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8mm Lebel Revolver
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 Posted: Fri Jul 4th, 2008 01:23 AM
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72coupe
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I have been doing some research into the 8mm Lebel revolver. I don't have one but I am trying to shoot bullets for one out of my M95 Steyer carbine.

My first attempt shooting 35 grains of TAC behind 10 of the 330 diameter fmj revolver bullets resulted in 10 keyholes and a group about 2 feet across at 100 yards. I didn't chronograph these but I am guessing the velocity was to high for this bullet.

For my next attempt I am going to try 20 grains of 4198 behind the 100 grain revolver bullet. I am hoping the velocity will be low enough to stabilize. My guess for velocity with this load is 1600 to 1700.

From the little information I have found it seems the French pushed this bullet up to the astounding velocity of maybe 800 fps.

Seems this might be the perfect round for the French duels Mark Twain wrote about.



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 Posted: Fri Jul 4th, 2008 03:19 AM
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Charley
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Nevr loaded for that powerhouse, but have run a couple of boxes of Fiochii downrange. I think 800 FPS is optimistic, more like 700 to 750FPS. Interesting revolver, nicely made with some good design features. To bad the cartridge it fired wasn't one of the good features, though.

 

Thinking about your revolver bullets in the 8x56R, most of the rifles I've looked at have generous throats, on the order of .334 or bigger. I suspect the little bullets are sp short they get tipped into the rifleing, and the center of rotation and the centerline of the bullet become two different things. That would explain the non existant groups. I've had decent luck with either cast bullets at .334/.335, or .338 jacketed bullets sized down to .329 in Lee's push thru sizer.

I think you are going to need a longer bullet to be succesful.



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 Posted: Fri Jul 4th, 2008 12:36 PM
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72coupe
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Those pictures have run through my mind also. Oh well, I have 490 bullets left to do something with.

I read this morning a paragraph about Berry's plated bullets. It said they should be shot around 1200. The bullets I got from Graf's look like Berry's. The problem is how do I get down to this velocity in a case that large?



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 Posted: Fri Jul 4th, 2008 05:26 PM
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Rockydog
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72, Maybe you could use IMR Trail Boss Powder. A lot of the cowboy action guys use it. It's supposed to fill cases but give light recoil and low velocities. RD



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 Posted: Fri Jul 4th, 2008 09:33 PM
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72coupe
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Rockydog, the 20 grains of 4198 shoots very well. The only problem is it only fills about 1/4 of the case and if you don't tilt the gun up so the powder is next to the primer occaisionally the primer will fail to ignite the powder but still drive the bullet into the rifling.

I found this out this morning.

Gotta find some kapok case filler.



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 Posted: Sun Jul 6th, 2008 04:08 PM
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Charley
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Ran 4 clips thru my  Styer this weekend, 10 were the Lee .329, and 10 were the Lee .338 sized to .334. Both bullets were loaded with 16 grains of A2400. Both shot minute if rock out to 50 yards. I didn't have any paper to try them on.

Mrs. Charley really liked the little carbine, the short length of pull fit her well. She commented on the lack of recoil. If I was a real jerk I would have slipped a clip of military ball into the rifle. IMO, unpleasant is just begining to describe the recoil with that load.

Last edited on Sun Jul 6th, 2008 04:08 PM by Charley



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