Loading Heel Base Bullets for Conversion Revolvers

[rifle]

A friend with a power case trimmer would make easy work of trimmin 38 Special down to 38 Long Colt.

[Hoof Hearted]

BTT

[will52100]

Two questions, would it be possible(read economical)  to get a 4-6 cavity mould made, and could you load on a progressive like the Lee Pro-1000?

Actually 3 questions, how well does the crimp hold the bullet in?  I've had hollow base bullets back out of the case a bit before.  Not often, but sometimes.  Load was 17 grains 3F Swiss with a hollow base bullet cast from a Rapine mould.  I get pretty good accuracy, but really really hate casting one at a time and the hollow base likes to get lube down in it while lubeing and sizing.

[FriscoCounty]

It crimps well, but you do have to use a Factory crimper - it goes past the bullet, then closes and crimps on the case. 

[will52100]

Thanks, I guess I should have posted an update.  The brass mould works great, and the crimper as well, just have to do the crimping on a single stage press.  I do the majority of the loading on a turret press, including seating the bullet, then crimp on the single stage.  it'd be nice if I could do all on the turret or a progressive, but this is still way faster than screwing with casting and lubing hollow base rounds.

As far as accuracy, I'd give the heel bullets the edge, though I did get good results with the 165 grain Rapine mould.

With this loading set up I no longer have a strong desire to line the bore to .357.  Not quite as fast as loading inside lubed bullets, but close enough.

[Hoof Hearted]

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[nativeshootist]

I'm kinda surprised that there's a 44 rimfire flat mold, and at the same time not; just knowing its their business. But what would you use it for? I know for original henry's and 66 winchesters but there isn't a centerfire bolt for those. could you make brass for it out of 41 mag like you can for 44 s&w?

[Hoof Hearted]

I'm kinda surprised that there's a 44 rimfire flat mold, and at the same time not; just knowing its their business. But what would you use it for? I know for original henry's and 66 winchesters but there isn't a centerfire bolt for those. could you make brass for it out of 41 mag like you can for 44 s&w?

Unless you are asking for speculation this question would be better posed to Bernie at OWBM.

[nativeshootist]

What's that

[will52100]

Just a guess, but there are a few shooters that have Henry's in 44 special and it'd be a simple mater to work up a heel based round to be as authentic as possible.  Or else there using them in heel base cartridge conversions for colt and remington revolvers.  Or even for 72 open tops with bored through 44 cylinders and a 45 barrel?  Anyway, just because the original round is rimfire doesn't mean you can't load a centerfire round to match.  Also the correct 44 colt round is round nosed, maybe they want to load a flat point instead?  If I ever manage to get a Richard's type 1 conversion done on a 2nd gen colt, I'm not sure if I'd go for the round nose colt bullet or the henry flat point.  Would likely try both out and stick with the one I liked best.  End of the day, it's just a bullet profile and another option.  

Now they just need to come up with a flat point 165 grain 38 in heel base while keeping the heel short for accuracy.

Edited:  Just got to looking at the sizes, so not sure what it'd be used for.  Maybe for a 41 mag case?  In any event I'd love to hear speculation on what it'd be good for.

[pony express]

I have seated heel base bullets in .38LC by just pushing the bullet nose against the edge of the bench, then crimp with Bernie's tool.

[Dirty Doc]

   Is this what they meant by "going heeled"?

[Tinker Pearce]

Thanks to Hoof-hearted and OWBMs I'm finally loading good .44 Colt rounds!  I live in an urban area and am pretty much restricted to an indoor range, so I load smokeless in this cartridge. I swage a heel onto a 200gr. LRNFP and since I am shooting smokeless dry lube has been working just fine. I'm loading these on top of 5.0gr. of Unique with a CCI300 large-pistol primer.  I like it so well I'm already planning my next .44 Colt conversion...

[Bibbyman]

Timely information.   

Last year a Colt DA 38 followed me home.  It's in general good shape with excellent grips.  But had a cracked forcing cone.  The chambers are bored through so I suspect it's ment to fire the heel type bullets. I watched eBay and last Saturday ordered a good replacement barrel.  It came on Tuesday and looks great.  I need to finish up another project before I go ahead with this one. 

[Baltimore Ed]

Bibbyman, I've got a couple of these old civilian DA Colts. I've been swaging heel base bullets in my homemade dies. Other than a gorilla trigger pull they shoot good with the correct diameter lead. Keep us posted on your project.

[Dirty Doc]

Heck, I never expected so much help. Bernie and I are close to a solution. Just got a box of loads from him today. Will then order what I need from him. THANK YOU'ALL, DOC