A-Frames

[mgstucson]

As long as total final reduction in caliber was not more than .009 for a jacketed bullet, concentricity should be sufficiently preserved. If the bullet is not bonded, it is possible the jacket may spring back more than the core and cause the core to separate from the jacket. In Swift A-Frames for example, the front section of the bullet is bonded, but the rear section is not. This can be easily remedied by using a cannelure tool and adding a cannelure to bond the jacket and core.

 

[Dewald]

I don’t mean to threadjack, but permit me to wander a bit. The A-Frame in my opinion is probably the finest traditional hunting bullet ever made. Perfect expansion. Incredible wound channel.

In light of that statement and the fact that Woodleigh and other “vintage bullet” companies have serious supply chain issues, has anyone ever contemplated swaging A-Frames to fit odd calibers? E.G. .318WR, 465 NE, 475NE, 303 Brit, 256 Gibbs, etc?

Could it be the solution to forever-available ammo for our British guns would be to simply get a really sweet swaging press and just buy the very best A-Frames and make our own odd calibers?

Yes, I have spoken to a gent on the phone who has a Gibbs 450-400 3&1/4” similar to mine, who swages .416 A-frames to .408 for his double. Apparently his rifle was part of a pair, and he was feverishly looking for number two, hence tracking me down. That was 4-5 years ago when Woodleigh was still available. He also used the South African version of H4350 namely S365, instead of a slower powder, and was adamant his rifle would achieve 2350 fps.

I rather hung up and blocked the number. There goes another Webley long-bar action off face if it doesn’t shoot the ribs loose, or God forbid explodes whilst being shot.