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Buckhammer length
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:48 pm
by 5shot
I have four Henry centerfire levers and all are very touchy about feed and function once the cartridge length exceeds SAAMI spec. I'm a handloader and bullet caster and have bullet molds in .357, .44 and .45 that I cannot load for use in the levers.
There have been thoughts about the .360 rattling around in the void between my ears but I'm wondering if that is going to be more of the same. Cartidge case length is 1.800" I believe and from what I could figure out from the SAAMI website the maximum is 2.500". I guess a call to Henry might answer the question or.....an HO15 single shot maybe?
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:32 pm
by BigAl52
5shot wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:48 pm
I have four Henry centerfire levers and all are very touchy about feed and function once the cartridge length exceeds SAAMI spec. I'm a handloader and bullet caster and have bullet molds in .357, .44 and .45 that I cannot load for use in the levers.
There have been thoughts about the .360 rattling around in the void between my ears but I'm wondering if that is going to be more of the same. Cartidge case length is 1.800" I believe and from what I could figure out from the SAAMI website the maximum is 2.500". I guess a call to Henry might answer the question or.....an HO15 single shot maybe?
A excuse me for interrupting those rattles going on in the head but I seem to remember someone stating no new calibers. Would that quiet the noise up there at all
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2025 11:06 pm
by Travlin
My 44 Mag big boy shoots 44 specials with no problems.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2025 11:51 pm
by 5shot
[/quote]
A excuse me for interrupting those rattles going on in the head but I seem to remember someone stating no new calibers. Would that quiet the noise up there at all
[/quote]
Al. My only defense is that I spent 42 years hookin' gears and after being lied to by dispatchers for that long I might on occasion tell a leetle bit of a fib myself.
Besides the rattle there are "voices"
that bring up the fact that .360's can easily be formed from .30/30 brass.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2025 11:58 pm
by 5shot
Travlin wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 11:06 pm
My 44 Mag big boy shoots 44 specials with no problems.
Yessir.That's what I've been doing with my .44 Xmodel. The 250 gr SWC Keith's cycle like butter in special brass. Same with the .357's. Those 173 gr. SWC's work just fine in .38 brass. I'm not sure what the situation might be with the .360
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2025 6:44 am
by BigAl52
Well not to hijack the Buckhammer thought I to spent 45 years in the trucking business and so far the lord has blessed me with enough assets that I hope I never see the cab of one again
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2025 3:02 pm
by 5shot
I heard a fellow driver once say that if he won the lottery he'd buy a new rig just like the one he drove...park it in the backyard....build a platform alongside of it...and every morning climb up and take a leak on the truck until it completely rusted away...
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2025 9:36 pm
by Travlin
Since this has evolved into a " If I won the lottery thread, " after spending 50 years as a carpenter/contractor I would have had Rolls Royce build me a pickup truck and have the sides painted " carpentry work, If you have to ask you can't afford me".
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 10:00 pm
by 5shot
I came down with a bug of some sort so this Buckhammer thing has been on the backburner for the time being. A mess of phone calls hasn't turned up a single shot. LGS has an X Model that somehow shipped minus a rear sight assembly and it's been there a while and he offered a really nice price....all it would need is a Marbles 3/8" dovetail wedge.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 10:06 pm
by BigAl52
5shot wrote: ↑Mon Mar 17, 2025 10:00 pm
I came down with a bug of some sort so this Buckhammer thing has been on the backburner for the time being. A mess of phone calls hasn't turned up a single shot. LGS has an X Model that somehow shipped minus a rear sight assembly and it's been there a while and he offered a really nice price....all it would need is a Marbles 3/8" dovetail wedge.
Im surprised its still there and not at 5shots house. After all you need one more.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 10:40 pm
by 5shot
Old 5 shot is waiting for the phone to ring because of a new S&W mountain gun no lock showing up. The Smith might be a while so I could just grab the X and it'll make the wait less agonizing.
In the meantime I can make up my mind which mountain gun to get. He's got both the 686 and .44 ordered. And...gotta figure out what to sell...personal piggy bank is drying up.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 1:12 pm
by rickhem
The 360 Buckhammer seems like a logical addition, given that you already have bullets for your .357. The 350 Legend uses smaller bullets, but I'm guessing that is why the 360 was the one rattling.
