Bottlenecked cartridges in Revolvers?

anand · June 14, 2002, 05:51 PM

Hello all,
I am thinking of getting into reloading and have a few questions:

1.Is it possible to use bottlenecked cartridges in revolvers?

I am thinking of using rimmed, cut down, necked own, rifle cases in a custom revolver. I know of the 25-20, 32-20, 38-40, 44-40 etc. but these dont have much of a shoulder. My cartridge would look like a 8mm lebel except the shoulder would be closer to the case head and with a shorter bullet.

My gunsmith said bottleneck cartridges tend to flow forward at the moment of firing and prevent the cylinder from turning.

2.Would this be true even if the cases could be made to head space on the case mouth (like if it was not crimped)as well as on the shoulder?

Thanks,
Anand

Steve Smith · June 14, 2002, 05:57 PM

Actually, I believe that the cases back out a hair because the breechface isn't completely against the case head. That will cause the brass to flow a lot, but the real problem is that when it backs up, it binds up the cylinder.

Guys, did I get this right? Its been a while.

mdlowry · June 14, 2002, 06:19 PM

Gary Reeder (of Reeder Custom Guns) does do some bottlenecks of his own design. They include .356 GNR(.41 case necked to .357), .41 GNR #1 (.44 case necked to .41), and .41 GNR #2 (.445 supermag case necked to .41).

C.R.Sam · June 14, 2002, 06:44 PM

Tapered body bottlenecks tend to back up against the recoil plate and bind the action.

Straight case bottlenecks seem to do ok.

Ex.....224 Harvey Kay-Chuk works great in revolvers...straight case. 22 Jet causes problems....ballisticaly nearly identical cept the Jet has quite a bit of taper.

Sam

Jeeper · June 15, 2002, 12:09 AM

mdlowry,

I have a 41 GNR#1 in a smith revolver Gary did for me about 6 years ago. It is a hell of a cartridge. Gets great speed out of a short gun. He makes great stuff. I have a bunch of his contender barrels also.

mdlowry · June 15, 2002, 12:25 AM

Jeeper,

What kind of velocity do you get the the .41 GNR? I've got 1500+ fps out of my .41 Redhawk. Wondering how much faster the GNR would be.

Jeeper · June 16, 2002, 12:00 AM

It was so long ago that I chrono'd it that I cant really remember. I think I remember gary saying that out of a 6" barrell it go the velocities that you would normally get from a normal 41 out of a 12 inch barrell. i'll see if I can find it in one of my old chrono logs.

renaissance7697 · June 17, 2002, 01:05 PM

I refer you to the:

M1895 Nagant Revolver in the original 7.62 Nagant.

also I believe

32-20

June 14, 2002, 06:19 PM	#3
mdlowry Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2001 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 417	Gary Reeder (of Reeder Custom Guns) does do some bottlenecks of his own design. They include .356 GNR(.41 case necked to .357), .41 GNR #1 (.44 case necked to .41), and .41 GNR #2 (.445 supermag case necked to .41). __________________ My PGP key

June 15, 2002, 12:09 AM	#5
Jeeper Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2001 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 776	mdlowry, I have a 41 GNR#1 in a smith revolver Gary did for me about 6 years ago. It is a hell of a cartridge. Gets great speed out of a short gun. He makes great stuff. I have a bunch of his contender barrels also. __________________ Gun control theory - A woman raped and strangled is morally superior to a woman with a smoking gun and a dead rapist at her feet.

June 15, 2002, 12:25 AM	#6
mdlowry Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2001 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 417	Jeeper, What kind of velocity do you get the the .41 GNR? I've got 1500+ fps out of my .41 Redhawk. Wondering how much faster the GNR would be. __________________ My PGP key

June 16, 2002, 12:00 AM	#7
Jeeper Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2001 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 776	It was so long ago that I chrono'd it that I cant really remember. I think I remember gary saying that out of a 6" barrell it go the velocities that you would normally get from a normal 41 out of a 12 inch barrell. i'll see if I can find it in one of my old chrono logs. __________________ Gun control theory - A woman raped and strangled is morally superior to a woman with a smoking gun and a dead rapist at her feet.

June 17, 2002, 01:05 PM	#8
renaissance7697 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2001 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 203	It's been done I refer you to the: M1895 Nagant Revolver in the original 7.62 Nagant. also I believe 32-20 __________________ An Armed Society, Is a Polite Society.

June 14, 2002, 05:51 PM	#1
anand Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 1999 Posts: 276	Bottlenecked cartridges in Revolvers? Hello all, I am thinking of getting into reloading and have a few questions: 1.Is it possible to use bottlenecked cartridges in revolvers? I am thinking of using rimmed, cut down, necked own, rifle cases in a custom revolver. I know of the 25-20, 32-20, 38-40, 44-40 etc. but these dont have much of a shoulder. My cartridge would look like a 8mm lebel except the shoulder would be closer to the case head and with a shorter bullet. My gunsmith said bottleneck cartridges tend to flow forward at the moment of firing and prevent the cylinder from turning. 2.Would this be true even if the cases could be made to head space on the case mouth (like if it was not crimped)as well as on the shoulder? Thanks, Anand

June 14, 2002, 05:57 PM	#2
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	Actually, I believe that the cases back out a hair because the breechface isn't completely against the case head. That will cause the brass to flow a lot, but the real problem is that when it backs up, it binds up the cylinder. Guys, did I get this right? Its been a while. __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

June 14, 2002, 06:44 PM	#4
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Tapered body bottlenecks tend to back up against the recoil plate and bind the action. Straight case bottlenecks seem to do ok. Ex.....224 Harvey Kay-Chuk works great in revolvers...straight case. 22 Jet causes problems....ballisticaly nearly identical cept the Jet has quite a bit of taper. Sam