Proof house loads.

[Bavarianbrit]

I have long wondered how they source the overcharged rounds for proofing firearms.
Do they load them up as they need them in house? Which would be strange with the unusual calibres as they would need a mega collection of dies, or is there a specialist supplier to the worlds proof houses?

 

[Tim.243]

I have long wondered how they source the overcharged rounds for proofing firearms.
Do they load them up as they need them in house? Which would be strange with the unusual calibres as they would need a mega collection of dies, or is there a specialist supplier to the worlds proof houses?

Have you emailed the proof houses to ask?

 

[enfieldspares]

They make them, for metallic cartridges at least, in house in Birmingham. I supplied them with some 8x60S cases maybe ten plus years ago. Using a reloading press and using the same powders and primers and reloading dies we buy as individuals. Working up the load just as we do to give the required over pressure. These are then used by Birmingham or as required ordered and sent down to London. London no longer makes up its own proof loads...if indeed it ever did. I don't know if they also make up their own proof cartridges for shotguns.

 

[takbok]

I just had to send them 3x sized cases for my 6x45 proof testing, and also copies of load data from the Lee reloading manual. I expect that they used a universal seating die to seat bullets.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

The proof houses in Germany use Prazi presse to load up, well so the Prazi advert stated.

 

[8x57]

They make them, for metallic cartridges at least, in house in Birmingham. I supplied them with some 8x60S cases maybe ten plus years ago. Using a reloading press and using the same powders and primers and reloading dies we buy as individuals. Working up the load just as we do to give the required over pressure. These are then used by Birmingham or as required ordered and sent down to London. London no longer makes up its own proof loads...if indeed it ever did. I don't know if they also make up their own proof cartridges for shotguns.

On a visit to the Birmingham proof house some years ago we were told that they buy in the majority of proof cartridges that are the more common cartridges.
However they load their own proof loads for the less common cartridges. They had a simply huge number of die sets for loading these less common cartridges.

 

[M@tt]

Having sat in the loading room of Birmingham Proof house I can confirm they have a wall of die boxes. Virtually every load you can think of.

However, I have been asked to provide my own load for a wildcat when London didn't have one.

That points to an outdated system that is not fit for purpose. Shock loading a component beyond its normal safe working load is not safe. In a precious life I did ndt testing for aircraft components and this method would never be acceptable. And then we stick the potential bomb next to our face and pull the trigger.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

Alot of the old stuff kynoch custom loads them for the proof house i belive.

 

[M@tt]

Alot of the old stuff kynoch custom loads them for the proof house i belive.

Not any more.
Kynamco have gone.

 

[palmer_mike]

Alot of the old stuff kynoch custom loads them for the proof house i belive.

No.
Used to sell them some cases and bullets occasionally but didn’t load proof rounds for them. Kynoch are now out of business.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Having sat in the loading room of Birmingham Proof house I can confirm they have a wall of die boxes. Virtually every load you can think of.

However, I have been asked to provide my own load for a wildcat when London didn't have one.

That points to an outdated system that is not fit for purpose. Shock loading a component beyond its normal safe working load is not safe. In a precious life I did ndt testing for aircraft components and this method would never be acceptable. And then we stick the potential bomb next to our face and pull the trigger.

Can you hydraulic load a barrel to 80,000 psi?

 

[Ronin]

Proof uses max load under saami spec for their testing

One case is dry

One case is oiled

That creates significant increase in bolt thrust and pressure due to oil covered case

There is no over max pressure loading

Just the addition of oiled case

 

[Klenchblaize]

And don't forget the insertion of go/no guages that if you're lucky won't result in a scratched chamber. Apparently!

K

 

[Ronin]

Go / No Go isn’t the issue

The guages used to measure the throat being in CiP spec are

 

[Klenchblaize]

You do gain the impression that in sympathy with this Country being demonstrably "broken" there folk, fortunate to be given of intresting employment, who nonetheless appear determined to demonstrate their zero respect or pride in that with which they are tasked. In short they may just as well be given to working in a fish & chip shop on a Friday night:

Bung it in, shake it all about and hoick it out!

 K

 

[Ronin]

The simple way to prevent the use of the throat guage is to present as Non Standard - avoiding that issue

 

[enfieldspares]

You do gain the impression that in sympathy with this Country being demonstrably "broken" there folk, fortunate to be given of intresting employment, who nonetheless appear determined to demonstrate their zero respect or pride in that with which they are tasked. In short they may just as well be given to working in a fish & chip shop on a Friday night:

Bung it in, shake it all about and hoick it out!

 K

I posted on an earlier thread some years ago that in the 1980s (I don't speak for nowadays) you got the impression that the Birmingham Proof House was part of a make work scheme for the otherwise unemployable. I've seen a lot of the then results. Shotguns where the proof marks were impressed with som much force on the punch when they were struck that they could be see on the inside on the bores of the barrel being all too frequent.

 

[Klenchblaize]

The simple way to prevent the use of the throat guage is to present as Non Standard - avoiding that issue

Yes, but should you wish to sell such a proofed rifle in the future the NS stamping as distinct from that of CIP could be off-putting to a would-be purchaser.

Doesn't worry me but that's not really the point.

K

 

[Ronin]

Proof used to use SAAMI standard until a few years ago

This being the standard for decades

Now they adopt CIP (European standard)

All SAAMI spec chambers are now marked Non Standard

Only someone-uninformed would consider a weapon marked non standard as any less than a CIP

Proof is pass or fail

 

[palmer_mike]

Proof uses max load under saami spec for their testing

One case is dry

One case is oiled

That creates significant increase in bolt thrust and pressure due to oil covered case

There is no over max pressure loading

Just the addition of oiled case

Proof house in this country uses CIP.
Over pressure cartridges ARE used