Okay, the name of the tittle makes it sound bad, but it is not.....
Background
I have a OLD .440 Corbon AR upper that was manufactured by Tromix (Tony Rumor) way back....before he closed up shop and reopened. I'm guessing this was 2005 give or take.
The .440 Corbon is a 50 AE case necked down to 44 Mag size (.429"). Tony (and others who made 50 AE uppers at the time) opened up the bolt and modified the extractors. This modification, later on, it was discovered put undo stress on the lugs and/or extractors.
Well, when I was using reformed 50 AE back then, I damaged my extractor (got replacements) but concerned about a source of parts if I had bad luck (or was stupid to push the envelope of speed). So I retired my .440 Corbon with less then 200 rounds through it.
Fast forward a bit. The 50 Beowulf was in development about that time, described as a "lengthened 50 AE, but with a 7.62x39 head" which in theory (and since it's main stream now) allowed a common bolt to be used.
Back then, I found that tid bit of info interesting. But at the time, empty brass for reloading was not quite available. I was planning to by Beowulf, trim it to 50 AE length and resize to 440 to get my upper running again.
Back to 2015
Time, life, etc took it's toll. Reloading and my 440 Corbon got pushed back.
I discovered back then (and forgot, then rediscovered) that there was another hybrid out there. The .502 Thunder Sabre...which was basically a 50 AE case with a 7.62x39 head (aka, a short 50 Beowulf). NO CASE TRIMMING...all I have to do is case form/resize....
My question/situation
I'm not seasoned reloader, though I started over 20 years ago. I stick with published info where I can find it, current. I know what to look for for pressure signs, etc, etc. I mainly loaded pistol back then....has been some time since I loaded....time being an issue.
The .440 Corbon, by all purposes is a dead round. The reloading books I have were published prior to it coming out and I don't even know if the .440 Corbon made it into the reloading books.... I'm sure that current (published in the last 4 years) don't have it either-most are shrink wrapped, so I can't even see if it's listed LOL. And I don't have access to reloading books from around the time .440 Corbon was still sold by Corbon (if it made it into the books)....I'm assuming 2000-2005 ish time.
I looked on the reloading info sticky and even the 2008 version of one didn't list the .440 Corbon
. I'm guessing it would have to be 2005 and earlier....
I have the Cartridges of the World that dates to when the .440 Corbon was around. It has some reloading data. I just found online (a pic) of the original loading data that Corbon published on their website when they still had the round....
But, my question is, it is said that using the most current load book info is wise. Well, the info dates back over 10 years.....and it is said that powder lots vary...so how about by decades???
The data Corbon published used Hodgdon H110 , Hodgdon 4227 (both still is in production)
Also Winchester WW296 (also in production)
All 3 above are for 44 Mag and related high velocity rounds....
The Corbon data did not say if that was max or a starting. I'm assuming starting.....if not, to be safe, start 10% lower....
That's my biggest concern is how much as those named powders "changed". I know reloading books get updated and max charges can change over time (I love comparing old books from the mid 70's to my copy and seeing the changes within the same powder).
If anyone has reloading books published around the time when the .440 Corbon was sold, would you mind looking to see if it has it listed?
So, I'm gonna have a hybrid .440 Corbon.....instead of 50 AE cases, it will be starting off as .502 Thunder Sabre. Not bad.....it's not like I'm using a lathe to modify a case....or some other radical methods to make a case.
Side notes:
The .502 Thunder Sabre brass is sold by R&J Firearms, who bought the rights to make the round/upper from the original creator. They are in Oregon. So in theory, if anyone has an AR 50 AE upper w/ out a source of extractors/bolts, one just has to get a 7.62x39 AR bolt, use it and the .502 T-Sabre brass to get it running again...in theory.
(Originally, I wanted a 44 Mag AR upper, which Tony made. He talked me out of it and into the 440. Granted, the 44 Mag has the size head as the 50 AE...I think...so bolts/extractors would still be my issue.... LOL. Maybe the .440 was the wiser choice....
