saddler Posted July 5, 2015 Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 (edited) As per the title Got a nice Bowman unit recently, courtesy of Lord Geordie Had a confusing couple of minutes looking for the pre-crimp station until I tilted the press & found that there isn't one & the pre-crimp is integrated into the machine head I'd be interested in a scan of the instructions, or a link to where they may be available to read on-line, just so I can read up on the machine & see what else it may do differently from the more often seen US made reloaders Edited July 5, 2015 by saddler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roughshooter Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 I think I have an original instruction book somewhere - will have a look for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted July 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 Ta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rws-89 Posted July 9, 2015 Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 have you tried bowman i got some parts of them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted July 9, 2015 Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 ive had one of these for over 40 years now,some years ago I needed the wad guides foned bowman up "sorry the lady says we don't make them any more but we do have some parts available" she came back to me with they are 50p each for the guides so I got ten of em just in case,but never had a manual that I can remember but worth a fone call to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted July 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 Ta all for the recent replies. Will try calling them on the off chance that they have a manual or handbook Could do with bushings too as it came without any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted July 18, 2015 Report Share Posted July 18, 2015 They don't do bushings only the universal bar you got with it! However, MEC non progressive bar fits! And you can then get the MEC bushes to fit that. Or you can get the MEC universal bar which is for modern powders. The old bar is for older powders and as such the charge is too large with modern powders! The other option it to have the bar you have machines out to MEC spec by a machinist and that would allow the use of MEC bushings, or if your good on a lathe get the MEC measurements for the bushes you need and machine the bushes too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted July 18, 2015 Report Share Posted July 18, 2015 I will make any bush you want Deershooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted July 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 They don't do bushings only the universal bar you got with it! However, MEC non progressive bar fits! And you can then get the MEC bushes to fit that. Or you can get the MEC universal bar which is for modern powders. The old bar is for older powders and as such the charge is too large with modern powders! The other option it to have the bar you have machines out to MEC spec by a machinist and that would allow the use of MEC bushings, or if your good on a lathe get the MEC measurements for the bushes you need and machine the bushes too. Hi I was wondering, though the confusion was caused by the end adjustment screws...as they sort of gave the impression that they could be used to retain bushings of some sort. Will look in some of my older magazine articles....but as I have a good stock of Nobel shotgun powder I am sure I could work out some sort of load that uses the existing bar. Will see what the older reference books say. I sent a message to Bowman the other day too, so they may have a copy of the instruction leaflet that I can download. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 I would also appreciate a copy of instructions, should you succeed. I will do a bit of diggign myeslf and let you know if I turn anything up. I have the 20 gauge Bowman, and I am missing the sleeves that go over the cartridges, so if anyone knows the dimensions I would be grateful, that way I can make some on the lathe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zenduri Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) There's a demo/instructional video here if it helps Edited July 20, 2015 by Zenduri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted July 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 There's a demo/instructional video here if it helps WEIRD That voice was one I'd heard before....then I saw the black writing on the charge bar... That's my press, being operated by it's previous owner!! NEWS Bowman replied to my e-mail, and they are sending me a user leaflet for the press. Once I get it I'll scan it & post it on here & a couple of other forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave303 Posted October 30, 2015 Report Share Posted October 30, 2015 Just been reading the posts about the Bowman reloading press and wondered if anyone had a copy of the instructions they are prepared to share. I contacted Bowmans recently and they said they would send me some but what I actually received was a sales leaflet that didn't tell me how to use the press. Am particuarly interested in how to adjust the threaded rod for the crimping die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 WEIRD That voice was one I'd heard before....then I saw the black writing on the charge bar... That's my press, being operated by it's previous owner!! NEWS Bowman replied to my e-mail, and they are sending me a user leaflet for the press. Once I get it I'll scan it & post it on here & a couple of other forums That's because it MY video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Posted June 16, 2016 Report Share Posted June 16, 2016 WEIRD That voice was one I'd heard before....then I saw the black writing on the charge bar... That's my press, being operated by it's previous owner!! NEWS Bowman replied to my e-mail, and they are sending me a user leaflet for the press. Once I get it I'll scan it & post it on here & a couple of other forums hi,sorry to mither you, did you happen to get any paperwork regarding bowman presses? picked two up with one or two parts missing and was thinking about maybe resurrecting them and put back into use ? cheers . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted June 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2016 Took them a while longer than promised but they sent photocopied instructions. Give me a couple of days. Will dig then out & scan them for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Posted June 16, 2016 Report Share Posted June 16, 2016 cheers for getting back, seem to be missing the washer part that fits into the reprime station on top of the spring ? could I ask is ? is it a simple washer or more complicated ? like a top hat perhaps ? would get one made if so ? I have some mec charge bars which are not far of fitting the original housing dimension wise ? been told they would be suitable with a bit of muckin about and would certainly solve the bushing problem if so. any advise greatly appreciated, cheers again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted June 18, 2016 Report Share Posted June 18, 2016 I'd be curious to see a copy, having not taken that project forward myself:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted June 18, 2016 Report Share Posted June 18, 2016 The bowman is a pretty straightforward machine to use as per the video.basic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 Hi I was wondering, though the confusion was caused by the end adjustment screws...as they sort of gave the impression that they could be used to retain bushings of some sort. Will look in some of my older magazine articles....but as I have a good stock of Nobel shotgun powder I am sure I could work out some sort of load that uses the existing bar. Will see what the older reference books say. I sent a message to Bowman the other day too, so they may have a copy of the instruction leaflet that I can download. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 fitted some mec charge bars to the ones I picked up seem to work ok ? only thing is the bushes are opposite way round ie shot becomes powder and vise versa could tap n thread the other side I suppose and fit em as intended if proved to be a problem bottle threads are also knackered ! but again seems mec bottles will fit did they ever do any 16 bore bits for these ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 fitted some mec charge bars to the ones I picked up seem to work ok ? only thing is the bushes are opposite way round ie shot becomes powder and vise versa could tap n thread the other side I suppose and fit em as intended if proved to be a problem bottle threads are also knackered ! but again seems mec bottles will fit did they ever do any 16 bore bits for these ? Yes, a mate has one but the M/C is not made now and as far as I know there aren't any bits for them. They are pretty basic and bits could be made to fit them as above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 (edited) I have two Bowman's both were originally 16 bore one i converted to 12 bore and the other to .410 , with a sleeve you can use the lee powder bushings if you cut the square part off . and the Mec wad guides can be made to fit quite easy . The sizing ring/die i machined up at work together with the primer/case ejection pin also the cheap round shampoo bottles 1 lt and 1/2 lt fit the threads. My phone pictures will not resize small enough to post pic's. Edited June 26, 2016 by Andy H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George88 Posted September 8, 2022 Report Share Posted September 8, 2022 Only 6 years late - but could anyone with the scanned instructions please send me a scanned copy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harkom Posted September 8, 2022 Report Share Posted September 8, 2022 George - pm me your email and I will send a copy. harkom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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