Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com

JFE

If you have one in 357 personally I'd be looking at some other calibre rather than 32 Mag. A lot of cadet actions in Oz were converted to various calibers. The 222 Rimmed was developed for use in the cadet and had a reasonable following. Occasionally they turn up in 17 Hornet, 22 Hornet, 218 Bee, 25...

JFE

The issue here is that late model Browning and Winchester 1886's have virtually no throat and with most bullets you will be unable to fully utilise the longer COAL (up to 2.88"). The way around this if you cast is to obtain a mould in a bore riding (2 diameter) design. A properly optimised desi...

JFE

awp101 - use this link for checking different times in different zones (even adjusts for daylight saving): http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ You might have difficulty finding dies for the more obscure 22/303 wildcats but I'm sure Sprinter Arms can set you straight on that. The more popular ones...

JFE

Another option to satisfy your desire for a 303 wildcat is to approach Sprinter Arms - they are a barrel maker / gunsmith in South Australia. They have a lot of reamers and could probably make a barrel to suit your P14 or SMLE in several 303 wildcats. You could then have the barrel fitted in the US....

JFE

Apart from the 25/303 another popular chambering in Oz was the 270/303. Both were factory loaded (locally) at one time. There were also several versions of the 22/303: the Wasp (shortened), the Sprinter (also shortened) and the Falcon (full length). There was also a 243/303 but I cant recall 6.5 or ...

JFE

There was a US made bolt mounted peep to fit original Winchester 71's. There were problems fitting them to the Brownings as the steel used in the bolts is much harder and difficult to machine than the original Winchesters. The guy I corresponded with also designed a differnt bolt mounted peep to ove...

JFE

I had some rifles in storage for about 15 years and I used a product called Rangoon Oil. Dont know if it is still available but it was ex UK. This oil was apparently designed for firearm storage in high humidity conditions. The metal work on the guns were coated inside and out with this product (whi...

JFE

Gents,

I'd appreciate info on the different versions of BLR that have been available over the years, and an explanation the main differences between them.

I'm looking to acquire one in 358 but not sure which one and what to look for.

Joe

JFE

Chris, if you want to try some as cast (0.380) I'm happy to give you some to try out. At present the only bullets I have on hand are sized to 0.377 but need to cast some more in the next few weeks. I've never used Starline brass in 38/55 but Winchester brass is apparently thinner, which might help. ...

JFE

Happy New Year everyone. Hi Chris, if your rifle slugs 0.379 you should really try to get bullets that are a little larger diameter, say 0.380-0.381. In your modern 1894 you should be able to load to around 40k pressures too and this would provide a significant performance gain over factory loads. I...

JFE

Pressure limits are a given. Headspacing will be on the shoulder. I dont mind using only rimless cases if that was a limitation of the conversion. The upside is cheaper cases. Imported loading components here are quite expensive, especially in what are considered exotic calibers (like 307/356/444). ...

JFE

In one of his articles Paco mentioned that with some rifles he could feed and cycle rimless cases in a 94BB in 356 (emphasis is mine).

Is it possible, perhaps with modifications, to feed and cycle rimless cases in a Win 94 ?

Joe

JFE

The 375 Win is quite a capable cartridge in its own right and I have been able to extract some surprising ballistics from such a small case. I have been able to drive a 300gr cast bullet to just over 2000 fps and a 280gr cast to 2200 fps - that's out of a 20" barrel. Thats a lot of power from a...

JFE

They're not jacketed but I've worked up loads for cast bullets of that weight. I've pushed a 300gr cast to over 2000 fps but it works better at 1800 fps. This is using 375 brass. The cast bullet I'm using is CBE 376300 (Aussie mould) and it has the crimp groove in the right place for use in the 375 ...

JFE

1886 wrote:http://www.levergun.com/KodiakExpress.htm. Hope this helps. 1886.

Have you priced one of these conversions ? Get ready for sticker shock if you havent.

Joe

JFE

I think with semi modern loads the 50 Alaskan will do anything the 50-110 will do and most likely easier ! I am a little surprised by your statement unless both arent running the same pressure. Case construction is similar (assuming Starline cases) but the 50/110 has about 20% more capacity than th...

JFE

Glad the info was of some use. For tube retention I would probably solder in a thicker tenon and have larger screws fitted. I would probably also go for the Marlin style attachment (as per Marlin 1895) and either have the tube (with threading removed) silver soldered in or free floating (not sure wh...

JFE

There was a fair bit of internal work required to cycle those large cases and fat bullets. There were changes to the shell lifter, cartrdge guides, inside the action, to the loading gate area and there were probably others too. If you check an original 50/110 cartridge the bullets they used were not...

