Can you reload rimfire shells

The situation has got many of us thinking about the possibility that someday, there might just not be any more ammo available.

There may come a time when I have to improvise to put some meat on the table. But this situation has definitely highlighted the importance of being able to load your own ammo. For this reason alone, it never hurts to have a backup plan. I got my start in handloading with the Lee Loader, and so did my dad. Except for some pistol cartridges, these loaders only re-size the cartridge neck, so it helps and sometimes is necessary to only use brass fired from the gun you are loading for to ensure smooth chambering.

Next comes the powder charge. Each kit comes with a generic powder measure and lists of powders and associated measurements with that cartridge. It does help to use a real powder scale for accuracy, but as long as you stay within the guidelines, your ammunition will be totally safe. After charging the case with powder, you set the case in the depriming chamber so that no contact can be made with primer , and slide the die over the case which is also used to adjust seating depth.

Drop the bullet in, and use the seater to tap it into place. For what is a pretty rudimentary process, this kit is very capable of producing accurate and dependable ammunition, and is completely safe.

These kits are mostly sold out on the Lee website , but you can still find them by hunting around online. Priming compound itself us an issue: tried pure " white part" of the tips of strike anywhere matckes dissolved in acetone and allowed to dry. Limited success. Filled to the brim w 4fg black powder so the bullet pulled from loaded 22lr would compress it seemed to work. No chronograph data though. I am interested in this topic, where to get proper bullets, etc.

I thought this YouTube vid was cool. Really helps you think about. If you don't just want to stock up on the heeled bullets Cabela's sells for NAA cap 'n ball. A 36 gr. Or have Accurate make you one if you already have an NAA cap 'n ball. Those Cabela's bullets don't have a proper groove to accept the crimp. Although they ARE technically a heeled design. Bust open a. At least that's what I've seen so far on dud rounds that I pried open to study.

Due to the heeled design we'd also be looking at a specialty crimping setup. The usual push in style won't work since the bullet is the same diameter as the case.

I know that outfits have sold pre-primed casings at various times. I'm just not sure what the setup would be like to correctly crimp the bullets into the casings. But it's a slam dunk that the setup would not be anything like a regular die set.

A straight push in crimping die would need to use some form of collet like fingers that pinch in to crimp the brass. GREAT video that answered a lot of questions, thanks for posting.

A formula for primer compound was posted on this site not long ago, I'll see if I can find it. A soft wood rounded edge punch would force compound into the rim. Looks like the proper bullet and crimp is the long pole in the tent now. If you shoot these again it'd sure be interesting to know how fast they're travelling! Sounds like you have fairly well duplicated what the old timer I spoke with did.

A heeled bullet is smaller at the heel, not larger and no driving band per se. Yes, needs a. I even bought a mold, but havent cast any yet. Now you've got me interested again I was asked today if. I am proven wrong with my daughter who asked sitting right next to me. I will be following this, sounds like a cool project.

One grain is sub-sonic and 2. Also, a while back I ran it information about a powder that was developed for 22 rf, but we use it for other things. I'll try and find it. When you are priming them it isn't an explosive, but when it dries out it its.

US patent: 4,, I've only did very preliminary testing with this mix and none in rimfire. It is the about the simplest non-corrosive to make and the needed supplies are easy to get. FWIW, it only works straight up in rf and Berdan primers. Also if doing a large number of them, one might want to consider derimming the cases - see the swaging section of this forum.

And then heading them again. What's the formula for LNHP double saly priming mixture??? We have made shot strings up to rounds still maintaining accuracy and no foul out.

Swiss Null-B is the best powder As for reloading, we have developed steps that are close to the time to reload a regular smokeless cast bullet round. This should give you a workable result. And is from the patent. Please read it. Mix water with part one 2. Mix part one with part 2 3. Load cases Method B 1. Mix part one with part two 2. Load cases 3. Add drop of water into case There are other ways of doing this also.

FWIW, because of the closeness of the primer mix to the powder in rf, the mix used can be very different than what is needed in a Boxer primer. Totally separate from the primer mix.

From G. Frost's book "Ammunition Making". Warning this was typed now by me and I'll review it again latter to make sure it is correct. You might have to make the lead hypophosphite. On a dry basis you need grams of calcium hypophosphite and grams of lead nitrate to make grams from.

Dissolve the lead nitrate in about 2 litters of water. Pour the lead nitrate solution into the calcium hypophosphite solution.

Lead hypophosphite will settle to the bottom and the calcium nitrate will stay in the water for the most part. Filter out the lead hypophosphite and wash it well with water to remove any calcium nitrate. I have used sodium hypophosphite instead of calcium hypophosphite, because of the DEA list at the time. I used the part B solution from an electroless nickel plating kit.

Black powder for safety and airgun pellets. Some did go off and make it out of the barrel, but it was very hit and miss. But in hindsight, this may have been where I'd not cleaned out the prime groove in the case head, before repriming. May 23, 3, derbyshire. Reactions: Janne. Delta wolf New Member.

Jun 17, 1 0 Bristol. I can buy. There are only a few oddballs it applies to. When young and a poor student, I used to cast.

After casting, you need to size and lubricate them in one moment. All bullets used in comps or for any precision work need to be weighed after sizing, then lubed. So two moments. I can not see anybody casting, sizing and lubricating. Time could be spent better used to make and sell something and raise the cash to buy the 'factory quality' ammunition. On why I didn't mention wheel weights, don't know about the UK but here in the US most new wheel weights being used are now are zinc, not lead.

A lot of this depends upon your perspective and outlook. In the US we recently had a major rimfire ammo shortage that lasted a couple of years. This tool is a result of that. Yes, it's crazy that a nation with over million privately owned firearms and an estimated over 2 Trillion rounds of ammo stored in private hands should have an ammo shortage. However, it showed the frailty of the manufacturing and supply system. All in all, a tool like that is an insurance policy.

If you need ammo and there is none to be had, a mere 50 or rounds can make a difference. Yep, wheel weights in the UK can contain stuff you don't want to be casting bullets with. We still have a fairly good supply of soft lead, range scrap etc.

I've seen people in the US claim they've got s of rounds put aside, even though they don't like 22s. I'd rather have pre-primed cases though! The shortage was because the previous president said something about gun control. Our club and individual members together buy around 9mm rounds a year. A couple thousand. So a large order the suppliers have wet dreams about! For about three years we could not find anybody in the US to supply us, so we had to go worldwide. Brazil could supply.

Once a year our club sifted the berm sand, and we split the goodies. I used to change my revolver for a new one every 3 years, or about 20 I used a Ruger Security Six, stainless steel gun with a blued non stainless barrel. I also cast bullets to be used in the. In many cases in US it is not hoarding, but it is a way to keep the cost down.

To buy rounds one practice session for many shooters is hugely more expensive per round than if you buy You must log in or register to reply here. Similar threads.