My New 50 Cal Wildcat

[scope eye]

I use to use the cotton ball method, now I just fill the case with powder so the bullet can't drop or sink into the case while I am crimping it, powder is a much better holder and I get the coal I want by adjusting the powder level. I kid you not.LOL

Dean

[farmerben]

Still using H335?

[scope eye]

335,322, IMR3031, 10X, RL7, H4198, The next powder on my list to try is H110, I would like to find a powder that I could use 70gr of and still get the velocity I want, so I could get at least get 100 rounds from a pound.

Dean

[Blitzfike]

Update on my progress with this beast. I'm using the 50 Beowolf dies, sizing with the 500 SW die doesn't give me enough neck tension, neither does the 50AE die so I've been using the beowolf die to neck size the cases. If I need to full length size the cases, it will have to be with the 500 SW die and so far I have avoided mutilating it. With my mild load of 70 grains of IMR-4895 and the 465 grain cast bullet, performance has been good so far. I did have to go back and trim all my cases to the smallest length found in the virgin brass, which turned out to be 2.655" in length. I had too much difference in lengths on my cases and the long cases jammed into the rifling, created big jumps in pressure while the shorter cases would have to be struck two or three times with the firing pin to get them to fire. I tore the bolt down and set the pin protrusion to max, trimmed the cases to one length and now all is fine. I machined a die to swage bullets at .502 diameter, the only nose punch I've made to date makes a semi wadcutter type shoulder on the bullet. I have to work the swaging in steps at the pivot point of the old rock chucker as it doesn't have enough mechanical advantage to swage it all in one throw. I guess a hydraulic swaging press is in my future to make these bullets. Running the plated bullets through this die gives better neck retention with the slight increase in diameter, but I'm not sure how well the SWC bullet nose is going to work. Not so well for long range I'm thinking...

[SUTTERERMAN85]

Dean, I would be interested as to see how the h110 works. I also have 300MP and lil gun that I run in my 50ae ar15s as well. 300MP makes fireballs but the lil gun seems to do more with less. I have 8lbs of H110...we talked a little about this when I called you. The 50ae seat/crimp die works for me.

[scope eye]

You probably did tell me, but what can I say, they old grey matter she ain't what she use to be, ain't what she use to be, many long years ago.

Dean

[jonbearman]

Can you elaborate on the 81 catapult?

[Blitzfike]

Question for you guys. Tried loading up a few rounds tonight and having problems with the factory crimp die on the Lee .50 beowulf die set. Trying to set the crimp and the bullet still turns in the case after the crimp. Pushed a bit harder and the case gets rippled. Whats the method or cure for this?

The issue here is neck tension. What you are neck sizing with isn't bringing the neck diameter down enough to hold the bullet in place. The 500 S&W and the 50AE both have very thick necks and the sizing die is honed to make the bullet tension right for that brass. I had to go to my 50 Beowolf die to get enough tension to grip the bullets. I'm using the beo dies for both neck sizing and crimping. Dean's cotton balls work OK for holding the bullet out there, but you still don't have enough neck tension and that effects the internal ballistics of the powder burn. I am getting much more consistent ignition with the necks sized down with the 50 Beowolf sizing die. Hope this helps you understand what's going on. Jim
Edit, I'm also using bullets bumped up to .502 with a home made swage die.

[BTSniper]

I would have to look at my reloading books but regarding the neck tension....... run the brass threw the taper crimp die without a bullet. Run it up far enough that it sizes down the neck for the desired length for which you are going to seat your bullet. After you size it that far into the taper crimp die the neck of the brass should be too small to seat a bullet so now you can run it over the mandrel in the expender die. Pretty sure this is what I did. It should get you plenty of tension on the seated bullet.

BT

[BTSniper]

Yep that's what I did! Found the thread too. Check post #6

http://www.savageshooters.com/showthread.php?37128-How-to-set-head-space-on-cartridge-that-headspace-on-mouth

[Blitzfike]

Good reminder on the early post. I settled on 2.655 for my length and with light to moderate loads, I haven't had to full length size the brass and haven't seen it grow in length yet either. I will be developing some Thumping loads in the spring just for the younger guys to enjoy... I guess then I'll see what the brass growth is. This has been a fun experience so far. Jim

[scope eye]

Your Welcome;)

Dean

[farmerben]

Got the seating and crimping figured out. Run it through the full length size about half inch and then bell slightly to get bullet in mouth. Use bullet seater to set oal and then favtory crimp. Works well. Tried Deans fill ot to the top and add bullet. It holds 100 grains of H335. That going to be roo much?

[sixonetonoffun]

My best guess is 78-82grains will be max. Though I haven't tried h335 myself. The cases seem to bulge too much with super max loads. Making extraction via wooden mallet the order of the day. At least this has been the outcome for me.

I'm thinking 4064 or 4320 might do the full case but not sure if it will bulge? Tac certainly did when I tried 97.5 grains. Sure would be close..

[scope eye]

I did a full case of H335 with 250gr bullet, so I would go a little less or a full case of a slower powder.

Dean

[farmerben]

This was a 325 grain bullet.

[scope eye]

I would go with some H4895 or something close to that.

Dean

[sixonetonoffun]

So far with 350 & 400 gr bullets my best loads have been 82gr ramshot tac and 78gr of rl7 might get rl7 up a couple more grains but 82 was tough to get out.

I had decent results with 5744 @62gr but would still prefer to find the perfect full case powder.

The smokeless muzzleloaders seem to have a slight advantage with max loads.

The barrels definitely good to go and on par with the 50 B&M. The cheaper brass and off the shelf dies are a bonus.

10 firings seems to be about it for the brass with these loads. Which is awesome really.

[SUTTERERMAN85]

I ran 85 grains of H335 with a 335 grain bullet and no signs of over pressure...still had a good bit of room left...

[Blitzfike]

I've been playing with swaged bullets in this beast, I'm using 45ACP brass fully annealed after turning the rim off and tapering the remaining metal around the primer pocket. One of my cast 340 grain 45-70 bullets nose first into the open case, with a gas check placed over the end. Home machined swaging die with a finished diameter of .5015. Nose punch makes a SWC type nose. The bullets are coming out at 437 grains with the addition of the 45acp case and a 50 cal gas check on the other end. I end up with a full metal jacket with a hollow point nose where the primer pocket was on the case. I haven't had a chance to shoot any of them yet, Probably another week before the weather gets good enough here for that.
http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr184/blitzfike/IMG_1327.jpg?t=1423961818