Mowgli Terry

I had made 9,3x57 cases by using my Hornady dies with late model tapered expander ball. I went ahead and full length resized the 8x57 PPU brass, I did not want to inherit problems from whatever firearm the brass was fired originally. I found four sources of loading data. Three were from "Handloader" magazine and one from Norma. Let me know if I can help. Back in the dark ages I have made 9x57 cases using an Lyman "M" die. Nary a problem then or now. Annealing the 9.3 cases is on the agenda.

A unique event: Years ago I was getting all my 35 Whelen brass together. The new RCBS tapered expander ball had been installed in the RCBS dies. There we some brass that had not been resized. I did have several of these cased fail. The fractures were at the base of the neck extended some into the shoulder. Imperial neck lube had been used. Case lube was Imperial wax. The cases were formed from 30-06 brass. Age unknown. I had fire formed 300 Weatherby from RP brass. I had this brass for more than thirty years. Brass was clean factory primed cases for reloading. No problems.

The condition we are facing many change the discussion in the not too distant future. What I am seeing is the price of primers has doubled from reliable vendors. These price increases may adjust as the famine ends. I did notice recently ammo has started to show up. Looking past the flashy ads one will find seriously high priced cartridges. Point being looks like we are going to be jerked around on prices. I can find something else to do until this crazy stuff is over. Anybody that says reloading is not economical need price some factory 300 Weatherby or 45 Colt cartridges. Add 375 H&H onto the shopping list. I reload all three. I promise you it is economical. I like wise have molds for the handgun rounds. I am doing on and off experimenting with 30 caliber cast bullets. On and on.

The FBI load that I had in mind was factory loaded with a 158gr. lead hollow point bullet. The numbers frequently cited or 800fps average in a 2" handgun. These rounds came from both Remington and Winchester. This level of performance was eclipsed by high capacity 9mm Luger handguns. I don't think any standard or +P 38 Special loads equal the old 38/44 loads. Those guns were made on the N frame for good reason. I got an Outdoorsman 38/44 back in the Skunk Works. That is a great handgun. FBI Load: The other school of thought is that this load is just another HV 38 Special load in pre +P days. I'd say that a 158 gr. bullet and 800 fps is no toy. My loads for 38 Special use the 150gr. 358477 with heavy charge of ShooterWorld powder The powder,Ultimate Pistol, is slightly faster than Accurate #5. I shoot these in loads in 19 and 586 Smith's. Benefits of this level of loads is accuracy and easy control of the handgun. Next, I have two hollow molds for the Lyman 358156 bullet. That's the HP version of the 155 grain lead SWC. I plan to run these loads to 1000fps in 6" guns. This project is in the works.

I shoot a custom K-38 in our local codger match. Right now I'm shooting a load with cast 150 gr. SWC using ShootersWorld Ultimate powder. I can find the SW powder since Accurate #5 is not to be had these days, It's a general purpose load here for both 38 and 357 handguns. In a hurry I want a handy round that will go in any of my revolvers. At 800-900 fps it's not a toy. I shoot 38 Specials in my 357's. That carbon ring stuff may be wisdom from the net. I have never experienced such. None of my 38's or 357's are carry guns due to size or barrel length. As holster guns these revolvers cannot be beat.

Right now have a STI 45 ACP Commander Clone. I find it somewhat better finished than my old RIA 9mm. I don't care about tricking out any potential carry gun. The thing works or it does not. Somebody may laugh at the gun. The laughter stops when they see your targets. I find my gun to be accurate and reliable after 300 or so rounds of lead bullet loads. To me, anybody can say what they want about the Filipino guns. Owners appear to be happy finding the guns very serviceable. My only change to the STI was replacing the rubber grips for wooden. OP was looking for suggestion for a low cost but not cheap handgun. When somebody is giving information about a gun always ask about their hands on experience.

Back in the day Springfield parts were not uncommon. New 2 groove barrels were $2.00 . A friend was buying O3-A4 bolts to build up these rifle for his own use. Their was no plans to deceive. I still have have an O3-A3 build from a drill rifle. The stock is a $15.00 full pistol grip stock. That's then this is now. I had gotten a used 1922 stock in good condition mail order.

The collectors value has been totally spoiled. On the other hand this rifle may have been an unfinished project gun. The ears have been removed and the trigger guard straightened. The dog leg bolt handle is gone. Timney adjustable trigger has been added. Those scope mounts look like vintage Redfield's. The receiver may have been contoured to match the Remington Model 30. That was done in the day. On the upside you have a 1917 barreled action with a bunch of gunsmithing work done. The last Bubba "sportsterizsd and redid" 1917 I saw was butchered beyond salvation for anything. From the photo's the metal on this gun looks looks descent but unfinished, I'm not sure some of that work is still done. The people who did that kind of work are gone. That work may have been done over fifty years ago. No doubt the desecration is offensive to the military collector. I'd bet from the from the photo's and information the rifle will shoot but only after check of the headspace etc. That would be also after finding out if it is still a 30-06. Unmodified, a P14 bolt fits the magnum head size. You run into these guns that are now 308 Norma Magnums.