)
So, thanks for reading this. And thanks to anyone who replies. I tend to go on and on in my threads. (I think I'm being over cautious, but better be then not.... )
Background
I have a OLD .440 Corbon AR upper that was manufactured by Tromix (Tony Rumor) way back....before he closed up shop and reopened. I'm guessing this was 2005 give or take.
The .440 Corbon is a 50 AE case necked down to 44 Mag size (.429"). Tony (and others who made 50 AE uppers at the time) opened up the bolt and modified the extractors. This modification, later on, it was discovered put undo stress on the lugs and/or extractors.
Well, when I was using reformed 50 AE back then, I damaged my extractor (got replacements) but concerned about a source of parts if I had bad luck (or was stupid to push the envelope of speed). So I retired my .440 Corbon with less then 200 rounds through it.
Fast forward a bit. The 50 Beowulf was in development about that time, described as a "lengthened 50 AE, but with a 7.62x39 head" which in theory (and since it's main stream now) allowed a common bolt to be used.
Back then, I found that tid bit of info interesting. But at the time, empty brass for reloading was not quite available. I was planning to by Beowulf, trim it to 50 AE length and resize to 440 to get my upper running again.
Back to 2015
Time, life, etc took it's toll. Reloading and my 440 Corbon got pushed back.
I discovered back then (and forgot, then rediscovered) that there was another hybrid out there. The .502 Thunder Sabre...which was basically a 50 AE case with a 7.62x39 head (aka, a short 50 Beowulf). NO CASE TRIMMING...all I have to do is case form/resize....
My question/situation
I'm not seasoned reloader, though I started over 20 years ago. I stick with published info where I can find it, current. I know what to look for for pressure signs, etc, etc. I mainly loaded pistol back then....has been some time since I loaded....time being an issue.
The .440 Corbon, by all purposes is a dead round. The reloading books I have were published prior to it coming out and I don't even know if the .440 Corbon made it into the reloading books.... I'm sure that current (published in the last 4 years) don't have it either-most are shrink wrapped, so I can't even see if it's listed LOL. And I don't have access to reloading books from around the time .440 Corbon was still sold by Corbon (if it made it into the books)....I'm assuming 2000-2005 ish time.
I looked on the reloading info sticky and even the 2008 version of one didn't list the .440 Corbon
. I'm guessing it would have to be 2005 and earlier....I have the Cartridges of the World that dates to when the .440 Corbon was around. It has some reloading data. I just found online (a pic) of the original loading data that Corbon published on their website when they still had the round....
But, my question is, it is said that using the most current load book info is wise. Well, the info dates back over 10 years.....and it is said that powder lots vary...so how about by decades???
The data Corbon published used Hodgdon H110 , Hodgdon 4227 (both still is in production)
Also Winchester WW296 (also in production)
All 3 above are for 44 Mag and related high velocity rounds....
The Corbon data did not say if that was max or a starting. I'm assuming starting.....if not, to be safe, start 10% lower....
That's my biggest concern is how much as those named powders "changed". I know reloading books get updated and max charges can change over time (I love comparing old books from the mid 70's to my copy and seeing the changes within the same powder).
If anyone has reloading books published around the time when the .440 Corbon was sold, would you mind looking to see if it has it listed?
So, I'm gonna have a hybrid .440 Corbon.....instead of 50 AE cases, it will be starting off as .502 Thunder Sabre. Not bad.....it's not like I'm using a lathe to modify a case....or some other radical methods to make a case.
Side notes:
The .502 Thunder Sabre brass is sold by R&J Firearms, who bought the rights to make the round/upper from the original creator. They are in Oregon. So in theory, if anyone has an AR 50 AE upper w/ out a source of extractors/bolts, one just has to get a 7.62x39 AR bolt, use it and the .502 T-Sabre brass to get it running again...in theory.
(Originally, I wanted a 44 Mag AR upper, which Tony made. He talked me out of it and into the 440. Granted, the 44 Mag has the size head as the 50 AE...I think...so bolts/extractors would still be my issue.... LOL. Maybe the .440 was the wiser choice....
)So, thanks for reading this. And thanks to anyone who replies.
I tend to go on and on in my threads. (I think I'm being over cautious, but better be then not.... )