While at the gun show this weekend, I picked up this nifty lil gadget that will load special conversion .38 special cases to shoot a pellet with a primer out of your .38 special revolver or rifle. It was made in 1963 and is in great condition. The instructions state that calibers .44 and .45 were also available.

It is called the "Pip Squeak" made by Lachmiller Engineering. It is my understanding from a net search that Lachmiller was bought out by RCBS in the 1980's. Lachmiller also made reloading dies, presses and accessories for reloading.

It consists of a primer tool (cammed with a primer pin and rod lever), base, 5 steel .38spl conversion cases that will shoot an .173 lead ball or pellet (I have been using .177 pellets with real sucess), pellet ram rod/de-capper and instructions.

Original cost was $9.50 for each caliber. My cost at the gun show was $16.00.

I also found some small pistol primers at the show for this, size 1 1/2, CCI 1000 for $22.00 and some standard .177 pellets for $3.00 for 250 count.

I have shot about 100 rounds out of it and so far accuraccy is at 15 feet is about 3" groups. They also penetraited a 1/4" piece of plywood and both sides of a filled with water soda can. I will buy some other pellets and different primers to see if diff combos provide better accuracy or pent. I wonder is small pistol magnum primers would perform better.

Here are some pictures:

Wow that looks really cool!!

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Dom

Cool find! I'd like to hear if the mag primers are better.

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John 3:17
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Typical reloader...immediately tries to magnumize something called "The Pipsqueak."


Okie John

LOL that describes me in a nutshell LOL....

Me, too.


Okie John

Ok....picked up some Promethius .177 plastic bodied - lead tipped pellets and I was able to wiggle 1 - 100 count box of smal pistol magnum primers from a gun shop friend who reloads. First 5 shots stunned me. at 25 feet the group was 1 1/2" and in pent tests, it went clear through a 1/2 inch CDX piece of plywood.

I love these gadgets from the 60's, stuff like this and others like the Crosman C02 Shotgun, Apache (shoots 14 calibers with simple full length barrel and chamber inserts -I have one of these too), Charter Arms Skatchet and a host of other fun and simple innovations that made those days really fun and I am re-living those days now.

You just do not see new innovations like this anymore ...mostly due to law suits and stupid people....and away went the fun yard game called "Jarts."

I have a similar gadget that shoots a single shot pellet.

i have some of these from long ago. they are hard plastic and just fit in a case w/primer only.
box says they go 500fps.
i can tell you first hand that they hurt!!

Attached Images

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I have probably 100 or so of the Speer plastic cases and inserts shown in your picture that I've used for rainy day shooting in my garage from time to time. I believe you when you say they hurt. I used some heavy canvas (tripled) and a piece of thick sheepskin as a backstop and they went right through.

Imjusttired....
I'll be looking for a Pipsqueak...looks like fun.

Those Pip-Squeaks look like a lot of fun, they remind me of a couple rimfire to centerfire adapters I have laying around somewhere. If I can find them and find the name of them I'll put it in here.

Here's a couple of links to somewhat related products. I have no experience with the convert a pells products but I do have several Dina Arms adapters which come in handy. I didn't know they were still in business but found their website.

Convert-a-Pell *

https://www.dinaarms.com/Home_Page.php

I know there is a current system called "Convert-a-Pell," for most revolvers and semi autos. They use a pellet especially designed for this system, reg pellets will blow their head off. The kits range from $40 to $75 I believe. It is the same basic concept as this "Pip Squeak," but has an easier priming system and more accuracy. I have a few of them for my dads different guns. They sell direct from the internet. They are currently avail at the following:

Telephone: 209-339-2379

Postal address: Convert-a-Pell
P.O. Box 1557
Woodbridge, CA 95258

E-mail: [email protected]
http://convert-a-pell.com/


They have a full web page with a Q&A Faq, product list and a really cool video on its use.

LOL Jellybean, ya beat me to it

No problem Tired, first hand experinece is always welcome.

Your post got me thinking about when I loaded .22 pellets in .22 Hornet brass with .2-.3 grains of Bullseye. I had ripped quite a few in half and getting some stuck in the barrel before getting to that point, but after running them over a Chrony I realized that there is a lot of difference between .2 and .3 grains, even though my scale couldn't tell the difference. I needed a scale that could get within .00 or even .000 grain accuracy, but never got one. It also made me realize that if your using primers as the only propellant you will want to find the most consistant primers you can, or else your velocities may vary greatly.