My own paper cartridge formers. Now with video!

[ShotgunDave]

As for the conicals, just measure the heel portion of the Lee 200gr for me. That will tell me if it will work with the former I have planned just for the conical bullets. I have the prototype made, just haven't made the molds yet.

It *should* be .450, but I'll double check with the calipers tonight.

.450 seems big. The Johnston & Dow measures .430 across the heel.

Just let me know what you discover.

[mike116]

The Lee conical doesn't have a heel and is .450 diameter.  It will be difficult to load with paper wrapped around the base.

[Desperate Lee]

Dave those are looking good. The idea for the mandrel was a good one. I am a round baller in my Colts but in the '58's i do shoot 200 grn Hornady SWC lead bullets. I give them a tapered base that loads easily. So for now RB is all i need. Maybe a .36 cal later on.
Gary

[ShotgunDave]

The Lee conical doesn't have a heel and is .450 diameter.  It will be difficult to load with paper wrapped around the base.

Thanks for that info Mike. Having never used the Lee conical, I wasn't sure.

Dave those are looking good. The idea for the mandrel was a good one. I am a round baller in my Colts but in the '58's i do shoot 200 grn Hornady SWC lead bullets. I give them a tapered base that loads easily. So for now RB is all i need. Maybe a .36 cal later on.
Gary

Thanks DL.

I use mostly round ball too. That's why I wanted to come up with this. I believe the other mandrel/formers out there cater to the conical bullet makers. The round ball is harder to make into a paper cartridge, without completely covering it in the paper envelope and having the twisted paper on top. I was making my cartridges that way, just like everyone else. The problem I was having is, unless you tear that twisted paper off, it ends up in a big wad on top of your ball in the chamber. Not every time, but a lot of the time. I didn't like it.

This mandrel and former is made just for the round ball. It leaves a small portion of the paper exposed at the top, so you can get about 1/3 of the ball covered. Kind of like an ice cream cone. The cartridge seems to hang on to the bullet nicely, and there's not a wad of paper on top to contend with.

[Captainkirk]

Mike beat me to it...yeah, .450. Sounds like a mandrel for that conical might be useless.
I shoot mostly RB anyway.

[ShotgunDave]

Ok guys. There's been a lot of interest in my little former. So rather than pollute this post with a bunch of inquiries and such, I've started a thread in the For Sale section.

If anyone is interested in one, please head on over there.

Thanks!!

[ShotgunDave]

Here's the link to the How-To video fellas.

[Desperate Lee]

I like the video. You have a good camera presence.
DL

[ShotgunDave]

Thanks DL. Appreciate it.

[Desperate Lee]

Made some cartridges today. Sorry guys not a Colt but one of my favorites. See picture 1. Using 25 grns Goex FFF, Hornady .454 round ball, and some of Omnivores swaged round ball bullets, and also some Pyrodex FFF 30 grn pistol pellets. I used Shotgun Daves forming cartridge tool. Had a slight problem with it but i worked it out. Round ball loads are the 25 grns of Goex. Makes a nice cartridge. The swaged bullets not so much. I decided to glue some Pyrodex pellets to 5 of the bullets as a test. I will try them all out once it guits raining here.
DL

[Gray Fox]

What kind of glue did you use to put the bullet on the pellets?  I have a bunch of pellets as well as some pure lead Lee conical BP bullets.  GF

[ShotgunDave]

Good looking cartridges Gray Fox!

[Desperate Lee]

Grey Fox
I used the blue Elmer's stick glue. Will see how it holds on the Pyrodex pellets. Will give it a few days and check the hold. You know i still havent shot your bullets you sent me. My little 36's loading window is way too small. However i now have a Uberti '62 Police that they will work in.
DL

[Gray Fox]

Today I tried two different ways with the Pyro pellets and the Lee BP conical.  One was the glue stick and the other was a drop of DAP super glue.  The stick glue got gummy and did not set up completely, but it could still be loaded that way.  The DAP bonded almost instantly and I almost had the pellet past the edge of the bullet.  The bullets were clean castings and I wiped the bases with a cloth.  Both bullet combos seated into a '58 Rem cylinder which is off the gun and would be easily seated with my cheapo cylinder loading tool.  For a couple of cylinders worth no lube would be necessary, but if it were to be a long range session I'd try putting lubed Wonder Wads over the seated bullets if there is room.  GF