.38-50 Hepburn

[beltfed]

Kurt,
My idea of annealing that box of formed 38-50s was I thought maybe the necks would fire form out more fully with fewer firings.
Still will have to check that box vs the non-annealed brass for FF case I.D. /fit of the 0.379 bullets
Arnie

[Kurt]

I'm finding this low capacity .38-50 case is very sensitive with load volume and neck tightness holding the bullet.
I finished the last of the 1.5 Swiss powder I had loading for the silhouette match so I loaded some 1.5 OE powder and I figured I better work up a load and also shoot some cases that just had been fired twice. It rained this morning and thunder showers are expected so the range was mine alone to test and blow out cases.
When I got setup the wind died down to zero looking at the range flag so I fired the 5 rounds of 62 grains of 1.5 OE that is a full case with about a 1/16" of space to seat a wad that was flush with the case mouth and it was compressed .150".
I used 5 cases that have been fired 5 times and trimmed to length 2.252" that is a very close fit to the 45º transition and the patched bullets are a snug fit in the case that I can lift the round by the bullet and the case stays on un crimped and shot the group on the orange sticker.
The white cross was fired with the same load and bullet cast from the same batch of alloy but the brass was just fired twice under the same conditions of zero wind and those bullets were seated just like the first 5 rounds and man what a difference in the group. I could tell the difference in the case mouth diameter when I seated the bullets some needed more pressure seating them.
The brass fired several times more the seating of the bullets the pressure felt pretty uniform.
This is something I have not seen with my larger capacity calibers to this extreme in variances in group size.

Kurt

The orange sticker target is marked wrong, it should say 1.5 OE not 2F OE

[beltfed]

Kurt,
Thank you again for pointing out the sensitivity of grouping by numbers of firings of the cases in your 38-50.
This is with your cases formed from WW Krag brass.
Seems to me that when I was working up loads for my 40-65 with WW cases after I had been using RP 45-70 cases.
It seemed to take more firings of the WW cases than did the RPs to get the neck I.D.s open and uniform.
So far, I am using RP Krag cases that came with the rifle. As I said earlier I need to study this number of firings effect
like you are
Arnie

[Kurt]

Arnie,
This is the first time I have found this going on reforming cases. Maybe it's a Winchester thing, I don't know.
I also have picked up 200 Captech cases just to have them and I formed 5 of those just to see how they compare to the Win cases. After the corn meal shot the patched bullet seated without a problem the way it takes 3-4 shots with the Win cases.
I think the Win brass is a more yellow brass then the Rem or Captech is more of a red brass that is softer.
But I won't complain about the Win cases they seem to work just fine when they are fully blown out.
Also I get more in the case with the once that have been shot several times. 64 grains of 1.5 was a full load I had to compress the powder before placing a wad in the case. Now I can get 67 gas flush with the case mouth. But it took annealing the brass closer to the base than just the necks.

Of all the ladder loads the .
1.5 OE and Swiss 1.5 have shot the more consistent tightest groups in this rifle. I don't have any swiss 1.5 or 2F left.
But from what Jerry Dean said he should have some by the end of the month or first of May.

At this point the rifle is doing well from the short time I have worked with it. That long freebore gave me the chills when I saw the chamber cast but I got around that with your help drawing up the bullet print.
Now I need some time on a long range.

Kurt

[ian45662]

Are you going to shoot that rifle in Alma this month?

[Kurt]

Ian,
At this point I don't know. I'm loaded up and all that is a ready for the match but back is getting worse I might have to get some work done on it. I will see the Doctor in the morning and get some MRI taken to see what can be done. I had some MRI's several years ago and was told that it might be worse if they worked on it so I let it go. Now I have a hard time even walking.
The end of the month I will be down in Indiana for a Family get together so the Lodi match is also out for me.
But I will be at Alma sometime this Summer as well as Friendship unless they tie me down.

[ian45662]

Hate to hear that. I am planing on Alma in July. Might try to sneak up there for another shoot or 2

[Kurt]

Well Ian, Just got a call from the Doc. I have a fractured spine. So it might be a while before I can get on the road.
I have no idea what I did this but it's been giving me a problem for some time.
Hell getting old.......

[beltfed]

Kurt,
I am so sorry about the fractured spine. I hope it is not too bad a fracture. We Pray that you will be able to get your back fixed and soon.
Just like myself just now, us old farts need to take the time, EVEN away from our shooting, to take care of our bodies.
Arnie

[Aviator]

Good grief, Kurt!
Glad they figured it out.
Sure hope they can get you patched back together!