Winchester 76 Brass from Chaparral

[Crotchety Old Grouch]

About a month ago I e-mailed Chaparral in Italy to asked for a US source of their brass.  Today I got the following response;


----- Original Message -----
From: "Chaparral Arms" <

Dear sir,
thank you for your email and sorry for long delay in unswering you.
If you are interested in 45/75 cases you can order to KBI inc at
717-540-8518 att Don
Thank you and best regards
Nicola Nauti


Well I just got off of the phone with Don at KBI.   He confirmed that they are the US distributer for Chaparral Brass and will have ALL of the Winchester calibers.  I asked about pricing and availability, he said that he should have that info next week.  When  I told him that I was going to post this info here, he said that he was going to start a waiting list (I'm #1).  As of now he didn't think that they would have a minimum order requirement.

p.s.  here is a link to the case specs. on the Chaparral web site    http://www.chaparralarms.com/specs/technicalspecs.htm

[john boy]

Grouch ... very interesting!  KBI Inc is the importer in Harrisburg, PA for Charles Daly firearms ... http://www.gzanders.com/manu/kbi.html  Guess Chaparrel USA is now WHAT?

It's good your #1 on the list.  It's my understanding that the first shipment of brass is 3000.  How many per caliber?  Unknown

[Crotchety Old Grouch]

John Boy,  About a month and 1/2 ago I asked Nick at Charter Arms when they would be getting some of the Chaparral brass.  He told me that they would not be handeling it and refe. me to some other source and gave me a #.  Called them (can'tremember who) and they said that they would not be importing it either.  That's when I e-mailed Chaparral.  As far as I know Chaparral USA/Charter Arms are only importing Chaparral Firearms.  

I didn't asked Don at KBI how much brass he was expecting but got the impression that he was expecting it soon.

[nitroexpress]

I received an email from Nicola on 1/4/08 stating that USA Charter 2000 was their importer and gave me this email to check on case pricing and availability:  decker4527@aol.com         

I sent an email but haven't heard back yet.  He also provided their phone number at 203-922-1652.

Sure be nice to have some properly dimensioned cases with the actual caliber headstamp.  Might not have to wait for Jamison to get back on track.   

[john boy]

Nitro, here is the specification that Chaparrel is making the 45-75 brass to. The rim diameter is different between the Jamison and Chaparrel.  So where here, I posted a chart of all the differences for rim diameters and thicknesses
Mouse right click > view image ... to make the picture larger

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Does anyone know if KBI will send cases to Canada?  I'd be interested in about a $100 worth, for starters!

[Crotchety Old Grouch]

Sir Charlie, 

Give Don at KBI a call on Monday (717-540-8518)  He said he'd be there until weds. this week and then he's off to a show. 

I don't know much about Canuk gun laws, are there rules about importing empty brass?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Not that I am aware of, but I keep my orders under $100 to be prudent.  Just for cases, not loaded ammo.

[nitroexpress]

Thanks, John Boy.  Sure would be nice if they'd chamfer the rim a bit like a lot of the old original cartridges were.   Oh well, it will be nice to just get the brass...hopefully, it will be good stuff.  My Chaparral seems to handle and eject the 45-75 Buffalo Arms .348 based brass well at the moment.

[john boy]

My Chaparral seems to handle and eject the 45-75 Buffalo Arms .348 based brass well at the moment.

Nitro, then you should have no problem unless Chaparrel varies from the information I was told that rim case thickness per the WRA drawing.  It's 0.058 to 0.062

[Hoof Hearted]

I just spoke with Don at KBI. Nice fella

He was surprised and disappointed at the price he found out yesterday...........
$3.25 per case for 45-75

The rim thickness was quoted to me as .062
He will be waiting until the end of the month to order and is waiting to see how much interest there is.

[Hobie]

I'm not surprised at all.  With the dollar to euro exchange rate, we might consider it fortunate that it is only $3.25 a piece.  Is that wholesale or retail?

[Grizzly Adams]

Check out the pic of the headstamp posted by Outlander on the first 45-60 reloading thread.  Nice!

[Hoof Hearted]

$3.25 was retail and he said expect about 25 percent off for dealer

Don also told me the headstamp would say "Chaparral"
Maybe he is not sure after seeing the post from Outlander.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I guess I will continue to convert .348 WCF Cases.  They ONLY cost #1.00 each!