8mm Lebel Pistol Ammo

[SWIHARTMARK]

I wanted to know if I should anneal my 32-20 Winchester brass before I cut it down for 8mm Lebel cases, I'm guessing yes I should. Unfortunately, right now my garage isn't ready for me to do any annealing in it and I need a nice safe darkened place to do it so I can see the case turn that ruby red before it gets too soft. My daughter has her stuff in it and is looking for work right now, so until she finds a job, I'm rather avoiding using my blow torch in there. At least she has a degree in chemical engineering, so there is hope sooner than later, but I'm getting itchy to fire that pistol.

I could use a load for that using those .330 diameter 100 grain FMJ bullets from GRAF. I like using Unique powder if possible.

Best Regards,

Mark

[garra]

Mark,

When I made my brass for the lebel pistol, I just cut down the 32-20 brass. If i remember correctly you cut behind the neck area so you are already close to the correct diameter. I use one of those small cut off saws from Harbor Freight, had to make holders for the brass so I could handle small length cases and not whack my fingers.

[les1234]

I haven't needed to anneal it yet, I have used both new brass, and used 32-20 with damaged necks. the last I made, I whacked it off with a cutoff wheel in a dremel, then run it into the expander die a little bit, then do the final trim on my Forester trimmer. I've made about 60-70 so far and only lost one to a split, and it was a new case, not used. I think I tried Unique, but didn't find any advantage over Bullseye, I don't think I wrote down the Unique loads.

[SWIHARTMARK]

I don't have any bullseye.... I'm going to use a counter bore cutter on a drill press with a pilot while I hold it in a V-Block clamped to the drill press. I'll skip the annealing. Wish me luck.

Best Regards,

Mark

[butcharoot]

garra, do you have pics of the holders you used when cutting down the 32-20 brass? Any info would be much appreciated. Butch

[les1234]

I just marked the approximate length with a sharpie, held them with my fingers and cut with a dremel, but you have to cut quick before the case gets hot to touch. Then expand what's left of the neck, and trim on a Forster trimmer.

[butcharoot]

les1234, thanks for the reply. Butch