Hello All,

MOVED - UPDATED PROGRESS REPORT

http://forums.accuratereloadin...0101804/m/9561066812

Nice with superb pix.

Regards, Tim

I've got a bunch of once fired 50 bmg if you need some more.

Well that's quite the journey to obtain brass. Thank you for documenting it for us. Is the receiving rifle finished or still in the works?

Quite the project you have going on, I think it will be beautiful! Have always wanted to shoot a 700 someday.

Looks like a fun project. What is the rough cost of a project like that? I might want to indulge in one sometime. Feel free to pm me if you dont want it public.

I hope you don't mind if I ask. Even though you mentioned it may not be as good, why didn't you just turn the brass as a basic straight walled case from bar stock?

Please don't take my question as any form of criticism, I'm only curious. Great write up. I'd be tickled with the way every part of the project is turning out. Take care.

The low pressure of double rifle cases adds to their life also. Drawn brass aligns the molecular structure of the brass making it last longer than lathe turned brass. I don't know the science of it, that is what I've been told but I don't know the details. As to case life, I get 20-30 reloads out of my drawn brass straight cases and 15-20 from drawn cases with a shoulder. That said, I'm over 300 reloads from my lathe turned 8-bore cases! The brass so thick and the pressure so low the original 30 cases have been reloaded many time yearly since about the year 2000.
I only neck size. I don't set the shoulder back on bottle neck cases as they are only shot out of my one rifle in that specific caliber. Annealing every 5-8 reloads.

Cal

The first--The same 30 cases for nearly 20 years, reloading 10-15 times per year (or more) with both black and smokeless. So sign of stretching at all.
Cal

PS. I kept detailed records of all my reloading but stopped as it was not necessary. After 200 reloads I stopped keeping track but that was many years ago. I have four file cabinets of double rifle info and most of it, including my reloading records, is headed to the burn barrel come spring cleaning as 25 years of double rifle shooting see too much accumulation. 100+ of the older magazine articles on double rifles can be seen on my website. I may post more if I think it is of interest to readers.
Cal

Bore rifles are very low pressure. Thousands of low pressure shots with lead bullets is not that much strain (of course, I'm no metallurgist). I would guess some of my bpe doubles in .450 or .500 have done the same. And, who knows how much they were shot over the past century +.
Cal

It's still a good amount, but maybe the math is off a bit Buckstix. Cal, I appreciate your contributions, and your website has a wealth of info. It would probably be a pain, but look through the odds and ends best you can before it gets burned up.

quote:

Originally posted by buckstix:
9000 shots fired since the year 2000?

that's 1,125 pounds of lead and 320 pounds of powder.

REMARKABLE !

What is so remarkable? 600 shots a year is about 15 shots a week. I am fortunate enough to have a shooting range at my front yard and shoot 4-5x per week. I just like to plink, develop loads, an shoot for fun. Once an accurate load is developed and the work is done, I shoot for the hell of it. I must admit I'm a hoarder and have enough powder, primers, and brass for most double rifle calibers I am set. As for lead, formerly being in the auto business, I have access to an endless supply of wheel weights.
Anyway, 10-15 shots per week from one's favorite rifle is not too much. I have built a 12x20 shooting shed with a wood stove in it so now I shoot in the winter from a warm enclosure. I just slide the window open a few inches, shoot, and close it until the barrel cools. Yesterday I shot 16 from a .350 no2 Rigby, a box of 20 from my .500 no2 bpe, and 8 from my .600 Wilkes. Today I work at the school, and tomorrow I will do the same with a .400, .450. and .500--all nitro doubles.

As to time reloading, I reload during my exercise sessions. Between sets I spend 2-3 minutes at the bench.

Craigd: I will be moving through stuff later in the spring after the addition is built on to my home. Nothing of value and if it is of interest I will post it on my website--such as I did with the old magazine articles. I am slowly thinking of moving to the Lower 48 in 2-3 years and need to begin thinning out.

PS. Buck--109 pounds of powder. (Where did you get 320?). About 7.2 pounds per year.

I suppose I caused your move. I apologize. Just ask, and I would've deleted as I can and steered clear. Only the best for your projects.

quote:

Originally posted by craigd:
I suppose I caused your move. I apologize. Just ask, and I would've deleted as I can and steered clear. Only the best for your projects.

Craig:
No need for apologies. On AR most of us follow the latest post. Buck questioned my shooting when I posted some info that I hope would help about the number of reloads I experienced. He asked and I replied. His figures were way off. I imagine he was questioning my integrity. Bottom line is Mr. Buck wants all the attention for his rifles/projects/posts. He has taken his toys and gone home. We've gone down this road before (I will elaborate in the future if necessary). All is fine here on AR and you're welcome to post whatever you wish, anywhere you want. The starter of the thread also has the posting power to direct the thread back to his original intent. If one does not roll with the punches and gets too testy, the folks on AR will turn their heads.
Cheers,
Cal
PS. PM me for additional examples if you wish.

quote:

Originally posted by craigd:
I hope you don't mind if I ask. Even though you mentioned it may not be as good, why didn't you just turn the brass as a basic straight walled case from bar stock?

Please don't take my question as any form of criticism, I'm only curious. Great write up. I'd be tickled with the way every part of the project is turning out. Take care.

Hello Craigd,

As I said in my original annswer to your question, my experience with lathe turned brass has not been very good. Only 3 - 4 loadings with my 600BPE, and then the heads separated.

quote:

Originally posted by craigd:
I suppose I caused your move. I apologize. Just ask, and I would've deleted as I can and steered clear. Only the best for your projects.

Hello Craigd,

As I said in my email to you, I have no problem with you. Feel free to ask any time about my projects.

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Buck questioned my shooting when I posted some info that I hope would help about the number of reloads I experienced. He asked and I replied. ..... Bottom line is Mr. Buck wants all the attention for his rifles/projects/posts. He has taken his toys and gone home.
Cheers,
Cal

Hello Craigd,

I never "asked" Mr. Cal anything. I only answered "your" question. I spend a lot of time preparing photos and text, and then enjoy sharing the information about my rifles/projects/posts with my fellow forum members. I only take my toys and go home when someone hi-jacks my posts.
Cheers,
Buck
PS. PM me for additional examples if you wish.