JFE

finger toes, I have one that was built locally on a new 1886 Win lightweight. With Starline and Bertram brass available it is a 'practical' modification and the more traditional option for the 1886 / 71 platform. I've used both makes of brass and they are both very strong. You can load these convers...

JFE

Pete - thanks for your feedback. Its a real shame your project didnt work out. Even with the BB beefed up rear receiver. The week point of the angle ejects is that the side with loading door doesn't have alot of metal left on it . So that side seems to stretch under pressure, the same thing happens ...

JFE

Pete44ru wrote:I made a .450 Marlin BB94 into a .358 Marlin Belted with a rebored .307 barrel & a rechamber - which promptly sprung the action sides and link pins..

Thanks for sharing your very sobering experience.

What do you think caused such a failure.... high pressure reloads or something else ?

Joe

JFE

Thanks for that. Useful info.

JFE

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not actually after the most amount of power / pressures possible, though it would be nice to have 35 Whelan / 9.3X62 type power in lightweight levergun. Pete44ru - what wildcat did you have made up and what were the problems you encountered ? I'm interested in learning f...

JFE

Does anyone know whether the hoop size and barrel thread diameter of top eject 375BB's is the same size as that of the later AE BB?

FWIW the front receiver hoop on my 375 BB measures 1.275" at its widest point and measures 1.125" at its narrowest point.

Joe

JFE

Gents, I am looking to build a wildcat on my 375BB and would appreciate help identifying internal parts required for the conversion. Can anyone help with parts required (and ideally part numbers) I need to convert a top eject 375 BB to (1) a 356 based case and for (2) a 450 Marlin based case Will I ...

JFE

I have two Win 375BB's and I'm considering building a 375 wildcat on one of them. I've read Paco's article on a 375 wildcat he developed (375/356 Ultra Improved) and something along similar lines is a possible starter. I read that someone came up with a simple and practical 375 levergun wildcat by s...

JFE

I think the 35 gas checks are much thinner that those for the 348. It may not work unless you open up the GC shank on your 348 mould.

JFE

Biggest issue with a 375/444 in a traditional lever is that jacketed bullets are mostly designed for use in the 375 Win and crimp groove would be in the wrong place. With OAL normally limited to 2.55" and a relatively short neck, any cast bullets over about 200 gr are going to have lube grooves...

JFE

Cheers Marc.

Thats exactly the sort of thing you could look to do. I like your thinking on the reloading dies too.

Will await your feedback when you can take the project forward.

Joe

JFE

This modification would open up a lot of new possibilities for the Win 94. Apart from additional flexibility in bullet selection it would also open up power upgrade options, eg rechambering for 444 based wildcats without having to trim cases. I am sure there would be interest if the modification wer...

JFE

Marc, I think they are pre-64 carriers, but no matter as you mentioned with CNC machinery it would be possible to configure it correctly. I would buy one. You could also have him produce the proper short screws to avoid having to use the roll pin. Do you think there is better solution to the hanging...

JFE

Marc,

That was the article I recall reading. However what I didnt remember was all the grief you went through in order to get it to work.

Thanks for posting it again. Its an excellent piece of work.

Now where the heck can I find myself a pre-64 forged shell carrier....

Joe

JFE

Tycer - was your rifle a Win 94 also ?

Anyone recall that article ? Maybe it was on another site. I remember printing it off at the time but I cant find it now.

Joe

JFE

Tycer - thanks for the tip and that's exactly what I plan to do.

If I recall correctly the post mentioned extending COAL length from a nominal 2.55" to around 2.7ish".

Joe

JFE

Hi folks, its been a while since my last visit. Anyhow I bit the bullet and bought myself a 1894 BB in 375 top eject. It is in used (but not abused) condition and was reasonably priced. I am looking forward to running some cast loads through it. I was unable to find cases so I formed up some from 30...

Search found 335 matches

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Re: 1886 winchester[1 of 500 repro]

Re: OT Need a hand with .303 wildcat (Aussie or Canadian)

Re: OT Need a hand with .303 wildcat (Aussie or Canadian)

Re: OT Need a hand with .303 wildcat (Aussie or Canadian)

Re: Model 71 bolt peep sight

Re: Gun Lubes, Storage vs. Use?

Help needed with BLR variants

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Re: 38-55 legendary Frontiersmen first shots

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Rimless cases in a Win 94

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Re: Heavy 375 Loads

Re: Model 71, 50-110

Re: Model 71, 50-110

Re: Model 71, 50-110

Re: Model 71, 50-110

Re: Model 71, 50-110

Re: Win 94 BB - need help on conversion parts reqd

Re: Win 94 BB - need help on conversion parts reqd

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Re: Win 94 BB - need help on conversion parts reqd

Win 94 BB questions

Win 94 BB - need help on conversion parts reqd

375 levergun wildcats

Mods to increase COAL in Win 1894