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Mauser .318 for the 1888 Rifle

ttrider7
Greetings Experts!

I have enjoyed reading up on some of the discussions and thanks for your time.

I saw that I could get new .318 brass from old west, but was wondering where I could get moulds for .318 bullets to cast my own- 175 grain or more? Also, is there a printed loading resource that I could purchase that would provide information on this antiquated round? I'm just interested in punching paper, so I don't need high velocity- I also don't want the barrel to pop either.

I welcome what ever is known about this caliber and where I can buy supplies.

Again, thanks,

Matt
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • p3skyking
    Two books will get you going. The first is CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD by Frank Barnes. List velocity of original and gives weights. Also list powder charges to use.

    The second is LYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF CAST BULLETS. Gives the old moulds that can be used with the all important mould numbers that you can search and advertise for on GB and other forums.

    I have had good success buying the old moulds that are no longer in production.

    Good luck!

    Cruelty was a rare thing in the war. Fireside folks who talk about war and read about it, they figure it's cruel more often than not, but it simply isn't so... You kill in war to survive, and not because of any desire to kill.
    Many men avoid battle not from cowardice but from fear of cowardice, fear that when the moment of truth comes they will not have the courage to face up to it. L'Amour
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  • Tailgunner1954
    I think (not sure but I seem to remember hearing...) that HAWK is makin .318 jacketed bullets.

    Whittemore
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • ttrider7
    Hey, thanks alot... I really appretiate the advice and I'll get reading!

    Regards,

    Matt
    quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
    Two books will get you going. The first is CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD by Frank Barnes. List velocity of original and gives weights. Also list powder charges to use.

    The second is LYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF CAST BULLETS. Gives the old moulds that can be used with the all important mould numbers that you can search and advertise for on GB and other forums.

    I have had good success buying the old moulds that are no longer in production.

    Good luck!

    Cruelty was a rare thing in the war. Fireside folks who talk about war and read about it, they figure it's cruel more often than not, but it simply isn't so... You kill in war to survive, and not because of any desire to kill.
    Many men avoid battle not from cowardice but from fear of cowardice, fear that when the moment of truth comes they will not have the courage to face up to it. L'Amour
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  • nononsense
    ttrider7,

    Here is a thread from a couple of weeks ago:

    http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=114549


    A PRIMER ON BULLET CASTING COMPONENTS AND SUPPLIERS

    By Wayne McLerran

    http://www.austinrifleclub.org/Documents/Articles/Bullet Casting Primer.htm

    This is a good overview that can be downloaded from the web. It also includes a resource list.


    http://www.castbulletassoc.org/


    Good introductory articles:

    http://www.real-guns.com/archives/056.htm

    http://www.outdoorlife.com/outdoor/shooting/article/0,19912,547526,00.html

    Best.
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  • jonk
    My solution was to buy a regular .323" mould and custom order a sizing die from Lee ($25) in .319"; cast bullets should be sized one one thousandth oversize... works great. Just push the .323 slug through and it works out great. Also, slug your bore first; it could come out anywhere from .318 to .323 and you should order the sizing die just slightly larger.

    Regular 8mm brass is fine; just remove the expander ball from the dies and run through, it then provides enough tension to hold the bullet.


    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
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  • harpergeorge
    Hawk makes bullets, as does Buffalo Arms; OWS has RWS brass.

    I would also be interested in any loading data anyone has experience with for this round.

    GHBryan
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  • ttrider7
    Again thanks for the tip- this may be the most easily available option to me- does this process significantly reduce the lube rings, though? By the way, I did slug the barrel ALL the way through and it appears to be .319- the rifling is not that sharp any way- but I was wanting the right fit.

    Regards,
    Matt
    quote:Originally posted by jonk
    My solution was to buy a regular .323" mould and custom order a sizing die from Lee ($25) in .319"; cast bullets should be sized one one thousandth oversize... works great. Just push the .323 slug through and it works out great. Also, slug your bore first; it could come out anywhere from .318 to .323 and you should order the sizing die just slightly larger.

    Regular 8mm brass is fine; just remove the expander ball from the dies and run through, it then provides enough tension to hold the bullet.


    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
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  • jonk
    Of course by nature, the push through sizing DOES reduce lube grooves, which is worse for some molds than others, but I haven't had any issues using Lee's off the shelf 8mm mold or a custom 250 gr. mold I have; one other option you may explore is to use .321" bullets by winchester, available at a reasonable price. Two thousandths over bore size isn't ideal, but with lighter loads should be fine.

    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
    0

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