QuickLOAD help: How to proceed - 8mm Nambu reloading

[brettkeating]

So I have this Type 14 Nambu for which I'd like to reload, and I already bought some 100gr TJ bullets from Huntingtons. I also have some ammo that uses 85gr bullets, which do go bang in my gun, but don't always cycle the action properly and the current educated guess is that the 85gr rounds are underpowered. The 85gr rounds are made using reformed .40 S&W brass.

I can reload the reformed brass. I can also back-order correctly headstamped Starline brass from Buffalo Arms. If necessary I suppose I can always reform some brass myself but it looks like a PITA.

I was also able to finally get some pistol powder, and it is IMR 700X. I'm also reloading for 9mm, so I'll definitely use it for that. But I am thinking I can also use this powder for my Nambu loads. Apparently, "some guy" was selling ammo that was loaded as follows:

- New Federal brass, CCI primers, 102 gr round nose hardcase bullets, 3.3 gr. DuPont IMR 700x powder.

Compared to this load (which I wouldn't blindly trust), my brass and bullets will be different. Primers and powder will match. Brass will have to be different, since I don't think Federal makes these anymore. The bullets should be fairly similar in weight and shape based on the description, but are 2gr lighter. But, this is the ONLY data I can find for Nambu 8mm with this powder. None of my three reloading manuals have any data for 8mm Nambu. This is NOT a trusted data source, either...

But I'm thinking that I should be able to find a load using 700x that will work.

Any advice on how to proceed on this? My thoughts are to reduce this load by at around 25% (or more), start with that, and work up slowly by 0.1 grain increments on the powder until the action cycles properly... shoot one round at a time and watch for squibs, and bring a rod to pound out any bullets... anything else? Any better ideas?

[CCrawford]

Reloading Manual Index, row 2074, refers to the two sources below.

Page 336 of "Cartridges of the World", 13th Ed., lists an 83 gr lead bullet with 3.0 gains of Unique for 950 FPS.

Page 500 of "Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions", 4th Ed., list 2.7 grains of Unique for 900 FPS with 85 lead RN bullets. Author recommend using .30 Remington brass for the conversion. He also suggests Lyman mold #32362 sized to 0.321".

Hope that is helpful.

Criss

[brettkeating]

Reloading Manual Index, row 2074, refers to the two sources below.

Page 336 of "Cartridges of the World", 13th Ed., lists an 83 gr lead bullet with 3.0 gains of Unique for 950 FPS.

Page 500 of "Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions", 4th Ed., list 2.7 grains of Unique for 900 FPS with 85 lead RN bullets. Author recommend using .30 Remington brass for the conversion. He also suggests Lyman mold #32362 sized to 0.321".

Hope that is helpful.

Criss

Thanks for trying... I may have run across those before. I've seen other loads using Unique for Nambu that work for 100gr size bullets around the internet as well, and also some that use Bullseye and I think it was Winchester 231.

Unfortunately I'm unable to acquire Unique or the other powders, all I have is IMR 700-X, although it's not as though I haven't tried... and the bullet weights in the above data are too small. Original ammo for the Nambu had bullets weighing >100gr, and that's what I have as well.

[knucklehead0202]

talk to the boys on gunboards.com, firearms of the rising sun, they'll be able to help you.

[brettkeating]

I cross posted over there, but aside from the details, I guess the question fundamentally is how to safely work up a load from extremely limited data...

[CCrawford]

Add "QuickLOAD help" to your title and have someone run the loads with the software.

[CCrawford]

Another load, but not 700, Titegroup