WB
Slipped off for a little fun time...
Thursday, December 24, 2020, 23:13

I was able to get the Martini .310 and Wichita 7mm International in before Christmas. We are hoping to at least test fire them this weekend. Both require home manufactured ammo.

The Wichita is really strange, heavy too, seems too tight to me. I've tried this before, take a special built "target" gun and try to make a hunting pistol out of it. The cartridge was designed to "just" have enough to knock over the targets reliably in competition with no waste. From what I can tell it takes a 200-400 fps back seat to the 7-30 Waters. It would do better in 7mm GNR.

I first tried .357 Herrett necked down but too short and not enough taper. Using varied dies (7 BR mostly) I finally necked it and added enough taper to get it to chamber. The cases are right at 2" and it tapers more than I thought, from 0.422" down to 0.402". The better option I think it to neck up a .25-35 Winchester case and hopefully it will blow out and not split the shoulder. The right case was my struggled forming from .30-30. I loaded 27 gr. of H335 and a 130 gr.

The .310 Cadet was a little better. The .32-20 brass I got was Remington and already primed. Many cases had flaws, must be bulk and they can get damaged when you buy a big barrel of them at once. I know one of the (30) I formed today will split at firing. (I'm using up the primer anyway). I needed to cut the cases about 1/8" to 1.250" with this particular bullet mated to the chamber throat. It just will chamber and slightly engrave the bullet. removing the loaded rounds does not pull the slugs so all is well so far. Shooting heel type bullets is a bit of a trick. This application says having the bullet in the lands helps seal it and bump it up quickly before gasses can sneak past that reduced diameter heel. I think the "coating" will help with both leading and filling up the bore. You just chamfer and "kiss" the flaring die to the neck so it accepts the beginning of the heel with no shaving. A very firm press is required to seat the bullet with bare hands. It is not easily coming out, not going to fall out.

They may keyhole or all stack in one hole. I'll have to see in a day or two. My load was 3.5 grs. HP38 and a 120 gr. for theoretical 1000-1100 fps.