Oh the horror! Oh the Russian/Canadian horror! (now with pictures)

[Drydock]

I would ask that you please keep me in good thoughts and well wishes, as it appears I am about to fall down a most dark and deep ballistic rabbit hole: IE, seemingly thanks to a favorable Canadian exchange rate, I have just acquired a Russian Berdan II!   


(I really need to shut down that $@@*#*()@!! Gunbroker account . . .)


I mean, it could not be worse than the Gras . . . could it?

[pony express]

You keep buying weird stuff, we'll see you on Full 30 when Ian comes to check out your collection.

Maybe, just MAYBE, there's some kind of brass that will make a truly usable cartridge case for it (unlike the Gras, where nothing really fits, unless you have a lathe to turn little collars to epoxy onto cases for rims)

[Major 2]

I though I liked the weird stuff, I wont even register on your meter 
Very cool though

10.67x58mmR

[1961MJS]

Hi guys

There's these rounds you may not have heard about that are SUBSTANTIALLY LESS EXPENSIVE to reload:

1. .45-70 Govment
2. .30-06 Springfield
3. .45 ACP
4. .38 Special.



Of course, they're not RARE either.

Later

[Drydock]

Unfortunately, I am weird, but cool . . .

[ira scott]

Weird+, Cool?  (Jocularity, Colonel Drydock, Sir!)

[Delmonico]

Will another Turkey Vulture be sacrificed to make a uniform?

[Niederlander]

Is there any common case you can make brass from?  Looks like it could be interesting.

[Drydock]

I can see that Buffalo Arms makes it out of Starline .50-110, I'll probably start accumulating some of that.  The original bullets were paper patch, no way I'm fooling with that, so the search will be on for a workable mold.  I'm getting to know Tom at Accurate Molds on a first name basis.

I've also already have enough for a Russian Sailor outfit, though the horizontal stripes make me look fat(ter).  No large fowl need be sacrificed.

[Delmonico]

Isn't 44-77 Sharps the same except the Sharps round uses a slightly larger bullet?

[Drydock]

Might be able to use that, it would be preferred, as I already have a lot of that for my .43 Spanish Rolling Block.

[Major 2]

Would you post some photos ?  I like follow these projects

[Drydock]

It is still in Canada, with the check in the mail, I will post as soon as I have it.

[Drydock]

1st puzzlement: There seemed to be some oddities in cartridge dimensions.  Research has now revealed there were 2 .42 Russian cartridges: a rifle round sharing the same basic case with the .43 Spanish and .44-77.  (I would in fact say that the .42 is the actual parent case) and a Gatling (Gorloff) round using the same bullet, but a longer and larger diameter case.  (nearly 15mm longer!) Perhaps based on a lengthened Gras case.  This would make sense as the Russians were doing a lot of work hand in glove with St Etienne at this time.  I had always though the Gatling round was the same as the rifle, but evidently not.

  It also appears that Buffalo Arms may have mixed the dimensions of these two very different cases!  I won't know for sure until I get the rifle in hand, but I believe .43 Spanish brass will be the way to go here.

(Update: yep, "Cartridges of the World" first mixed up the case dimensions long ago, and it has carried over to the present day.  BTW, Gorloff had NOTHING to do with the rifle cartridge,  the Gatling cartridge was his.)

[pony express]

Does this round have the super thick "A" base, Like the Mauser and Gras? or a more normal base and rim?

[Drydock]

It seems to be a more conventional rim to me:  https://www.soldusa.com/Content/listingImages/20180303/af7dcbf3-f580-4008-a6be-968977a57da1_largesize.jpg

[Drydock]

Update: I have been informed that my check (beg pardon, "cheque") has been exchanged for proper coin of the realm, and that said rifle is proceeding south.

[DeaconKC]

Why do I have this weird mental picture of Snidely Whiplash carrying off Natasha from Rocky & Bullwinkle?

[Coffinmaker]

Deacon,

Glad I ain't the only one   

Ah, wouldn't Snidely actually have been carrying off Nell ??  Although I am so easily confused.  Boris, Ah Boris,  Where are you Boris!!!  Help ... Help ... Translate to Russian yourself 

[Drydock]

"Fearless Leader is sneaky no good back stabbing evil keeler!  But one day . . . hee'l go to far!"