.45-60 Blogging: The 2 Cent Machine Shop
on 08/12/2008 at 12:47 PM
YES! One must realize that duct tape IS the fifth force of nature. Earth. Wind. Fire. Water. Duct tape. Interesting project you got going there. Keep us informed as to how it’s working, and what the first big critter it takes is!
Nice work Drew.
Peiper, they’re homemade tools for modifying cartridge cases in large numbers. If you look at this picture from left to right,
<img src ="http://members.shaw.ca/cartridge-corner/wr14.JPG">
the tools are for turning the #2 cartridge into the #1 cartridge. It looks easy but has to be done with surgical precision. Being off by as much as 0.001” can make a mess of things.Why bother? Well, you can buy the #2 cases for 34ยข each. And you can find them by the thousands in many many places. The #1 case is available either as loaded ammunition from exactly 2 places, at between $2.40 each and $4.00 each, or you can get the brass alone for $2.15 each. From one place only. So it’s a huge cost difference, since most shooters like to have at least 100 rounds for their guns. Thus it’s worth a few hours of R&D and messing about to make a couple gizmos that can turn a few hundred of the cheap cases into the expensive ones.
Plus this kind of problem solving is fun, especially when the solution means MacGyvering up a couple of tools. And doing it for free is even more fun.
Tool Design Phase 2: analyze your ideas and find a simpler way.
My case trimmer idea was too complex. I’ve found an easier way that should be even faster.
So long as it works. Simplicity is not a bad thing.
Nice set up. Good work.
I’m setting here at the computer trying to visualize how to modify my Forster trimmer and neck reamer to perform this. Needs a different cutter, at least…
I don’t do much cartridge conversion or wildcatting these days, but the challenge is always fun. That’s a nice article, worthy of Handloader Magazine - one of the few ‘gun magazines’ I still read. Again, good work.
08/12/2008 at 08:41 PM
