Thread: Self isolation gun projects

Originally Posted by grandpamac

For you akaroa1 that may be true but for me, counting down the weeks to my 71st birthday, it is more like a lifetimes work. Making the list was helpful and focused my thinking on what to do next. What do you think John Browning would have thought of your Hornet? I think he would have been impressed.
Regards Grandpamac.

I hope John Moses Browning would be impressed
I'm a huge Browning fan

@akaroa1 so am I but I only have the old A5 lol. need to somehow have a catch up that doesn't look like a drug deal and see if you have some screws that match my A5 one day

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Fitting a recoil pad to the wee 7.63x39 I got from Micky Duck.
Not that the recoil (which isn’t much) worries me on the six pound rifle, it’s more to get my eye back from the scope ( I’ve a long scrawny neck!) and to make a non-slip butt for when I’ve got the rifle leaning against a tree/rock whatever.

Got it done but by the time I finished grinding the old Bisley kick pad into the right shape I looked like a Black and White Minstrel - (well , ok, brown and white)
And the rifle fits me perfectly now

Originally Posted by csmiffy

@akaroa1 so am I but I only have the old A5 lol. need to somehow have a catch up that doesn't look like a drug deal and see if you have some screws that match my A5 one day

@csmiffy I have a huge gun screw selection and its pretty well organised

I also have access to a colossal gun screw selection and will continue to have access to that source during the shut down

If you can work out what you think the screw is I can see if one is here

Someone ( me ) probably needs to start a " parts thread " for guys who are in isolation and wanting to try and move projects forward
So I'm just about to start making an 1885 firing pin from scratch
But I would much rather buy one or swap something for one

More self isolation project materials arrived today

100 x 375 projectiles for my G2 375 Winchester

20 x 500 nitro cases for my 500 express

So now I have 25x 500 cases
I feel a sore shoulder coming on

But it gives me another self isolation project casting another batch of 450 grain 500 projectiles

Very nice & Norma .500 cases Eh, do you have dies, that was the hardest for me to source back in the day ?

Originally Posted by Scout

Very nice & Norma .500 cases Eh, do you have dies, that was the hardest for me to source back in the day ?

No factory dies

But I made a neck size only die to bump it down just to grip the projectile
A body die to flatten the small bulge the neck for left
A small flaring punch so I can start the projectile
Then I run the loaded round into the first neck die and it takes out the slight flare almost like a crimp

Works just fine with a low volume use round like the 500 express

Originally Posted by Scout

Very nice & Norma .500 cases Eh, do you have dies, that was the hardest for me to source back in the day ?

So 25 Norma and 5 Bertram cases should last me a life time

The case body doesn't seem to need re sizing after 5 firings
I guess eventually they might need a bump on the whole body
And the necks might need annealing also because they are getting worked a bit more

Ordered some more 4140 barrel steel so hoping the courier's are still working, in the mean time have redrilled out one of my pp bullet moulds. I wanted a heaver bullet and the mould was casting a 410gr one and bingo!!, just had a casting session and it came out 488gr, so should be good for long range.
, But may have to make a new barrel for them.

Originally Posted by homebrew.357

Ordered some more 4140 barrel steel so hoping the courier's are still working, in the mean time have redrilled out one of my pp bullet moulds. I wanted a heaver bullet and the mould was casting a 410gr one and bingo!!, just had a casting session and it came out 488gr, so should be good for long range.
Attachment 133709, But may have to make a new barrel for them.

@homebrew.357 For .45 or .50

I have just finished reading The Paper Jacket by Paul Mathews
I would love to have a crack at doing a paper jacketed bullet for the 500 express

Originally Posted by akaroa1

@homebrew.357 For .45 or .50

I have just finished reading The Paper Jacket by Paul Mathews
I would love to have a crack at doing a paper jacketed bullet for the 500 express

You might be supprised at what paper works best.
For my 577/450 it is "Post-it" note paper and for a 47 Cal tapping breech loader it's regular Printer paper.

The .50 ones no good so sticking to .45 cal barrels, I made two .45 muzzle loading ones in 12/15 steel and they came out good. So will try 4140 with my new system to see if it works and if any good will maybe fit it to my Sharps. And yes, I`m using A4 printing paper as well, seams to work, lots of confetti when it goes bang.

Originally Posted by akaroa1

So 25 Norma and 5 Bertram cases should last me a life time

The case body doesn't seem to need re sizing after 5 firings
I guess eventually they might need a bump on the whole body
And the necks might need annealing also because they are getting worked a bit more

Actually with normal reloading & shooting full or heavier nitro loads you lose a few cases learning with the .500NE, too much lube & you get oil dents, not enough & the very thin weak rim pulls off, ask me how I know !!

On that I fear I had a over size chamber which didn't help.

Free-floated the EM-332 with a stick and some sandpaper. Now, it appears that the stock may need to be refinished. (There's actually nothing wrong with the stock, but you all know how it goes....)