converting berdan to boxer

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7

Author

Joe HSenior Guild Member

Posts: 777

CONVERTING BERDAN toBOXER

« on: February 20, 2011, 12:27:10 PM »

Quote

Converting Berdan to Boxer Primers

Yeah, Yeah I know Trenches, it’s not worth the trouble but when hasthat ever stopped the Members of this Board .

I have bunch military surplus berdan primed.303 British. Some 1941Radway Green and some Early sixties POF.

Hateing to throw away all that good brass I came up with the followingmethod to convert the brass to boxer priming. I used small 7” BenchLathes to do the work but it could be setup for a mill or drill press. Itwill only be efficient if you have a lot of cases to do and set upaccordingly. Once the case is converted it can be reloaded normally aslong as the case lasts.

Since the original Berdan flash holes remain in place, as I haveconverted them, the converted cases will have 5 % more flash holearea than a typical boxer primed case(.082" hole). Start with cautionand reduced loads to be sure the additional area is not affectingpressures. I haven’t yet reloaded any of my cases.

Start by drilling the new flash hole (.066”) through the mouth of thecase. Make a fixture for the drill so that it is centered and will onlypenetrate the anvil in the case and not the primer.

You then can resize and de-cap normally

The primer pocket in the .303 British Surplus is .25”. The pocket has tobe bushed and reamed for the large rifle boxer primer. I cut the bushesfrom ¼” .032” wall brass tubing.

Using Loctite 620 (green, hi temp, retaining compound), I pressed thebushes into the primer pocket.

The bushes then have to be faced to match the base of the shell.

At this point there is too much material to be removed with a primerpocket uniformer (reamer) so I remove most of the material with a13/64” mill(UPDATE found that a number 6 drill works much better) setup with a stop fixture to limit penetration . Then the final step is theprimer pocket reamer followed by a couple of twists with a handcountersink to chamfer the new pocket followed by priming as normal.

Pics below show details:

Joe

Hey,twinscrewcanoe,you have 1message, 0 arenew.Show unreadposts since lastvisit.Show new repliesto your posts.

485831 Posts in 32776 Topics by 17657 Members - Latest Member: nemoaztracker January 25, 2013, 12:18:37 AM

HOME | HELP | SEARCH | PROFILE | MY MESSAGES | MEMBERS | LOGOUT | NEW POSTS |

Weapons Guild | The Tool Box | Ammo and Reloading | Topic: CONVERTING BERDAN to BOXER

Band of Brothers

Search

Search

WG ShoutBox

Recent Posts

Topic: CONVERTING BERDAN to BOXER (Read 1122 times)

1 Member and 0 Guests are viewing this topic.

REPLY NOTIFY MARK UNREAD SEND THIS TOPIC PRINT

CONVERTING BERDAN to BOXER http://www.weaponsguild.com/forum/index.php?topic=18094.0

1 of 5 1/24/2013 11:20 PM

UPDATE

I fired the first batch of converted .303. I loaded a little below max.Worked fine, cycled the action properly(Bren) . No signs of excessivepressure. As I decapped I found some of the bushes moved. Obviouslythe Loctite is not the best way to go. I made a crimping tool andcrimped in the bushings. Hopefully that will solve the problem. NevadaBlue's soldering idea was right on.

DRILL SET UP.jpg (752.89 kB, 1600x1200 - viewed 148 times.)

DRILLING FIXTURE.jpg (772.76 kB, 1600x1200 - viewed 83 times.)

REAMING FIXTURES.jpg (732.83 kB, 1600x1200 - viewed 63 times.)

VARIOUS STEPS.jpg (816.42 kB, 1600x1200 - viewed 172 times.)

FINISHED PRIMER POCKET.jpg (788.76 kB, 1600x1200 - viewed 81 times.)

