Seventy eight hits and no responses?  Surely somebody out there has some experience with these?  I talked to Joe about it many years ago and he confirmed what it was, but it went astray before I could get an insert cut for it.

For some basic info, does anyone know what the insert should be made from?  I’m thinking aluminum, but since in Pope’s time Al was still pretty pricey, he may have used something else.   

From what I remember of my conversation with Joe, it was a tight slip fit and didn’t use O-rings like the later copies did. 

Surely somebody out there knows something that will help me out, and if you do Thanks in Advance! 

Froggie

I checked some original Pope inserts I have and they also fit my Joe Ruth pump as well. They only insert into the pump one way bullet nose down as in the tapered Pope .32 cal. bullets have to be pushed back out. So nose end .499 top .504 length .805. Shorter than Charlies?
All originals and ones made recently for both follow the sizes I listed.  Hope this helps.

For the ones Charlie Dell made for his Lube pump, he turned them out of a good grade of aluminum, then bored a pilot hole and turned two grooves for the top and bottom O-rings.  He would make up several of these "blanks"  and finish them as needed.  When he needed to finish one, he would first drill the holes in the side for the grease, then finish ream the inside to the proper diameter (or taper) then finish ream for the correct bullet nose shape.

I was hoping to do something similar (sans O-rings) in a smaller diameter for the Ruth/Pope unit.  I'm thinking of getting the proper diameter with pin gauges then giving it a go using Aluminum.  Or do you think I should use steel as Pope did?  Another possibility might be to use Delrin like John Mertz did for an insert he made for one of my Dell pumps.  I could make that a half thousandth or so oversize for a good interference fit.  Suggestions?
It's been over 20 years since I started this project so it's about time. for me to get it off the back burner and get this whole project while I might be able to enjoy it.

Froggie

Thanks, Vall.  Every little bit of information helps.  Was the aluminum insert original to the pump, or was it added later to fit that bullet?  From what Joe told me and from what Tom has seen, the repro was faithful to the original. 
To all:  Was I correct that the close fit of the insert to the pump cavity made the seal, or was there an O-ring or two?
Froggie

Mine also has no O ring and seals well. I assume the insert is the original Pope as my barrel is an original Pope, and the mold is for my .28 Pope Special.

Yes, it's got a shallow relief cut around the center that's maybe 3/16" wide?

Tom and Charlie, I’ve just reread your dimensions and have to ask.  Do the large diameters of your different really differ by 35 thousandths?  If they are that different, I guess I’ll have to spend extra time measuring my specific pump’s chamber.   

I understand the difference in length of the various inserts to accommodate bullet lengths, but think for my purposes I’ll settle on one (fairly long) length for my blanks just to be consistent. 

Thanks again,
Froggie