I have never breech seated but have read much about it. I would really like to breech seat load my 32-40 Hepburn. It is of course a 30 cal but can the same principles be used for a 30 cal and what dictates how far to seat the bullet? 



JMH

Do you have a picture of a Hepburn seating tool or know where one can be purchased?



JMH

My Hepburn 38-55 has been shot many times breech seated but I never had a Hepburn breech seater. I didn't know they existed. 
My own breech seater will work in a Hepburn but I never needed extreme force to seat an oversize or hard bullet.

One time something happened where I didn't have a breech seater so I used a piece of wood dowel with a mark on it to seat bullets. Not the most convenient but it worked fine. Not rocket science. 

For the 2025 match season I used a plugged case, a nylon rod and plastic headed hammer to seat the tapered bullet. An annoying sequence, especially when the match clock is running.

In the fall I ordered a breach seater from Riverview Rifles. I used that this entire match season. Robb produced a well made, useful and impressive looking tool. It worked great!

Now for me to learn how to shoot this CPA .38-55….better!

Tom

Hepburn works fine with any breech seater that locks into the receiver shoulders.
Only issue: Have to cock the hammer before inserting the breech seater.
Chuck

Hepburn hammer cocked it fits perfect. 

Have to cock the hammer first, before inserting the breach seater, in the CPA .38-55.

Tom

Here is the side hook seater.  Marling guy and I tried it in a rifle of his at the Oregon show to see where the receiver stud would need to be placed.  We estimated that it needed yo be in the center to front center.  Looks like it would best to have the hook inline with the chamber.
I am actually surprised that CPA never contracted with a machine shop to make a seater for their rifles.  I have lost count of how many shooters ask if my seaters would work with a CPA (they do not!).  Russ Weber made quite a few in his day and they command a healthy price.   

Jack

jhm wrote yesterday at 3:29pm:


Have you had enough? These breech seater threads can go on forever...

I have other breech seaters I could show you.

I've had dealings with fast twist 32-40s. Never got good accuracy with them. 14-16 seems to be best. All that was figured out over a hundred years ago. Yes there is a twist craze. Seems people will go to any length to re-invent the wheel. So if you manage some small groups which you might, someone will say 8 twist must be better!

Yes breech seating should improve your groups. The mechanics are extremely simple. You push a lead bullet into the rifling about a 1/16 of an inch ahead of the case. Load powder in a shell, chamber it and and fire. 

If you are using tapered bullets the minor diameter should be very close to bore diameter and the major diameter should be groove diameter or just a little bigger. If you have only straight bullets you are on your own. Some shooters say they are the most accurate but I cannot make them shoot accurate in my rifles when breech seated.

You see? You see how we can go on and on and on... 

Watch this video. (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

I have a couple of simple push style 32-40 Ballard/Win seaters.  The depth is fixed.  I had them on eBay but ended the listings last week.  They are $25 each shipped if you are interested.

Here is #20 

Jack

Here's a few pics of a seater design I've been making for my Ballards.  If you're careless in it's operation it will scuff the finish in the right rear corner of the receiver, just saying.  I've been using them on the Ballards I've built from casting and two others that a Bubba had his way with before I got them so it doesn't matter much on mine.

I haven't made any for a Hepburn yet, need to, wouldn't be too tough to make something with a lug that will engage the mortise.  Start with a wood or plastic pattern and figure it out.
GT