Reloading for Russian Berdan II

MW65

Wetside, Oregon
Hey folks....

Looking at possibly getting a Russian Berdan 2 rifle from royal tiger imports. This is one of the Ethiopian cache.

I'm thinking about this due to family ties... My grandpa was a Cossack and had this type of rifle on the frontier... I recall stories my dad told me of this rifle since I was a kid.

I know it's a BP only cartridge. Probably 1-20 cast or softer... Paper patch and grease cookies would also be on the plan.

Has anyone taken on such a project where you are forming the brass, paper patch boolits, and conjure up the mojo to see it thru?? Crazy? Pitfalls? Good idea?

Thanks for the thoughts from the peanut gallery!!

-Andy
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
In the late 1980's when Reagan began allowing Mil-Sup imports, there was a few articles in the magazines about loading for these. Some of that may have been converted to digital internet.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I can't believe I missed this thread.

anyway this is one of those projects where 20 rounds is enough ammo for the day.
paper patching is the easy part, the load is easy enough too.
the cases? now were talking time, effort, and money.
maybe some easy, maybe 3 steps away from giving it to the neighbor kid to play cowboys and Indians with.
 

MW65

Wetside, Oregon
I can't believe I missed this thread.

anyway this is one of those projects where 20 rounds is enough ammo for the day.
paper patching is the easy part, the load is easy enough too.
the cases? now were talking time, effort, and money.
maybe some easy, maybe 3 steps away from giving it to the neighbor kid to play cowboys and Indians with.

Thanks for the input!

Looks like buffalo arms uses 50-110 to make the brass. I'm still on the lookout for cartridge dimensions, so I can verify how much work it is going to be for the conversion... Also seeing who has dies...

Worse case scenario, it's a wall hanger... But I would like to shoot it....

Thanks again!
-Andy
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
looks simple enough to make cases.
50 sharps.
turn the rim. [hard part without a lathe]
reform in the full length die
trim and anneal.

handbook of cartridge conversions copied their info from cartridges of the world, and they use 3031 for the propellant..
looks like they used an S-1 RCBS shell holder, but made no mention of who made the sizing die.