2 5/8 inch on a P-W 375

[William Davis]

Critique my plan, tell me if you think it will work.

I load 20 & 16 on a PW 375 both 2 ¾ inch hulls. Guns are Trojans with 2 5/8 inch chambers, light loads never a problem. Now I have a 16 G Twist 0 Frame Hammer Gun that probably would be better off with 2 5/8 inch hulls. Been roll crimping, like to fold crimp. I know a Mec 600 is the easy way to load short, I use one for my 2 7/8 inch 10 G but don’t want to do that for 16.
Lot easier for me to use the dual gauge P-W for 20 & 16

I have a extra pair of the verticle main operating post from a junk machine. I can cut them 1/8 inch shorter, switch with the post on the machine now and when operating the machine everything comes down 1/8 inch. Operations from the bottom of the hull are not length critical. Pulling the operating lever you can stop short or throw longer. Dies I am using are the Taper Crimp. They leave ¾ inch of the Hull exposed, If the machine is shorter, 5/8 inch will still be exposed. Pre Crimp, Crimp, & wad station all adjustable.

No changes to the cam or link

Call P-W they won’t give opinion, Is it going to work ?

William

[Steve Havener]

It would be a whole lot easier (and perhaps cheaper) to buy the PW 16 gauge short kit.

[William Davis]

You are right I have one for my 10 G and it works fine for crimping. Bench space is limited though can't give up the space to Mec 600s in 3 Gauges when I have 2 P-W presses one rifle and one pistol mounted.

It's a few minutes to shorten the rods and I have them already . Am going to give it a try.

William

[charlie cleveland]

go for it william...charlie

[Bill Murphy]

William, will the PW 200 work for rifle cartridges or just pistol?

[William Davis]

Bill I don't know, my rifle set up is a Lyman Turret press. Loading mostly old straight wall cases need more dies than modern bottlenecks, lot of holes is a advantage. Pistol calibers use a Tru-Line Jr converted to hold 4 7/8 inch dies & use them all. Two 375 P-W cover 4 Shotgun gauges.

Only use the Mec 600 short 10 for crimping End of the bench is a large carpenters leg vise that holds other loading tools like the Mec clamped in as needed. I could add a Mec 600 short 16 handled that way.

It's a busy bench at times.

William

[Paul Harm]

Why are you wanting to load 2 5/8 ? It can handle the 2 3/4 with no problem. You're only going to raise pressure about 500psi so just load the 2.75 shells. JMHO

[William Davis]

True and that's what I normally do. But this O Frame 16 G Hammer Gun is different. If anything needs low pressure it's that gun. That 500 LB figure is often quoted, I believe it's gun and chamber specific. My eye could be wrong but the forcing cones seem to be sharp edged not tapered. Which would make a difference ?


William

[Paul Harm]

Run a 6" machinist scale in the breech end. If it catches you have a step in the chamber and I would then cut shells to the correct length. If not I wouldn't worry about a extra 1/8' of shell length. Many of the old SxS's had chambers a 1/8" shorter than the shell. They thought it would help sealing the fiber wads a little better. If you have the stuff, go for it. I had a Parker 10ga lifter with a step 2 5/8" . I shot 2 5/8" shells in it. Not sure if it was necessary, but I felt better doing it.

[William Davis]

Paul

It has a step end of the chamber for sure. That's what's pushing me toward 2 5/8 I can roll crimp, like the guns fit going to use for high volume clays 100 + a day. Fold lot easier to turn out couple hundred shells.

William

[William Davis]

It's cranking out 2 5/8, but not the way I planned. Took the pre crimp and crimp dies out of the head . Put two washers in top of each and re-installed. Two add up to 1/8 inch lower. No cutting or extra parts needed.

It's hitting the hull just right , am in business.

William