A simple little pleasure, learning stuff....401 WSL

Slipped off yesterday for a moment to do some testing. I have made .401 WSL cases from both .414 SuperMag and 7.62x39 Russian. The Supermag modded cases mimic original semi-rimmed cases perfectly (at the expense of considerable skill and effort). However the Russian blown straight are truly rimless. In like fashion the .351 WSL cases made from rimless 5.56mm also worked perfectly. I am at a bit of a loss as to why, and ponder the headspace, with not even a hint of rim while using a mild roll crimp. (.41 Rem. Magnum dies) I just bet the throat is very shallow and holds the case sufficient to allow the firing pin to fully indent and fire. It's my theory. I'll have to melt some crayons and do a chamber cast some day. Although I do no recall seeing any rifling marks on the bullets after extracting loaded rounds.

I also noted in like fashion the 4227 powder loads give about 100 fps less than the same charge of H110. This is very much like the difference in magnum pistol loadings. 4227 is very temperature stable and predictable compared to H110/296. I've not used enough AA#9 but figure it's about the same as the hot rod slow pistol powders? I use it, 4227, in everything from .22 Hornet to .500 Nitro Express.

My loadings are pretty mild compared to factory 200/250 gr. at 2000-2100 fps. I shoot plain base cast 210 SWC at 1700-1800 fps, just enough to reliably function the gun. (the one piece bolt assy. is over a foot long and weighs 2-3 lbs.!) Recoil is not anything to really consider unless you are letting a 8-10 yr. old shoot it. I do have a special 300 gr. FN bullet mould for the old Ballard .40 that is a hammer! Even at a nominal 1500 fps it hits hard and a little higher to point of aim, which I like. I just need to make some. I have loaded them in .41 Special cases for my .41 magnum but throttled back to 1000 fps it hits very high to POA in the handgun and offers little gain over other loadings. I call it the .413 Puffy for my old friend who got me the mould.