Making Japanese type 26 revolver Ammo?

J

jason.h

New member
Hello,

I recently bought a Japanese type 26 revolver, and was looking into how to reload ammo for it. I hear most people take 38 special cut the brass down, and shave the rim thinner. But I have some .38 S&W and noticed the brass is a tad to large in circumference and gets stuck in the cylinder. Is .38 special slightly smaller around?

Also, what reloading die would you use if you cut down .38 SP?

I also see the brass on back order: http://www.buffaloarms.com/9mm_Japanese_Revolver_Reloading_Brass_it-157915.aspx?CAT=3829
But again what die would be used to reload this?

I was also thinking what if you reload regular 9mm luger with a light load, and used moon clips? But I noticed that 9mm is too small in circumference, so not sure if it could work?

Anyone have any idea as to what I could do?

Thank You,
 
Most people I know who have loaded for the Type 26 have used .38 S&W dies for their loading, and have used .38 S&W brass modified as necessary.

Since your chambers appear to be tight, you could size in a .38 Special die and reload in .38 S&W dies.

As for using 9mm brass in moon clips, I think you'd have a headspace issue, as the combination of the case and clip would, I would think, greatly exceed the rim thickness on the 9mm revolver.
 
A quick search in Wikipedia shows some dimensions for the Japanese 9mm revolver round, though not the rim thickness.

The case body diameter, length and rim diameter is about .002" larger than the specs for the .38 S&W. (its also listed as a tapered case)

So, ammo that fits and works should be able to be made from .38 S&W brass (including thinning the rims) HOWEVER, individual gun tolerances vary, and if they stick in your chambers, then cutting down .38 SPECIAL brass would be better.

.38 Special specs show the case body diameter to be approx. .005" smaller than the .38 S&W.

9mm brass is ENTIRELY unsuitable.

Moon clips only work if the gun was originally made to use them, or altered after the fact. There has to be enough space to use them, and unless purpose built or altered, most revolvers simply do not have any space for them to fit in.

I have no load info for the 9mm Japanese revolver round, only a vague reference that loads are lighter than loads for the .38 S&W.

They Type 26 Revolver is reported to have serious timing issues (aka piece of crap) that can even allow it to skip chambers when firing.

interesting period piece, but for me, it would be a wall hanger, worth looking at, but not worth the effort to make ammo for.

One note, if you do form cases from .38 Special, regular dies will not be able to crimp (and possibly not seat) properly because the case is too short for the die.

Good Luck!
 
You're right, Mike, don't know how I missed that..old tired eyes I guess.

or MAYBE it wasn't there when I looked, and the gremlins put it in to make me look bad...


they do that, you know....
;)
 
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