Making .351 WSL cases

Alex Johnson · July 2, 2002, 08:15 AM

I've been considering buying a 1907 Winchester in .351 (can't find the .401 that I really want) and somebody had said that you could manufacture the .351 cases using .357 magnum brass by simply reducing the diameter of the rims. I don't have a reloading manual handy that has the dimensions of the .351 cases, but does anybody know if this is possible? Turning the cases wouldn't be too hard as I have a metal lathe, but would there be any other problems? Thanks for any info.

Steven Mace · July 2, 2002, 08:32 AM

Alex, actually the .357 Magnum case is too short. The case length of the .357 Mag. is 1.29" while the case length of the .351 WSL is 1.38". You'll need to start with a .357 Maximum case and turn the rim down to .407", cut new extractor groove and trim to length. Hope this helps!

Steve Mace

**Mike Irwin** · July 2, 2002, 10:02 AM

Fairly straightforward process if you have the lathe and skills to turn out 50 or 100 usable cases in short order.

The .351 is a fun rifle, but when loading for it you have to stay close to original ballistics, else the gun, being recoil operated, won't work as well as it should.

Have you ever fired a .401?

Surprisingly harsh recoil.

Newservicecolt · July 2, 2002, 06:35 PM

Believe that midway has them on sale as I write.
NSC

Alex Johnson · July 3, 2002, 05:32 PM

Thanks for the informations, not sure if it would be much of a savings to buy the .357 Max brass and than machine it or not. Though I suppose once I had the lathe set up it wouldn't be too much work to crank out a couple hundred in an evening. Do you think cutting the extractor groove would weaken the brass to any major extent?

Contender · July 3, 2002, 09:16 PM

You could also probably wing it with one of those case spinners in a drill press with a gloved finger or dowel in the flashhole for supporting the base of the case and a file in the other hand to take down the rim. Make a quick gage for checking the rim diameter as you go. An extractor slot could be cut this way too.

You may be able to use 360 DW brass (1.41") too. Starline sells it.

FWIW

Gewehr98 · July 3, 2002, 10:27 PM

They make odd and obsolete stuff, to include .25 Remington, .32 Remington, .401 WSL, and .351 WSL, from other pre-existing cartridge brass. Their website, http://www.buffaloarms.com/baco2.htm shows $38.00 for 100 pieces of .351WSL brass.

July 2, 2002, 08:15 AM	#1
Alex Johnson Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2000 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 812	Making .351 WSL cases I've been considering buying a 1907 Winchester in .351 (can't find the .401 that I really want) and somebody had said that you could manufacture the .351 cases using .357 magnum brass by simply reducing the diameter of the rims. I don't have a reloading manual handy that has the dimensions of the .351 cases, but does anybody know if this is possible? Turning the cases wouldn't be too hard as I have a metal lathe, but would there be any other problems? Thanks for any info. __________________ I thoroughly disapprove of duels. I consider them unwise and I know they are dangerous. Also, sinful. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet retired spot and kill him. - Mark Twain

July 2, 2002, 08:32 AM	#2
Steven Mace Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 1999 Location: Clifton, Colorado USA Posts: 724	Alex, actually the .357 Magnum case is too short. The case length of the .357 Mag. is 1.29" while the case length of the .351 WSL is 1.38". You'll need to start with a .357 Maximum case and turn the rim down to .407", cut new extractor groove and trim to length. Hope this helps! Steve Mace __________________ After today, its all historical

July 2, 2002, 10:02 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	Fairly straightforward process if you have the lathe and skills to turn out 50 or 100 usable cases in short order. The .351 is a fun rifle, but when loading for it you have to stay close to original ballistics, else the gun, being recoil operated, won't work as well as it should. Have you ever fired a .401? Surprisingly harsh recoil. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 3, 2002, 05:32 PM	#5
Alex Johnson Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2000 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 812	Thanks for the informations, not sure if it would be much of a savings to buy the .357 Max brass and than machine it or not. Though I suppose once I had the lathe set up it wouldn't be too much work to crank out a couple hundred in an evening. Do you think cutting the extractor groove would weaken the brass to any major extent? __________________ I thoroughly disapprove of duels. I consider them unwise and I know they are dangerous. Also, sinful. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet retired spot and kill him. - Mark Twain

July 3, 2002, 10:27 PM	#7
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	*I think* Buffalo Arms is selling .351 WSL brass.** They make odd and obsolete stuff, to include .25 Remington, .32 Remington, .401 WSL, and .351 WSL, from other pre-existing cartridge brass. Their website, http://www.buffaloarms.com/baco2.htm shows $38.00 for 100 pieces of .351WSL brass. __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

July 2, 2002, 06:35 PM	#4
Newservicecolt Junior Member Join Date: June 3, 2001 Location: On the Lam Posts: 14	Believe that midway has them on sale as I write. NSC

July 3, 2002, 09:16 PM	#6
Contender Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 1998 Location: NY Posts: 680	You could also probably wing it with one of those case spinners in a drill press with a gloved finger or dowel in the flashhole for supporting the base of the case and a file in the other hand to take down the rim. Make a quick gage for checking the rim diameter as you go. An extractor slot could be cut this way too. You may be able to use 360 DW brass (1.41") too. Starline sells it. FWIW

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