Re: WTB: AK47 BulletGuide by moab [Today at 12:18:26 AM]

Re: product Idea .. GORYfcg box by CaptMax [Today at 12:15:51 AM]

Re: WTB: AK47 BulletGuide by MBGraphix [Today at 12:13:32 AM]

Re: Uzi stocks andtopcovers 1-23-2013 byKalikov [Today at 12:09:13 AM]

Re: WTB: AK47 BulletGuide by moab [Today at 12:06:13 AM]

Re: Best way to cut a slotinto a Receiver? by Dix [Yesterday at 11:59:04 PM]

Re: Marlin 60 recieverdimensions needed bymike928 [Yesterday at 11:56:44 PM]

Re: Marlin 60 recieverdimensions needed byintenseimages [Yesterday at 11:54:30 PM]

Re: Question forKNife/Sword makers. bykragaxe [Yesterday at 11:53:51 PM]

Re: Best way to cut a slotinto a Receiver? by mtdew

[Yesterday at 11:52:36 PM]

Re: Marlin 60 recieverdimensions needed bybadboy0757 [Yesterday at 11:51:31 PM]

Re: HALO DesignatedMarksman Rifle clone10/22 by kragaxe [Yesterday at 11:51:17 PM]

Re: WTB: AK47 BulletGuide by MBGraphix[Yesterday at 11:44:41 PM]

Re: New mill...MerryChristmas to me!!!(was:lathemaster millexperience?) by kragaxe [Yesterday at 11:44:28 PM]

Re: Pellethuntr Builds TheSmokeless MosinMuzzleloader by Moleman [Yesterday at 11:41:41 PM]

Who's Online

Guests: 349 Hidden: 0 Users: 673 Users Online:

twinscrewcanoe A.C. montanagunrunner tycorcr1 moab synweap223 PMM42


2 of 5 1/24/2013 11:20 PM

« Last Edit: November 08, 2011, 03:16:32 PM by Joe H »

FINISHING BUSH.jpg (785.83 kB, 1600x1200 - viewed 82 times.)

Report to moderator Logged

MarkpBand of BrothersSenior Guild Member

Posts: 3407

Re: CONVERTING BERDAN toBOXER

« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2011, 12:52:02 PM »

Quote

This is a great writeup for hard to find brass...Report to moderator Logged

NevadaBlueUnder the Blue Nevada Sky______________________Global ModeratorSenior Guild Member

Posts: 19159

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam



Quote

« Last Edit: February 20, 2011, 01:09:51 PM by NevadaBlue »

Joe, thanks for this. I'm gonna save my x25 brass and try it.

I think one could solder up the original flash holes. Maybe deprime the

hard way, solder the flash holes and then do the machine work.

Now that I went back and studied your writeup, I think I'll try this:

- deprime the hard way- clean the pocket with an end mill (removing the anvil)- solder a solid chunk of brass rod in the primer pocket (filling theexisting flash holes)- mill out the new hole to proper size using your mill cutter setup- drill the new flash hole using your setup, but from the primer end(saves work)

Thanks again for this, it doesn't look so difficult, just a very tediousprocess. But, better than not having ammo.



Posts: 19159




Quote

Joe, I'm making this a sticky. Let's make this our Berdan to BoxerCONVERSION thread. I'll post some SAAMI standards and ideas,hopefully others will chime in too.


LamontSenior Guild Member



Quote

barnbwt AEnemaBay poor_boy_gunsmith nparmley Snowman45 parrothead CaptMax 11C ABN Gmwilly crimsonpony Underweigh katzma trailer2 nauheim dcorb johnnymg Sysop MBGraphix badboy0757 akMan01 mike928 Kalikov Ar-18 mojohona bignick73 baker11727 saelliott69 wdoyle1980 Bradrock artty62 genetic_tool sawed12 bnorth12 azmotorhead dellque baih777 wise_guy jhvol xxlt250rxx wyldchyld melike Spadinator Mosin Man akman Dix grunt71 oakspring Masterson Joewy gearshanty ackf intenseimages hakko808 firemongo bigjon69 kragaxe laor mtdew dr moe 72FJ40 brian bw skee505 shred Rock6.3 Ronaldo GunBum totenkopf Chasgee


3 of 5 1/24/2013 11:20 PM

Posts: 3325

This is a really nice thread. Just remember, IIRC, Berdan primers arelike .002 larger in Dia than Boxer. They can loosen up over time.

