Bowman reloading press

[nicholiath]

Hi, has anyone got any tips with regard to crimp finishing with my 20g bowman press as it does not push the final fold down, but instead pushes closing rod into case past folds!

Regards Nick

 

I have added pic of press.

Edited November 6, 2008 by nicholiath

[MC]

My guess is that you do not have enough column height in your components to form a decent crimp. Your wad length is not right.

 

It is not the machine at fault. the folded in case is not getting enough pressure to form a proper crimp.

[nicholiath]

Thanks for that. I have not done any full loads yet just using old empty cases.

[deershooter]

Boman machines req that you place a support spacer in the case before crimping do you have these in the correct lengths ie 65/67/70 mm

 

Deershooter

[nicholiath]

I don't have any spacers. It has a seperate crinp starter that i need to stick on upper plate and just a crimp finish tube. I will try and post some pics of loader.

[Andy H]

You should have 3 crimp spacers with the bowman that you put over the filled but uncrimped case ,For 67mm cases the spacer tube is 32mm long ,70mm is 35mm long , 76mm is 44mm long , These are not plain steel tubes as they have a recess for the cartridge rim so the case seats flush with the base of the tube and they stop the final crimp die from going down to far and causing the now fully loaded cartridge to crease/wrinkle just below the wad/shot.

when set up correctly the crimp is close to a factory crimp , on the underside of the top plate there is a crimp starter I just press the case up into that and then final crimp.

[Lord Geordie]

You should have 3 crimp spacers with the bowman that you put over the filled but uncrimped case ,For 67mm cases the spacer tube is 32mm long ,70mm is 35mm long , 76mm is 44mm long , These are not plain steel tubes as they have a recess for the cartridge rim so the case seats flush with the base of the tube and they stop the final crimp die from going down to far and causing the now fully loaded cartridge to crease/wrinkle just below the wad/shot.

when set up correctly the crimp is close to a factory crimp , on the underside of the top plate there is a crimp starter I just press the case up into that and then final crimp.

I guess if needed a new.set of sleeves can be machines on a lathe! It's a simple enough job!

[hawkfanz]

ive had a bowman for 40 years just started reloadin after a long lay off,i found the spacer tube wasn,t quite long enough to get a good starter crimp an finished job was ****.my mate knocked up a slightly longer one on lathe problem solved.i was usein fiocchi cases 70mm.

[Andy H]

I thought i recognised this thread.

[hawkeye]

Thanks for that. I have not done any full loads yet just using old empty cases.

Any reloader will not crimp if case is empty….try one with a load in

[John_R]

Glad this thread was resurrected. I have what looks like an old Bowman, and no sleeve/spacers. The info above is all I need to turn some up!

 

[Lord Geordie]

Glad this thread was resurrected. I have what looks like an old Bowman, and no sleeve/spacers. The info above is all I need to turn some up!

 

I am picking one up tomorrow apparently.has everything I need. Should be interesting!

[John_R]

If you can spare the time, please measure the OD of the sleeves. I bet that is noncritical but would be good to know.

[Lord Geordie]

If you can spare the time, please measure the OD of the sleeves. I bet that is noncritical but would be good to know.

Will do

[Lord Geordie]

O/D of the sleeves are 26mm I/D at top is 20.3mm then you need to have the bottom cut to 20.6mm I/D and 8.3mm deep. Then a 45° champher and the first 2.5mm needs a I/D of 22.6mm

 

Hope ot helps

[Lord Geordie]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=87hJAaEPUeg

 

Intro to the Bowman loading press.

[John_R]

Thanks for those details. Of course it dawns on me that you have a 12 gauge and mine is a 20, but the principles remain, and I'll figure it out.

 

Will look at the video soon!

[hawkeye]

come on then LG when are you doing a video of the MEC in action ??

[Lord Geordie]

come on then LG when are you doing a video of the MEC in action ??

I have to order some wads before I can make a start on the MEC. I am having to start my Christmas Shopping as I need a few bits for SWMBO and Chris before I splash out any more on Me.

 

Soon. Very soon!

[Lord Geordie]

Today I started to test the drop weights for powder and shot.

 

I need to drop 22.5gr of powder to 1oz of shot. So after filling up just the lead bottle, I started dropping a few batches and weighing. It literally needed wound right in to drop 28g. It is now dropping 27.4g - 27.9g so seems spot on.

 

Then I removed the shot bottle and screwed in the powder bottle. I screwed the adjuster in half way, dropped a powder load and weighed it. 45+gr :o

 

Screwed the adjuster right in and dropped another! 36gr :no:

 

I needed 22.5. So I decided to try and think of a way to take up more room in the bushing.

 

Then I clambered into the cupboard and rooted through the odds and **** drawers, and came across my stock of "O" rings.

 

This is before and after!

 

This pic is the Shot bush adjuster! But shows what the powder one looks like, as it's identical.

 

 

Then after some fiddling with the forceps to get the "O" rings on!

 

 

The powder bush now drops 22.3gr - 22.9gr which I think is an acceptable variation.

 

I fully intend buying a MEC single stage charge bar set, as this will fit the bowman, and allow me to use my existing MEC bushes, for both the MEC, and the Bowman.

 

Now I need to order some Wads and give the press a good dusting off.

Edited December 7, 2013 by Lord Geordie