Krag Collectors Association Forum Archive
Firearms >> Other Firearms >> American Machinist does Winchester-Lee
http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1555181635

Message started by butlersrangers on Apr 13th, 2019 at 6:53pm

Title: Re: American Machinist does Winchester-Lee
Post by butlersrangers on Apr 14th, 2019 at 4:40am
I believe .220 Swift Brass is used to make 6mm USN reloads. (The .220 Swift cartridge was developed using the .236 USN cartridge case).

Attached pictures show ruined Winchester-Lee with failed case in chamber; fortunately, owner survived and shared story on another forum.

Note: Location and size of extractor-cut on Lee Straight-Pull barrel created a weak area in the chamber for a rim-less high-pressure cartridge.

IMHO - The Lee Straight-Pull has poor provision for handling escaping gases in the event of a case failure. Cut is at 9 0'clock and escaping gases 'split' the receiver and blew off 'top' of receiver ring.

The Krag has a similar extractor-cut, but, the cut (and bolt gas escape-hole) vent upward, with little to impede escape of high-pressure gases.
The web of the .30-40 cartridge case is well contained in the Krag chamber. The cartridge rim serves as a seal to keep hot expanding gases in chamber and barrel, where they belong, even in the event of a complete case-head separation.


blown_Lee-navy1_003.jpg ( 29 KB | 0 Downloads )
blown_Lee-navy2_002.jpg ( 98 KB | 0 Downloads )
blown_Lee-Navy3_002.jpg ( 77 KB | 0 Downloads )
blown_Lee-Navy5_003.jpg ( 83 KB | 0 Downloads )

Krag Collectors Association Forum Archive » Powered by YaBB 2.6.0!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2024. All Rights Reserved.