Winchester loading tool

[David LaPell]

I found this Winchester loading tool in .32 WCF recently, the patent dates are 1874 and 1882. I got it because I do want to try loading a few rounds for my 1885 Winchester with it. The only thing it doesn't do is bell the case mouths, but so far I found decapping and priming not a problem. Waiting on some cast bullets before I get to try loading and crimping with it.

 

[Jack222]

Wow. If that tool could talk.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

You loading light "Trail Boss" or Black powder loads? The mould I have, is Lyman 311316 (same as the original Ideal 3114, but cut for a gas check.) For the lower velocity rounds like Black Powder or smokeless I like to cast pure lead and gas check the sized .312". If they find enough muscle on small game and stop inside the retain full weight normally, but are close to 1/2" in diameter. For medium velocity I use Wheel Weights, gas check, and I hollow point them with a 1/16th drill bit. These hit groundhogs like God's own lightning bolt! The only retain around 50-60% of weight, but the damage usually is so total you almost (repeat Almost) feel sorry. This bullet shouldn't be used on animals that you want the fur! The soft lead bullet/low velocity round never exited a body shot raccoon. The soft lead gas check bullet has produced 1" groups at 50 yards in a lever action (Marlin 1894c) with receiver peep sight(Williams). I'm sure you'll be able to better that group with your Low Wall!

Just a note on these bullet moulds: The plain base 3114 is the best bullet for 32-20. The 311316 is the most useful mould I own. I use it in 32-20, 30-30, 30 Carbine, 7.62x39, and 32 Colt New Police/32 S&W Long. It also useful 8mm Label Handgun and other oddball rounds! I own sizing dies in .309, .311, and .314, which allows me to match bullets to the gun.

Have fun getting the full extent out of your 1885!

Ivan

 

[hdwhit]

Jack222 wrote:
Wow. If that tool could talk.

I felt the same excitement about that thought as you did.

And then I realized that being 140 years old, it would probably mumble, go off on unrelated tangents, and ask about people who died before we were born. ;-)

 

[2152hq]

"...The only thing it doesn't do is bell the case mouths..."

IIRC the decapping rod has a slightly oversized double taper on the opposite end from the decap-pin end.
I can't remember if you use that in a separate operation by turning it around,,or if the length of the rod is supposed to be just right to decap and also slightly flare the case mouth all in one step using the tool to decap & flare.

The decapping rods are very often missing on these Winchester tools. The 'flared'section on the one end is often called the 'peanut' by reloaders/collectors for some reason(?).
There are a couple of guys around especially on SASS forums that make these decap rods w/pin up in the common Cowboy calibers like 44-40, ect.
The small dia decapping pin itself was usually attached w/a small set screw to the larger near case mouth dia rod.

Home made replacements are common but they do the decapping job,,they often just don't have the case flare taper on them though.

 

[Engineer1911]

Talk about Old School determination!

 

[MichiganScott]

"...The only thing it doesn't do is bell the case mouths..."

IIRC the decapping rod has a slightly oversized double taper on the opposite end from the decap-pin end.
I can't remember if you use that in a separate operation by turning it around,,or if the length of the rod is supposed to be just right to decap and also slightly flare the case mouth all in one step using the tool to decap & flare.

The decapping rods are very often missing on these Winchester tools. The 'flared'section on the one end is often called the 'peanut' by reloaders/collectors for some reason(?).
There are a couple of guys around especially on SASS forums that make these decap rods w/pin up in the common Cowboy calibers like 44-40, ect.
The small dia decapping pin itself was usually attached w/a small set screw to the larger near case mouth dia rod.

Home made replacements are common but they do the decapping job,,they often just don't have the case flare taper on them though.

^^^^^^^^^
What he says. I've got a similar tool in 44-40. The case mouth is expanded at the same time the case is deprimed.

When I was given the tool it came with about 50 balloon head cases. I managed to cull out six for my collection that weren't corroded almost to the point of non-existence by mercuric primers and black powder residue.

 

[BigMuddy]

Mine (38 w.c.f.) looks just like that one, no de-capping pin as well. I found it to go with my Winchester '73 rifle. I've used it to load some cartridges with black powder. It doesn't crimp much if any, but the bullets rest on top of the powder charge so no danger of them pushing back into the case.

Dan