I do not recall the exact make but it was made in the South. That guy had the holster. The holster was not a US issue. The guy was going to have it his way. However, owner was having the revolver repaired. My hopes were he was kidding.

From time to time I read how factory ammo availability is a serious factor selecting a firearm. As a reloader that's right out of Cloudcuckoo Land. Also, there is a different spin on components once one starts bullet casting. The cost of brass and bullets can be a barrier. For example, for me the desire for a 416 Rigby cooled figuring start up cost. If I want a serious attack of sticker shock visit the ammo department of Sportsman's Warehouse. With some of these calibers I really do not care to run with the big dogs. There are two different worlds of shooting. I don't think it's possible to make the economy point to those who use low end bulk ammo.

Stuff grows!

That selection of reloading gear speaks of having been cherry picked. I missed the lead pot. I wonder if the guy with all that gear shot those bullets as cast with liquid lube? With that much stuff surely there must have been at least one unmounted scope.

That rifle did not warm the cockles of anybody's heart here. In the latter days of converting 1917's it was possible to use a P-14 bolt. Those bolts did not need to be converted to magnum bolt face. That author was clueless about the rifle or did not know how write and ad. Both?

If building guns was a hobby what did your Dad do the rest of the time?

That rifle has first class workmanship. When was the last time you saw a skeleton grip cap?

There's no way. In he day the P14/1917 were converted of long magnums. That stock is a monstrosity. Wonder what other horrors new buyer would find in that aberration. That rifle stinks of a money pit going to happen.

We had a good turn out for our weekly handgun match. Basically, each person shoots against himself. Everybody there is retired. We had a visitor, a young guy, that came today. He spoke of bargains in store bought cartridges and the dis-economy of reloading. Nobody said anything. He was speaking of Black Rifles and 9mm self-loaders. I think shooting as I knew is going the way of the dinosaurs. I'm getting back up to speed getting rifles fixed and making up handloads. I'll need to cast some 38 wadcutters. Also, the hunt is one for .264 bullets. That old Clark Custom K-38 and can keep up with the self-loaders in our relaxed Bullseye Match. I'm reversing Burnout as we speak.

When I attend large meeting of our rifle club it's mainly with senior citizens. No younger people are involved on that level. There are plenty of young shooters about. Their main interest appears to be shooting black rifles with store bought cartridges.

I had really been into shooting for decades. There is something called burnout. Having been with some of this shooting stuff intensely something happens. Then comes the what the hell am I doing, thinking, and feeling. The simple solution here is to set shooting things aside for a time. Right now I'm backing off some. I have been loading for three of four rifle cartridges at the same time. This along with keeping two 550's running for informal handgun matches. Get that burnout so go do something else. My yard has not looked this good for years. I learned the hard way not to say screw it and start selling stuff. Some of the things we have had for years may not be easily replaceable. Where I'm going is getting radical may be hard to impossible to undo. We are already starting to see thing come back with somewhat lower prices. Sure enough some people were willing to spend $200.00 for a brick of primers. My call on it is to wait and allow this screwed famine to play out. In the meantime all my extra equipment was sold on the auction sites. My bet is that in two years you can find all sorts of deals on primers, powder and second hand reloading gear.

I got three Glock's here, There's a G20.3 and G21.3 plus my G23.4 carry gun. Right now the G23;4 is the household handgun. The 40 and 45 caliber guns have Glock night sights. For a long firearm its an 870 12ga. with slug barrel. Shoots great patters at 25yards with 00 and #4 buck shot. I keep it simple. Added: Sorry, I do not have any hand's on experience with Hi-point carbines.

Favorite Handgun: Depends on what day of the week it is. Yesterday if was my 1985 vintage Mark II Target that is still going strong at a zillion or so rounds. The other on 8/4/21 was my Clark modified K38. Shot both guns at our informal match yesterday. The other two were a 6" 586 no dash and my EDC G23.4. All those guns were in my gear yesterday.

The main problem with tire dealers is the use of zinc wheel weights. Zinc wheel weights are easy to spot. The problem is few and fewer lead weights are in the mix. The hunt is still on.

How about the old 33/44 loads at 1200 fps? Also, how does the old FBI load fit in? There's another view of the best 38 Special loads not the worst. Unalloyed lead: I can cast hollow points of the Kieth SWC 358429 and or the Thompson bu;let with two crimping grooves 358156. Those are not may pop loads. These loads are good if one has a mixture of 38 and 357 revolvers around the homeplace. Loading 357 Mags rounds with the 358156 will keep one from having a bad day with N frame Smith's like my Model 28 in a household emergency. Don't dis the 38 Special loaded correctly.

The people who have been a bullet cast for some years are OK. OK, that is, if they had scrounged all along. I have been doing OK with range scrap. With the way things are there is competition even for range scrap. I don't see this lead situation getting any better. I got a war pension tied up in bullet casting gear, The idea of this equipment standing idle basically sucks.

The M5 looks like an early version of the Ohaus 1010 scales.