Making ammo safe for tube mags

bfm · Post by **bfm** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:11 pm

Does anyone know of a die or tool to uniformly trim or reshape FMJ ball ammo so it is safe to run through an 1894? Got a whole bunch as a hand me down.

I can always just save it for my revolvers, but thought I would ask.

Thanks.

Cast Bullet Hunter · Post by **Cast Bullet Hunter** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:17 pm

What caliber??????

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:18 pm

With my .303 I used to stick the round in my reloading press raise the ram till the point sticks out to the desired length and cut with my dremel tool.

Mike-in-WV · Post by **Mike-in-WV** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:29 pm

Just place one in the chamber and one in the tube.

bfm · Post by **bfm** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:10 pm

It is .357 and .38 ammo. A friend's father had a couple cases of it. Neither my friend nor his father have any firearms in that caliber any more. Apparently it was in the back of the safe for 10 or 15 years.

Cast Bullet Hunter · Post by **Cast Bullet Hunter** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:21 am

Even though there isn't enough recoil in a rifle with either cartridge named to likely cause a problem, what Mike says is the best and easiest way to approach this.

Scott64A · Post by **Scott64A** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:16 pm

Ha ha...

Send it my way; I have a .357 that can shoot it!

Just kidding, you can load two at a time, or cut the ends off.

I wouldn't cut them, just because.

I'd make up a game for me and some buddies where you get tow shots and the have to touch.

Closest to the center with two touching wins.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:31 pm

If it is RNL I wouldnt even worry about it myself... especially the .38s.

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:04 pm

I'v shot an aweful lot of RN FMJ in my 38's & 357's without issue.

bfm · Post by **bfm** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:24 am

Leverdude wrote:I'v shot an aweful lot of RN FMJ in my 38's & 357's without issue.

That is good to know. I was wondering how bad it could really be.

bcp · Post by **bcp** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 6:46 pm

Remington makes/used to make a 30/30 round nose FMJ. A friend used it by choice in his Win 94 because it damaged less meat. This was in the 1960's.

Bruce

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 10:23 pm

bfm wrote:
Leverdude wrote:I'v shot an aweful lot of RN FMJ in my 38's & 357's without issue.
That is good to know. I was wondering how bad it could really be.

Well, it could be very bad indeed if you have a magazine full detonate! However, there are round noses, and then there are round noses. I cast a 158gr round nose for my wife's .357 Rossi and she shot them for years without any problem. But, they are truly ROUND, the nose being approximately 1/2 of a .358 diameter circle. In addition, I loaded these for her revolvers and rifle in cowboy action shoots, 3.2 grains of PB, very light, fairly recoilLESS. I've seen bullets that I would describe as a LONG ROUND NOSE, and I wouldn't let them within 10 feet of a tubular magazine. If you go to Saeco's website and download their "Traditional Bullet Mold Chart" and look up bullet mold #390 you can see its shape. ANYTHING with a more pointed shape than that I'd steer clear of it. Especially with hotter loads.