You need to scratch those itches, and opportunity is knocking.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 12:14 am
by 5shot
rickhem wrote: ↑Tue Mar 18, 2025 1:12 pm
The 360 Buckhammer seems like a logical addition, given that you already have bullets for your .357. The 350 Legend uses smaller bullets, but I'm guessing that is why the 360 was the one rattling.
You need to scratch those itches, and opportunity is knocking.
Yes the .360 is appealing because of the .358" bullet. I bought a second H015 single .357 with the intention of getting it reamed to .357 Max but it shot so well I couldn't bring myself to desecrate the pretty little thing. Finding .30/30 brass is no problem so even if the cartridge is a commercial flop it will always be easy for a handloader to feed.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 7:44 pm
by 5shot
Gonna put this idea on the back burner for the time being. There is no brass available loacally or online that I could find. No loading dies available around here. Not much information about the cartridge other than a couple of gun writers gushing over it.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 11:35 pm
by Mags
5shot wrote: ↑Wed Mar 26, 2025 7:44 pm
.....No loading dies available around here. ...
Ya, you'll have to buy them online.
Amazon has an RCBS set.
https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-3-DIE-Set-3 ... 0CHMZVRS6/
MidSouth Shooters Supply has a Lee set.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ ... -steel-set
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 8:21 am
by rickhem
Mags wrote: ↑Wed Mar 26, 2025 11:35 pm
Ya, you'll have to buy them online.
Unfortunately, a lot of the local shops are falling short for much of the reloading supplies market. I try to buy local whenever possible, but sometimes they just price themselves out of the sale. I was going to buy a pound of powder from a local shop until he told me his price was $75 for the pound. It's listed at a number of on-line places for about $50, and while I want to support the local shops, paying 50% more isn't how I'll do that.
Lots of availability for the Buckhammer on the internet, and once you have the dies and brass, you already have all the rest to load for it.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 12:10 pm
by Mags
rickhem wrote: ↑Thu Mar 27, 2025 8:21 am
Mags wrote: ↑Wed Mar 26, 2025 11:35 pm
Ya, you'll have to buy them online.
... I was going to buy a pound of powder ...
It's also getting to the point where you think you're buying a lb and it turns out it's a 14oz or 9oz can.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 2:59 pm
by BigAl52
Im glad I stocked up when I did. Ive seen Unique for sale here in Texas and its 60.00 a lb. I guess if a guy really wants some he would probably pay that price. But there is other stuff at a better price point. Now with the big excise tax coming to Colorado there wont be any gun related purchases for me at all. Im not supporting this phoney tax they are collecting. I will order and have it shipped somewhere else. I have enough stocked to roll my own for quite sometime. There are certain groups of people who want guns gone for good. What its doing locally is gun shops are closing the doors.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 9:47 pm
by 5shot
Yes, I know loading dies can be found online but I haven't found brass anywhere and I'm too stubborn to buy factory ammo in order to have brass. Really surprised Starline hasn't made any yet. I've watched a couple of videos about chopping off .30/30 and .38/55. I'd need a little chop saw (more $$ to China) or a trim die. Also need a case holder for the Wilson case trimmer unless Lee has made one of their little contraptions for the .360.
Anyhow.....after thinking it over a little more I decided maybe I didn't want one all that much.
If there's a need for more reach than my pistol caliber carbines can provide I'll just have to hammer the buck (pun intended
) with my .257 Robts M70 or Tikka 7/08.
Re: Buckhammer length
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 10:05 pm
by BigAl52
5shot wrote: ↑Thu Mar 27, 2025 9:47 pm
Yes, I know loading dies can be found online but I haven't found brass anywhere and I'm too stubborn to buy factory ammo in order to have brass. Really surprised Starline hasn't made any yet. I've watched a couple of videos about chopping off .30/30 and .38/55. I'd need a little chop saw (more $$ to China) or a trim die. Also need a case holder for the Wilson case trimmer unless Lee has made one of their little contraptions for the .360.
Anyhow.....after thinking it over a little more I decided maybe I didn't want one all that much.
If there's a need for more reach than my pistol caliber carbines can provide I'll just have to hammer the buck (pun intended
) with my .257 Robts M70 or Tikka 7/08.
Go old school and use the 38-55.