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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) 38-55 Plated Ballard...moved from Collecting (Read 4552 times)
JLouis
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Re: 38-55 Plated Ballard...moved from Collecting
Reply #15 - May 3rd, 2021 at 10:59am
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Thanks I read it entirely wrong and I do apologize.
  

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JLouis
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Re: 38-55 Plated Ballard...moved from Collecting
Reply #16 - May 3rd, 2021 at 11:31am
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Might try using some modeling clay in the chamber and  leaving it flush to the bottom of the rim recess. Also fill in the extractor slot and then take and bed a case minus the primer to the correct head-space depth using a little JBWeld. By simply closing the breech block on the case it should get you close to now having zero head-space. Might also want to put a little release agent where it might be appropriate. Such as the face of the barrel and the breech block as it might also flow a little there.

The original JBWeld two-pot cold weld is a steel-reinforced epoxy that sets so hard (compressive strength of 3960psi) that it can be drilled, tapped, shaped, and sanded once fully cured. Aug 1, 2019
  

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JLouis
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Re: 38-55 Plated Ballard...moved from Collecting
Reply #17 - May 3rd, 2021 at 2:37pm
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Jack this was just posted by Chipmaker over on the original discussion location.

Jack,
Another option is to form a set of cases with the rim thicker to correct the excessive headspace.
I acquired a Buchel Martini with excessive headspace, similar to your rifle and made up a set of cartridges by peening the rim forward and then lathe turning the rim to the proper thickness, for that chamber. The cases worked well but looked ugly.
I then saw a post, on this website, that used a hydraulic press to form 43 Mauser cases, from 45-90 brass. After forming the Mauser brass, I used the same technique to form some 8.15X46R brass, with rims .010" thicker than normal. These cases look much better than those formed by peening.
If you are inclined to use this approach, I'll check my notes to see if I can locate the ASSRA reference.
Otto
  

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Rex N
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Re: 38-55 Plated Ballard...moved from Collecting
Reply #18 - May 4th, 2021 at 9:50am
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I have an original Ballard in 40-85 ballard and use 9.3x74r cases blowout to shoot it.  These cases have a significantly thiner rim than the original brass so I put a small O-ring on the case and this holds the case against the breach block.  It shoots like crazy with no issues.  I contemplated making little brass washers and soldering them on but this works so well I am not going to bother.
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: 38-55 Plated Ballard...moved from Collecting
Reply #19 - May 4th, 2021 at 10:26am
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Rex N wrote on May 4th, 2021 at 9:50am:
I have an original Ballard in 40-85 ballard and use 9.3x74r cases blowout to shoot it.  These cases have a significantly thiner rim than the original brass so I put a small O-ring on the case and this holds the case against the breach block.  It shoots like crazy with no issues.  I contemplated making little brass washers and soldering them on but this works so well I am not going to bother.


I own and shoot an original Ballard Pacific in .40-85 and also use the 9.3x74R brass. I've never put anything on the cases to space them and they work great in my gun. Very accurate, and I shoot it out to 1,000 yds. with  no loss of accuracy using the 9.3 cases.
  

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bpjack
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Re: 38-55 Plated Ballard...moved from Collecting
Reply #20 - May 4th, 2021 at 5:04pm
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The longer pin idea dd ot work very well.  I had to make it short enough to not protrude too far perventing the block from lowering.  I shot it again today and still had a couple of missfires.  Might try the rubber o-ring next.  I found a promising breech seated load with a Hoch 313 gr tapered bullet and 14.5 gr of 300MP.

I got some 30 Wesson cases yesterday, so I am going to switch barrels and see how well I can shoot it with my current 30 cal molds which are not optimal for breech seaing.   

Here is a 5 shot 200 yd group from today's session.

Jack
  

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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
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Re: 38-55 Plated Ballard...moved from Collecting
Reply #21 - May 4th, 2021 at 8:44pm
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That group looks great!
  

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bpjack
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Re: 38-55 Plated Ballard...moved from Collecting
Reply #22 - May 8th, 2021 at 8:22pm
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Presto Changeo!

The Ballard is now sporting the 30 Wesson barrel that came with the deal.  It was obviously threaded for this action and the forend screw hole made for this forend as it fits without the gap it shows with the 38-55 barrel.  Unfortunately, if there was an extractor for the 30 Wesson, it had gone missing.  I did have an eBay extractor and have just finished spending about 8 hours hand fitting it to this barrel.   The molds that I had do not breech seat well (as I suspected) so I have ordered an Accurate tapered mold.  Next up is to make a cast of the prong butt plate and make a resin casting with a shotgun butt plate profile.   

Jack
  

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