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Most calibers for the lever action rifles are available at:
https://www.google.com/search?channel=tus5&client=firefox-b-1-d&q=northernshooters+supply+au
I ordered 4 boxes on the 25th and they arrived today. Exchange rate is about .76. Meaning their dollar is worth .76 American.
Maybe the mysterious art of annealing brass has by now reached Down Under, but earlier Bertram brass was known for splitting at the mouth after 1 or 2 firings.
Clarence, I have shot a lot of Bertram brass and never had that problem. It is not the most perfect brass but I’m glad to find any new properly head stamped brass.
My 38-72 BB brass was oof, it required a lot of work to make it decent. Flash holes were punched and had leftover inside, lengths of the cases were all over the place. It is nice to have the headstamp though, but I gave up and now convert 444 or 405.
Chuck said
Clarence, I have shot a lot of Bertram brass and never had that problem. It is not the most perfect brass but I’m glad to find any new properly head stamped brass.
By .25-20 SS cases all split at the mouth after a few firings; but that was 20 yrs ago, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they’ve learned to anneal the necks. Of course, I have no excuse for not doing it myself.
The only real problem I have encountered is the rim thickness on some of the Bertram brass is too thick for some chambers. I have to sort the 45-90 brass. My 86 will shoot all of them but my 85 will only shoot the thinner ones.
Bertram is not the only brass that is very inconsistent. Many of the others need to be measured before sizing.
impalacustom said
My 38-72 BB brass was oof, it required a lot of work to make it decent. Flash holes were punched and had leftover inside, lengths of the cases were all over the place. It is nice to have the headstamp though, but I gave up and now convert 444 or 405.
I have flash hole tools that came with my 30 year old rock chucker kit. Some of the new primer pocket tools are not case length dependent. The older tools are case length dependent so you need to trim the brass first. Case length is an issue with many companies’ brass. Depending upon the degree of accuracy you wish the only time that brass length will impact is if they are too long and bind in the die. If you crimp, a few thousandths off usually doesn’t hurt. If you want everything to be exact you need to trim your cases to the shortest one of the lot.
The target ammo I use gets everything exact to the .001″. Believe me there is only a few brass manufacturers, like Lapua, that are close to being perfect.
Right now you better buy what you can get. Just like other items, like black powder, things may never be the same again.
Eric, I’m sure reforming the other brass is probably more work. But your results may be better.
Chuck said
Right now you better buy what you can get. Just like other items, like black powder, things may never be the same again.Eric, I’m sure reforming the other brass is probably more work. But your results may be better.
Chuck, you are 100% right about that, I’ve picked up a lot before the “craziness” took over, but I’m always looking and buying here and there when I can.
Yes reforming is more work but I do enjoy doing it and I’ve tried to teach my nephew how to do it so my guns will still be able to shoot in the years to come, if they are still allowed to be shot.
Chuck said
Right now you better buy what you can get. Just like other items, like black powder, things may never be the same again.
I agree with Chuck, if you like to shoot these old guns you better buy the supplies now. It’s not going to get any better. T/R
impalacustom said
Yes reforming is more work but I do enjoy doing it and I’ve tried to teach my nephew how to do it so my guns will still be able to shoot in the years to come, if they are still allowed to be shot.
I reform brass for the 22 WCF and my Newton. I messed up on the Newton. Several years ago Jamison made properly head stamped brass and I didn’t buy some. I’m not going to mess up on the Bertram brass.
I like projects. Currently I am repairing a Winchester globe sight with spirit level. I found one of these that was missing the bottom piece that fits into the dove tail of the barrel. I’m modifying a base I got from C Sharps. The base took some grinding and drilling. The eyelet they use has the wrong thread pitch for the Winchester windage screw. So I drilled and re tapped it. Then I broke the eyelet. Now I have to order another one. I also need the lock nut.
The sight on the left is the one I am fixing. The other is an all original Winchester.
Chuck said
I reform brass for the 22 WCF and my Newton.
Chuck, I also have a 22 WCF that I really enjoy shooting, I’m using regular 22 Hornet brass and have some old CH dies, I cast the bullet from an original Winchester mold and it shoots great. Are you using black or smokeless in yours?
Eric
November 7, 2015
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TR said
Chuck said
Right now you better buy what you can get. Just like other items, like black powder, things may never be the same again.
I agree with Chuck, if you like to shoot these old guns you better buy the supplies now. It’s not going to get any better. T/R
I’m afraid you’re both right. Case prep is a chore I don’t enjoy but we don’t know how long our brass will need to last. I’ve resisted getting set up for annealing but it seems that day has arrived. I’ve been reloading for nearly forty years, this isn’t my first primer/powder/ammo shortage. I’ll make it through this one just fine but it’s the worst I’ve seen.
Mike
impalacustom said
Chuck said
I reform brass for the 22 WCF and my Newton.Chuck, I also have a 22 WCF that I really enjoy shooting, I’m using regular 22 Hornet brass and have some old CH dies, I cast the bullet from an original Winchester mold and it shoots great. Are you using black or smokeless in yours?
Eric
I’m using smokeless. I’ve used Unique, 4227 and 4759. I buy the bullets from the Bull Shop in Dell, Mt.
TXGunNut said
I’m afraid you’re both right. Case prep is a chore I don’t enjoy but we don’t know how long our brass will need to last. I’ve resisted getting set up for annealing but it seems that day has arrived. I’ve been reloading for nearly forty years, this isn’t my first primer/powder/ammo shortage. I’ll make it through this one just fine but it’s the worst I’ve seen.
Mike
Mike I used to anneal by hand. I have a stand for the propane tank and position it on a table. I rest my hand on the table so I hold the brass in the same spot each time while I rotate the brass. I count the seconds in the flame then drop them into a pan and let them sit overnight. The case should not turn orange. Stop just before this happens. You will usually see an orange flame start at the mouth. Some do this in a nearly dark room.
Since I anneal quite often I bought an automated annealer. I used one batch of brass 22 times before 1 of the case necks cracked. I can anneal 50 cases in about 5 minutes.
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