W44WCF,
Thank you Very Much for the drawings of the two types of "Factory Crimp Die" from Lee.
Thank you also for posting the photo of the "pin" used to adapt the 30-30 Collette type to crimp the .32 Long colt.
That looks like it is doable for our needs, just requires one pin fo reach crimp length of the cartridge.
Alternate thought: make the pin length adjustable too.
Admittedly that would make the pin harder to manufacture and would need careful design to assure sufficient strength of the adjustment for variations in case wall strengths. And the adjustment would need to be marked somehow to allow resetting for different cases and bullets.
As the main force of the crimp is applied at the bottom of the Collette, this 'strength' may be reasonable for successful design and production.
Adjustment thread is another consideration.
40 Threads per inch is used in Micrometers as it gives an easy division for .001" measurements (25 division around the circumference). I wonder if it would be strong enough in this application?
20 Threads per inch would require 50 divisions fo rth esaem .001" accuracy, might be a little hard to read, but would give additional strength.
I have not looked into what other Screw thread pitch series could be used and give easy division for .001" resettable measurements. Nor have I looked up the actual strengths of the two threads I mentioned. It has been a long day, up at 0300 to get to worksite before 0630 then on 'duty' until 12.7 hours later, with a half hour for lunch, then a heavy traffic drive home lasting from before sunset until after full dark. Then of course greeting my two dogs that had been outside all day and doing the reading and typing to put my ideas before you. It's now 2215 and i am signing off to go to bed, It least I can sleep in tomorrow morning no work call for the weekend but a promise of one possibly Wednesday.
Best Regards,
Chev. William
Saturday Evening, September 27th:
On a 'Whim' I bid and won an auction for a "Stevens Favorite Barrel in 25-20". It came in today's USPS mails and now I am in Quandry.
I just this evening received a used Barrel in the USPS Mail that has a chamber that does not match what is marked on the barrel.
First the barrel description:
It is a half round-half octagon design about 26 inches long with an 8 inch full octagon section. The Muzzle end measures .807 inch diameter with a square flat end.
The round section measures about .942 inch diameter just in front of the Octagon section.
The Octagon section measures about .972 inch across the flats.
The Breech end has two diameters with threads on the middle third.
The section near the octagon measures .800 inch diameter, the threaded area seems to be .790 inch outer diameter, and the breech end measures .740 inch diameter. The 'spigot overall length measures 1.553 inches, with the .740 inch section about .695 inch long.
Markings on the barrel are:
"J. Stevens A. & T. Co.", "Chicopee Falls, Mass.U.S.A. PAT. APR. 17 94" on the top flat.
"25-20" in 'roll stamp script' on the next flat.
and "61 674" just forward of the bottom flat.
No other markings were found.
Second the Chamber description:
The chamber measurements do not match what Ammoguide has for either "25-20' cartridge, nor does the Cartridge Identifier tool come up with a match.
Dimensions measured so far:
Chamber depth = 1.175 inch.
Chamber shoulder diameter = .279 inch.
Chamber base diameter = .279 inch.
Chamber rim cut diameter = .348 inch.
Chamber Rim cut depth = .053 inch.
Barrel slugs .250 Bore and .257 Groove diameters.
Note that one of my ".250ALS" loaded cartridges will go into the chamber as found. But the barrel is 'oversize for the bullet, a .250 Diameter 50 Grain FMJ RN design.
I am hoping someone with more experience with the older cartridges will be able to help me identify what this barrel is designed to fit (action) and fire (cartridge).
Best Regards,
Chev. William