloading type thread, but its applicable only to Winchester and Browning Model 71 shooters, and this surely is the right place to reach most of those folks.
Like most model 71 "348" shooters, I would like to shoot a wider variety of bullets, but the bullets available for relaoding are very limited. They are limited in weight, in style, and brand.
Wouldn't you like to have a very wide choice of bullets, from 150 grain up to 250 and maybe even some above and below those weights. And how about boat tails and spire points.
Before I get into this, let me assure you that I understand the requirement to use bullets that will not cause a primer detonation in the magazine during recoil in these guns. I have not achieved the goal yet, and before moving forward want to get some thoughts from other "71" enthusiasts.
Here goes:
I have done lots of looking and see that there are many bullet designs that are available for 35 caliber guns. Problem is that the 35 cal. bullets are .358 diameter and as we all know the "71" requires .348 diameter bullets.
That's only ten thou. oversize.
Why can't those .358s be swaged down to .348. That's only 2.9% oversized .
Seems like anyone with the right swaging tool, the right lubricant and a press (Like Rock Chucker) should be able to squeeze a 35 cal. through a .348 die and get a perfect .348 bullet as a result.
Now that the 35 cal. LeveRevolution bullets are available for relaoding, they would be a perfect candidate, but there are lots of others too.
Here are the design challenges. Has anyone already overcome these?:
a] Acquire a carbide swaging tool that has a forcing cone and bore that does a final sizing to .348.
b] A bullet guide to hold the 35 cal. bullet as it is forced through the die. It would ride on the press ram. This could be one that sits in the spot where a case holder normally resides. The guide could be designed to hold a flat base or boat tail base. Don't know which would work best. I would recommend that it handle either the flat base or boat tail bullets, with the capability of pushing the bullets all the way through the sizer.
How about some of the "real experts" jumping in on this discussion and giving an indication whether this idea has some paratical posibilities or otherwise. If not practical, I think folks would like to know the particulars.
Bob N.
From Redstone Arsenal in Alabama
Like most model 71 "348" shooters, I would like to shoot a wider variety of bullets, but the bullets available for relaoding are very limited. They are limited in weight, in style, and brand.
Wouldn't you like to have a very wide choice of bullets, from 150 grain up to 250 and maybe even some above and below those weights. And how about boat tails and spire points.
Before I get into this, let me assure you that I understand the requirement to use bullets that will not cause a primer detonation in the magazine during recoil in these guns. I have not achieved the goal yet, and before moving forward want to get some thoughts from other "71" enthusiasts.
Here goes:
I have done lots of looking and see that there are many bullet designs that are available for 35 caliber guns. Problem is that the 35 cal. bullets are .358 diameter and as we all know the "71" requires .348 diameter bullets.
That's only ten thou. oversize.
Why can't those .358s be swaged down to .348. That's only 2.9% oversized .
Seems like anyone with the right swaging tool, the right lubricant and a press (Like Rock Chucker) should be able to squeeze a 35 cal. through a .348 die and get a perfect .348 bullet as a result.
Now that the 35 cal. LeveRevolution bullets are available for relaoding, they would be a perfect candidate, but there are lots of others too.
Here are the design challenges. Has anyone already overcome these?:
a] Acquire a carbide swaging tool that has a forcing cone and bore that does a final sizing to .348.
b] A bullet guide to hold the 35 cal. bullet as it is forced through the die. It would ride on the press ram. This could be one that sits in the spot where a case holder normally resides. The guide could be designed to hold a flat base or boat tail base. Don't know which would work best. I would recommend that it handle either the flat base or boat tail bullets, with the capability of pushing the bullets all the way through the sizer.
How about some of the "real experts" jumping in on this discussion and giving an indication whether this idea has some paratical posibilities or otherwise. If not practical, I think folks would like to know the particulars.
Bob N.
From Redstone Arsenal in Alabama