outstanding shotgun, wow!!

Aaron

n.r.davis wrote on May 24^th, 2019 at 7:55am:


Because I can't make up my mind and I'm really hoping somebody else removes the temptation.   Looks to be a rimfire? a few extra screw holes...

The .445 Super Mag brass has arrived but first I wanted to check how the firing pin was working. I put a pistol primer in a 44 Mag case and let her rip. I got a well centered but large smooth crater so that should be fine. The Super Mag as it came from the bag had just a bit of drag at the mouth. I chamfered and deburred the mouth and that helped but since that brass was intended for .429 bullets I thought I'd run it into a 44 Mag sizing die. My die was set for neck sizing the 44 Mag so I ran it out 2 turns and ran the Super Mag in. Unnoticeable on the brass but a very easy fit in the chamber so it was time to see about neck expanding. I used my 44-40 M die screwed out 4 1/4 turns. I didn't try to bell the mouth because that M die was for .427 bullets. The bullet I had used to slug the barrel was a snug slip fit in the mouth. Next I took some Scotch Magic Tape and cut a 2 7/8 inch length of the 3/4 inch tape. I cut this in half lengthwise and then cut each strip lengthwise again. I wrapped a strip around the brass just ahead of the rim making right at 2 complete turns. This gives the head a snug fit and when I do the first firing any expansion down by the head will be centered in the chamber and the case will be aligned with the bore after that. Now it's time to cast!

Possibly? If you can load and fire with that little tightness at the factory mouth, or do a slight flare with the M die. Maybe, that would keep the head of the case back against the breech for fire forming just in case there's some little headspace wiggle room. Later on when you settle into a routine, I think marlin guy mentioned that custom sized Lyman expanders can be ordered for a very modest sounding price, if a little expanding tweek was wanted based on what diameter it wants to shoot. Fun stuff, glad it's coming together.

You can buy M dies expander plugs from Lyman for very reasonable prices. But they do not offer custom sizes. I buy various sizes from Lyman and then turn them down to whatever custom size I need.
It can be a bit tough ordering from the nice lady at Lyman since she works with caliber designations, so has to find out what the diameter is from someone else. So if I wanted a .384 expander, she's lost. She will ask what caliber it is for, and then likely want to send a .380 for .38-55. I order a .40 caliber expander for .40-65W and then turn it down to the size I need.

Having fired a couple of hundred rounds through this rifle now, I'm really liking it and am very impressed by the quality and precision of its construction. That .433 diameter by .330 length freebore between the mouth of the case and the .421 rifling still has me perplexed but the .421 diameter bullet (with no BP behind it to expand it) has no problem getting across the gap and I'm getting absolutely no leading. Go figure. Maybe it had something to do with a means of controlling BP fouling or permitting multiple BP shots without fouling being a problem. We'll never know, I guess.

Really handsome rifle, and I envy you the fun of putting together some useable cartridges!

I recently missed a very nice Frank Wesson at auction (I was in the middle of LA with poor cell service), and I have winked at several others. I suspect there will be one in the big iron "toy box" someday soon.

Enjoy yourself!

That is one beautiful rifle. I love the “odd” stuff.