Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Combination Guns and Drillings O/U combo gun, Johann Kalezky 16ga over 8x57JR

I might have found you a set of R360 dies nearby to me. If so, pay the asking price, whatever it is. My German connection says they're unobtainable over the pond.

Source of brass to form into 8X57 R360:
https://www.buffaloarms.com/9-3x72r-norma-cases-nor9372r.html

The bore actually slugs .316 to .317"

Updates are I have a chamber cast in hand, so off to Redding it goes. Hopefully they can get me fixed up with dies, this year

I've also looked for 8x57 R/360 ammunition, and have drawn a blank, from everywhere. Apparently I'm the last person who plans to shoot it

Updates are I discussed the project with Redding, who prefers fired cases over chamber casts, to make custom dies. I am working on forming a few of the 9.3x72R Norma cases, so they can be fireformed. Without designed dies in hand, it's a matter of finding dies that can form the bigger case down in stages, and get them small enough to allow chambering, then fireform them.

I am about 90% there, using a combination of 8x57, and .303 British dies to reduce the neck and form the shoulder. I need to increase the case body taper, which I can hopefully do with a .32-40 sizer die.

Handloading 401

Almost there with 8x57 R/360 cases. I now have 5 that fit the old Johann’s rifle barrel. Need to get them trimmed & annealed, and figure out a fire forming load, then load them, checking for neck clearance, and choot ‘em.
Once successfully fire formed I can send them to Redding, for custom full length dies. I only need 3 cases to send to them, and I’ve made 5.

You can make useable cases by taking the parent 9.3x72R brass, trimming, then full length resizing in a .303 British die, then partially sizing the the cartridge body taper, with a .32-40 FL sizer. I’ll have to grind the sizer button for .318 bullets, which I can do at my shop.

LOOKS GREAT!!!

Good Job

The next question I'll ask is, what is the best RCBS shell holder, for the 9.3x72R parent cases? I'd prefer to prime them with my RCBS hand priming tool. I see one reference that suggests the #30 will work.

This weekend's discovery is that I will have to outside turn the case necks, as they are too big to fit the JK's chamber, after seating .318 bullets. So Ill have to sort that out.

...inching closer. Had to buy a couple items, shellholder & pilot for the Hornady case neck turner. They sell an 8mm pilot, but at .3205" it's too big, so I'll have to turn it down.

For the 16 ga shotgun barrel, I've found some loads that are "low brass" advertising velocity ~1165 fps. Are these going to be appropriate for the shotgun barrel?

“Low Brass” doesn’t always mean “low pressure”, but if you stick with 1 ounce, or even 7/8 ounce if you can find them, you should be OK. My data from pressure testing 16 ga shells is now a little dated, but all of the 1 ounce or less factory ammo tested was less than 10000 psi except for Remington and Rio. Remington was about 10% higher, and Rio . . . Considerably higher.

The mild 1165 FPS shells should be fine.

All of the present American 16-gauge loads have the same maximum SAAMI pressure.

One of the oldest myths about modern shotshells is that "low-brass" or lower-velocity loads result in lower pressure.

Thanks! I'm pleased that unlike the rifle barrel, you can actually buy ammo for the shotgun barrel

So to summarize this adventure so far:

1. Buy 9.3x72R brass (Norma makes, available at Buffalo Arms)
2. Buy .318 dia bullets (Hawk is arguably the best source)
3. Buy back issue of Handloader #139 for reference.
4. Have gunsmith cast chamber and I send chamber cast to to make custom dies. Maker does not like casting, wants fired cases
5. Search for loaded ammo. None exists, anywhere.
6. Buy .303 British dies.
7. Buy 8x57 dies.
8. grind .320" sizer button to .316" for .318 bullets
9. Size cases in a .303 British sizer.
10. Trim cases to 2.23" long
11. Obtain/borrow .32-40 sizer die, to increase taper of case body, to allow chambering.
12. Buy RCBS #30 shellholder, to allow primer seating. (It also works for the .41 mag case)
13. seat primer, charge with powder, seat bullet. Discover that neck is too thick to allow chambering,
14. Pull out Hornady case neck turner. Try to recall how to run the accursed thing.
15. Buy Hornady #29 shellholder for the neck turner
16. Buy Hornady 8mm neck pilot for neck turner.
17. Pilot is too big at .3205. try to turn in lathe. Too much runout to turn. Hand grind to .314" and polish.

So hopefully get it running in the next few days. Just trying to get 3-4 fireformed cases, to allow custom dies to be built.

Just in case anyone has an itch to load for the 8x57 R/360....

My very dear friend Jonny Bell when he was dying gave me a custom combo O/U Weatherby that he himself built , he removed the top 12 gauge barrel off and put a rifle barrel chambered in a 22 K-Hornet on the top barrel Jonny also made all the parts himself for K-Hornet including the scope base too.this O/U was done very professional too and this K-Hornet does shoot well too . > this Weatherby O/U is a 22 K-Hornet / 12 gauge 3inch with chokes ,should be a great turkey gun too.

The chamber is designated 70mm, so it's 2 3/4". A light load standard length shell won't pound the little gun.

If you haven't already checked out the German gun collectors association, here is a link. . .

https://www.germanguns.com/vb5/