Reeder Custom Guns - More 480 Achilles Stuff

So this friend of mine is learning to do powder coating. He asked me if I wanted to experiment with him and I politely refused. Then he asked if I had any bullets he could practice powder coating. I gave him a handful of the Bittner 290 gr. Flat Nose Heel Bullets. This is some of what I got back.

[image]

Well .. I just can't leave them set around so I decided to load them. Measuring the diameter, they were at .478" so I loaded one and tried it in the chamber of the Achilles ... very hard to seat it in the chamber.

So I ran them into the .476" sizing die and that solved the issue.

I loaded a box of them with 12.0 gr. 2400. This averages around 870 fps and is an accurate load.

[image]

These are not as messy as the Lee Liquid Alox I usually use on them. They might work just fine! I know I have not been real positive in commenting on powder coating, but as long as I don't have to learn to do it I believe I can use them ... especially since they are close to John Deere Green.
(My hypocrisy knows no bounds!)

[image]

I will report back sooner or later on how they worked.

Post reply

COULD GET YOU ELECTED TO CONGRESS

Post reply

By seeing the hypocrisy.
They sure look good, like a John Deere hammer should look. Texas flag bullets, with a “Lone Star” on the front might look better, but way too much work.

Post reply

- No text -

Post reply

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.

Post reply

I'd love to figure how thick his powder coating is. I've been able to bump up some of my bullets with coating only. I've even considered installing gas checks, THEN powder coating, and doing a final size run.

I need to order a special LEE sizer for the .400 GNR. Due to the varied thickness of .30-30 brass you find laying about many bullets make the cases too thick once loaded. Running them through the sizer loaded in effect "sizes" the bullet to about 0.398". I have switched to a small batch of .38-55 Starline brass purposely made to about 0.007" thickness compared to some .30-30 that are 0.011". This allows me to use that .38-55 brass to make .400 GNR and use .401" bullets.

I wondered if the heel being bumped up was influencing the chambering. Not only did it bump up the bullet dia. 0.002" but I bet it had to have bumped up the heel too?! What ya gonna do about that pappy! lol Depending on the thickness of the brass it might not be a concern.

Post reply

the bases without coating .455"
with coating .458"

The body of the bullets without coating are .475" and with the coating .478"

Post reply

The brass and bullet are the same O.D.? I'd not be surprised for the brass thickness to end up with a smaller O.D. than the bullet. But if it was bumped up enough to bulge... you can't "re-size" the heel portion easily.

Reloading heel type bullets is interesting. I guess I could have Gary make me a .41 Long Colt cylinder for my .38-40! Or too bad I don't have a .475 LB, I could play with the Achilles too, with a different cylinder. I heard tell some boy did the same (borrowing the idea) to a .50 Special case and .510" heel bullet. But that's lots more expensive than re-barreling a .45 Colt and polishing out the chambers.

Post reply

Bullet is .475" raw ..

I don't use a neck expander. I simply bell-mouth the case a bit. With the case being tight it does "size down" the bullet base a bit.

I shot that ".50 Achilles" ... he had it at the CSA one year.

Post reply

More 480 Achilles Stuff

WATCH THAT HYPOCRISY STUFF--IT

I believe he disqualified himself

YOU THINK THE BOLDEST HYPOCRITES DON'T?

I use Mark Twain's advice ...

Please measure the lower shank/heel

The coating adds about .003" ...

So the heel is around .451" raw or .454" coated?

Heel is .454"/.455" raw ...