Yesterday I acquired a pretty little pinfire in not very pretty condition.

There will be a report on progress...

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BP wrote on Jan 17^th, 2014 at 11:02pm:


Hello BP,

Pinfire ammunition in some calibres is still available in Europe and even primed brass I have seen offered for sale. Reloading such ammo is not that difficult if you pull back pin in the cartridge enough to replace it with a percussion cap or primer. Slightly dangerous I would admit when pushing the pin back in to very close proximity to the primer, but that can be got around by making a jig that will allow you only to push the pin in so far. I would admit however they aren't the easiest rounds to reload.  But where's there a will, there's a way.

Harry

reloading pinfire shotshells:
First thing you have to do is to make up a die set for a vise or arbor press to swage down the rims of the (I'm talking about plastic) shotshells.   Once they will fit the gun, you are ready to start.   Two ways of adapting them to pinfire.   One is to drill just ahead of the rim at a little forward angle with a drill that will fit a 4d finishing nail.   Thru the battery cup, and a little into the base-wad.   Then drill thru the basewad from the front of the case to make a cavity to take a percussion cap, sideways.   Push in the finishing nail, trimmed at each end to a proper length, and you are then ready to reload in the conventional way.   Not all 4d finishing nails are created equal.   I found some blued and tempered ones that are SUPERIOR.

Another way is to remove the battery cup primer and make another out of solid brass.   Mill a recess in the side of it to take a small pistol primer with the anvil popped out, and drill into the area for the pin. Probably a pious idea to file a little flash channel to the front.  I have seen this done, and intend to try it next time I make up some pinfire shells.

CHRIS