And for those with RARE ammo firearms, Hornday now sells the"military classic" line of ammo and brass for all those hard to findcalibers..Like 9X33, 8X54R, .303, 7.65 Argie mauser....and even someof the old swiss verlitti ammo



Posts: 19159




Quote

Lamont, Joe is making a NEW primer pocket. It is sized to standardprimer size.

I found this reference quote on another site, and am struggling toconfirm it on the SAAMI site.

From SAAMI, the depths for small pistol, small rifle, and large pistolprimer pockets are .118" to .122", while large rifle primer pocketdepths are .128" to .132". Small pistol and small rifle primers have thesame diameter (.175") while large rifle and large pistol primers are alsothe same (.210").

It is recommended that primers be seated .003" to .005" below flush.


MGMikeSenior Guild Member

Posts: 3114

Black Hills, SD



Quote

NB.....

I like the idea of plugging the base, and starting from there. It wouldbe a no-brainer with a tailstock turret in the new lathe Ashouldered collet to hold the brass would help.

MgMReport to moderator Logged

An armed society is a polite society.


Posts: 19159




Quote

yep, a turret would be the berries for this.

Now I need to look at my collets and collet block, good idea! I bet Icould set up the collet holder in the mill and just step through theprocess. Thanks!

dracen knights Bonno ke6guj M.A.R.S. Holescreek TapeWorm3 loveofchaos JHC Ted22 joezx10r Moleman Lotus7 ddillenger petro possumlivingdotcom meglomachinist Whitey kev_lar dallen jak1 jjrahmann HTLP GFrank morley kym Oz billphoto lazlo resting tweav wmgreer0513 RHW1225 grether squady girth safelyiniowa cantthink dennis98277 c473 elmacgyver0 powthief19 b_dillard yellow57 lazybum MGMike cajun 22 ruqikr454 ja5e68 BecauseSteel mindofmetal trukfixr dtruax blackdog gtty dblas aaronsy MrM4 croo 1reb John_Steven BW25 falcon62 wgallc akinnepa chad8324 jjsmn Rxx alsgas


4 of 5 1/24/2013 11:20 PM


trenchesBand of BrothersSenior Guild Member

Posts: 6006



Quote

Now how did you know I would feel that way Joe. But hey, whatever trips your trigger.Fortunately I still have some RWS Berdan primers stashed away so Idon't have to resort to drastic measures. Yet.Excellent write up though.Where I could see doing this is with some RARE cartridge that isvirtually almost impossible to obtain.What I don't understand is why some enterprising outfit doesn't importBerdan primers.


MGMikeSenior Guild Member

Posts: 3114

Black Hills, SD



Quote

Quote from: trenches on February 20, 2011, 05:09:02 PM

What I don't understand is why some enterprising outfit doesn't import Berdan primers.

Trenchy....

Dixie Gun Works used to.....'cept that wuz about 40 years ago

MgMReport to moderator Logged

An armed society is a polite society.

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7

Quick Reply

Hllrsr awptickes nemoaztracker mrkermit Lodi pellethuntr desert fox HydroPrintServices

Weapons Guild | The Tool Box | Ammo and Reloading | Topic: CONVERTING BERDAN to BOXER

Jump to: => Ammo and Reloading go

Font Face Font Size Change Color

[more]

Post Preview

SMF 2.0.3 | SMF © 2011, Simple MachinesSimple Audio Video Embedder

Page created in 0.212 seconds with 30 queries.Helios Multi © Bloc

SimplePortal 2.3.3 © 2008-2010, SimplePortal

REPLY NOTIFY MARK UNREAD SEND THIS TOPIC PRINT


5 of 5 1/24/2013 11:20 PM

converting berdan to boxer

Documents