Post by JackknifeJake on Aug 10, 2016 10:37:38 GMT -5
Hi all, new to the forums.
I purchased a model 10 Winchester a few years back and I never really got around to shooting it. I have the reloading equipment but I just have not dove in to make .401 cartridges. My rifle is in ok shape, it was drilled and tapped a long time ago on the side of the receiver, so while it may not be a collector item I have had the itch to shoot it.
I toyed around with an idea yesterday and I wanted to get some feedback. Bear with me here, there's a lot for me to throw at you.
I first checked the maximum operating pressures for both the 10mm and the .401, and they were right in the same range. .401 WSL was generally between 33,000 psi and 39,000 psi (if I have these numbers wrong please let me know) and the 10mm was right around 37,500 psi for a maximum. So in theory this would work, and I would not blow my receiver.
Next I got an old 10mm spent case and put in in my magazine, knowing it would be short. I also know that since the .401 WSL is a semi-rimmed case, my extractor would have trouble grabbing it and sure enough it did. I had the thought of whether my recoil spring was too heavy to cycle a 10mm cartridge reliably. Here would be my work list:
1) Modify the old magazine to have a new bullet follower that keeps the stubby 10mm up at the front of the magazine.
2) Modify or make a new extractor so the spent case can be ejected reliably.
3) Look into getting a new, weaker spring. But this may not be needed, we will only know what is needed after shooting once or twice.
So that's my train of thought. I believe there is a lip inside the barrel that the .401 brass touches against, and I am not sure how much of an issue this would be. I would like some feedback from some of the old timers in here that can give me a more critical review of this idea. My reason for doing this would be to get this gun shooting a powerful, readily available cartridge for deer and possibly pig hunting. 10mm auto shows promising results when fired from a longer barrel. In the way I figure I see the 10mm and .401 WSL being fairly matched for power. I may sound like an idiot here but I would rather ask and get some feedback before diving in head first. On a side note I cannot figure out how to upload photos on here. Working on that part.
My other though was to use the .41 Remington Magnum. That slides in the barrel, and my extractor grabs it just fine. The main issue with it is that the rim is larger than my magazine, but that is nothing some sandpaper cannot fix on a lathe. I am still worried about the lip inside the barrel. Does a case HAVE to butt up against that lip? The .41 is far longer than the 10mm, but it still falls short of the .401 WSL by about a 1/4". That is where I am uncertain. The operating pressure of a .41 Rem Mag is still in the same range as the .401 WSL, topping out at 35,000 psi.
My work list for shooting a .41 Remington Magnum out of this rifle would be very minimal.
In short, I am hopeful of this working, but still very uncertain as to what my results will be. Shotguns can fire 2-3/4" shells to 3" shells, and they have a lip in the barrel, so what makes a rifle different? This is where my confusion lies. Thanks for any input.
I purchased a model 10 Winchester a few years back and I never really got around to shooting it. I have the reloading equipment but I just have not dove in to make .401 cartridges. My rifle is in ok shape, it was drilled and tapped a long time ago on the side of the receiver, so while it may not be a collector item I have had the itch to shoot it.
I toyed around with an idea yesterday and I wanted to get some feedback. Bear with me here, there's a lot for me to throw at you.
I first checked the maximum operating pressures for both the 10mm and the .401, and they were right in the same range. .401 WSL was generally between 33,000 psi and 39,000 psi (if I have these numbers wrong please let me know) and the 10mm was right around 37,500 psi for a maximum. So in theory this would work, and I would not blow my receiver.
Next I got an old 10mm spent case and put in in my magazine, knowing it would be short. I also know that since the .401 WSL is a semi-rimmed case, my extractor would have trouble grabbing it and sure enough it did. I had the thought of whether my recoil spring was too heavy to cycle a 10mm cartridge reliably. Here would be my work list:
1) Modify the old magazine to have a new bullet follower that keeps the stubby 10mm up at the front of the magazine.
2) Modify or make a new extractor so the spent case can be ejected reliably.
3) Look into getting a new, weaker spring. But this may not be needed, we will only know what is needed after shooting once or twice.
So that's my train of thought. I believe there is a lip inside the barrel that the .401 brass touches against, and I am not sure how much of an issue this would be. I would like some feedback from some of the old timers in here that can give me a more critical review of this idea. My reason for doing this would be to get this gun shooting a powerful, readily available cartridge for deer and possibly pig hunting. 10mm auto shows promising results when fired from a longer barrel. In the way I figure I see the 10mm and .401 WSL being fairly matched for power. I may sound like an idiot here but I would rather ask and get some feedback before diving in head first. On a side note I cannot figure out how to upload photos on here. Working on that part.
My other though was to use the .41 Remington Magnum. That slides in the barrel, and my extractor grabs it just fine. The main issue with it is that the rim is larger than my magazine, but that is nothing some sandpaper cannot fix on a lathe. I am still worried about the lip inside the barrel. Does a case HAVE to butt up against that lip? The .41 is far longer than the 10mm, but it still falls short of the .401 WSL by about a 1/4". That is where I am uncertain. The operating pressure of a .41 Rem Mag is still in the same range as the .401 WSL, topping out at 35,000 psi.
My work list for shooting a .41 Remington Magnum out of this rifle would be very minimal.
In short, I am hopeful of this working, but still very uncertain as to what my results will be. Shotguns can fire 2-3/4" shells to 3" shells, and they have a lip in the barrel, so what makes a rifle different? This is where my confusion lies. Thanks for any input.