Reloading
Making 1873 11mm cartridge
thanks to Colin Doane
I bought
some cartridges from a commercial reloader. They were made from 44 Magnum
cases. This is doing it the hard way: the rim has to be thinned down,
the case shortened considerably, and the inside of the neck reamed to
make it thin enough to take a 44 caliber bullet. The bullets were some
commercial, swaged bullets, of very soft lead. They were round nosed and
had a large hollow base. Unfortunately that reloader is out of business,
and I have no idea where to buy any more bullets.
A French friend described a method of making cartridges that is apparently
in widespread use in France. It starts with 44-40 WCF cases. I used 38-40
WCF cases, because I have them available. Except for the smaller neck,
they are identical to 44-40s; and since the neck is removed when making
11mm cases, it doesn't make any difference. Either cartridge can be used
successfully.
To make 1873 cases from 44-40s, or 38-40s, simply shorten them to 19.5mm
(.775"). You don't have to do anything further to make a perfectly
usable 11 mm case. I have three 11mms, an 1873, an 1874 and a commercial
1874. The latter, unfortunately is not in shooting condition; the hand
and the cylinder ratchet have worn enough that the cylinder does not revolve
reliably. However, I tried a cylinder full of empty cases, made from 38-40s,
in all three guns, and they functioned perfectly.
The 11mm case measures
18mm long (.71"). I first made mine 21mm long (.826"), but they
pressed on the back of the frame and didn't allow the cylinder to rotate.
19.5mm works just fine.
I resize them slightly in 44 Special dies, and they function perfectly.
I use the 11mm bullets mentioned in the first paragraph, with no problems.
I use black powder, the US granulation is ffg, I don't know what the French
granulation would be.
According to my French friend, you can also use light (emphasize 'light')
smokeless loads in these guns. He said most people use the same charge
as they do in the 38 special with light loads. I stick with black powder.
The problem comes in matching bullet diameter, cartridge capability, chamber
diameter, and bore diameter. It's quite a juggling act. According to him,
in France they use light (180 grain) bullets for the 45 ACP, diameter
.452 inch (11.48mm). When I expand my cases to that amount, they split.
And when I try a case with a .452 inch bullet, it is too thick to go all
the way into the chamber (and as you are probably aware, a 45 ACP cartridge
case is too thick to go all the way into the 11mm chamber). I haven't
solved this problem.
Unfortunately, the bores of my 11mm revolvers run about .456-.461 inch.
You don't get too much accuracy out of an 11mm bullet in them, even a
hollow based bullet. I think you'd have to have a hollow based .452 inch
bullet, cast of soft lead, to get much accuracy. I haven't solved this
problem either.
I shoot my 44 caliber, soft lead bullets, and accept that I can't get
perfect accuracy from them. It's better than not shooting these revolvers
at all. When I run out of them, I don't know what I will do, as I can't
get any more. I will probably try to find a 180 grain 44 caliber mould.
It will probably be flat based, not hollow based. I will cast bullets
out of soft lead, hoping some expansion will happen.
If you can suggest some way around these problems, I would appreciate
it.
I guess Paris-Sport is no longer making cartridges or moulds for these
guns?