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I would like to use my bockbuchsflinte for whitetail hunting here in Wisconsin this fall. It's chambered in 6.5 x 52R X 28 gauge. I'll be using S&B ammo for the rifle barrel, but I would like to put a slug in the shotgun barrel too. I found some 28 gauge Brenneke slugs, but they are 70mm and my gun has a 65mm chamber. The shells have a roll crimp, and the slug itself is recessed about .30 inches below the mouth of the shell. After firing one in my Ruger Red Label, the fired shell measures about 2.70 inches. I'd probably fire one to check the point of impact relative to the sights, and maybe only one or two, if needed, during hunting. Anyone have any opinions on using these 70mm slugs in my gun's short chamber?
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Had the same problem with 20 ga shells. My solution: I cut off the loaded cases through the roll crimp, remove the folded inward part and apply a new roll ceimp. I use an antique roll crimping tool to do so. -
I had thought about that. I don't have a 28 gauge roll crimper, but Ballistic Products sells one for $30.......Comment
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As above but in lieu of the roll crimp just dribble some melted candle wax over the slug to hold it in place.Comment
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Norsk,
In my experience the 2-1/2" shell is usually about 2-9/16" fired length. This is 2.559". I usually trim my hulls to measure 2.550" and skive the mouth of the case for shot loads. Most 28 gauge loads use powders on the slower end of the scale that require a good crimp for proper ignition. The roll crimp tool from Ballistic Products does a good job but may hit the point of the Brenneke slug before the crimp is complete. This is usually not a problem with a wad that has some spring to it as it will push the slug back up into position against the crimp. On ammo I load for my Paradox gun I had to make my own roll crimp tool because of the very long point. Also, for slugs you could probably leave out the skiving and have a stronger crimp for ignition. You just need to make sure the crimp is deep enough that load is not loose in the case and there is some wad pressure.
I would like to see a few pictures of your gun if you could post them. Best of luck with it. Thanks, DizComment
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Here are some pictures of the gun. 26-3/4" (68cm) barrels, simple flip up rear sight. Weighs 6 lbs. Normal proof marks, proofed 9/26, and no markings as to maker or retailer, only the RZ stamp on the rifle barrel. A nice, light, handy little gun.
Just how common are German 28 gauge guns? I don't think I've ever seen another one.bbfright.jpg
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norske,
My late friend Clovis Lejune had a 28/28/6.5x58R nicely engraved hammer drilling. I don't know where it is now, it was a gem.
MikeComment
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norske, I am a big fan of the 28 gauge. I think they work out better than the twenty although I go way out on a limb saying that. Here is a picture of the Paradox shell that I worked up a load for. It is twelve bore with a 700 grain HP slug. It runs about 1150 fps and will shoot two inch groups at fifty yards for six shots, right and left. You can see what I mean about the point getting in the way of the crimper but I don't think you will have anything close to this situation and as I said the wads will push the slug back up against the rollover. Great looking piece by the way and should be good fun getting it shooting. Diz
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Your o-u Bockbuechsflinte is a typical product of the Zella – Mehlis guntrade, made for retail by wholesalers, mail order houses or idividual country gunshops. As you noted, it was prooeptember 1926 by the Zella – Mehlis proofhouse. Sorry, but I can not identify the RU or BU mark of the "maker", but Richard Zink, a Z – M gunsmith, did some work.
The 28 gauge is very rare indeed here in Germany. Gauges smaller than 20 were never regarded as usefull hunting numbers. The small gauges are sometimes encountered in cheap single barrels of "garden gun" type or in light "off season" combinations like your's. I've also noticed some 24 and 28 gauges as interchangeable barrels fitted to slim double rifle actions. All in all, the 24 seems to have been more popular, rather less unpopular, than the 28 for such purposes over here.
I doubt a 28 bore slug to be really effective . Weight and energy are just above half of a 12 gauge Brenneke slug.I would not trust it at ranges longer than 25 yards.Comment
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Here is a picture of the 28 gauge Brenneke slug. As you can see, the slug itself is recessed about .3 inch below the mouth of the case, so it would very easy to do as Axel suggested, and trim the shell off at the fold, and do another roll crimp. I'll probably buy the roll crimper from Ballistic Products and give it a try, mostly just to see if I can make it work. I realize that a 28 gauge slug is not ideal for Wisconsin whitetails (they do get kind of big up here), but I'm not a trophy hunter, and pick my shots carefully. It would only be a second, follow-up shot, at close range. I've taken deer with my buchsflinte and my drilling, but haven't had this particular gun in the woods yet.
Diz, I am also a big fan of the 28 gauge. I managed to talk a good friend of mine out of his Ruger Red Label last winter. He had only fired one box of shells through it in the 15 years he owned it. I've been shooting it all summer at our local gun club on the wobble trap range, and having a ball - especially when I can outshoot the guys with the 12 gauges!!
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Sounds like fun to get it shooting well. How heavy is the slug? PackyComment
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282 gr according to the Brenneke catalog.Comment
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norsk,
I think cutting the crimp right at the turnover and re-crimping will work OK as Axel said. You will only have about half the actual turn from the original but it should be enough. I don't know if you have a chronograph handy but shooting them over it will tell how they are working. Big variations in velocity would indicate that it needs more turnover. Also, if you see a lot of vertical dispersion on the target, that would indicate the same thing.
I find that pre-warming the roll crimper makes for a better turnover either by heating it with a torch until it is quite warm to the touch or letting it run against the case mouth and let friction warm it up. This also softens the plastic and helps give a good turn. You will feel an increase in resistance when the turn reaches the slug and you just want to be sure there is good contact as I said before.
That is a fine looking combination. DizComment
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Here is the result of my cutting the roll crimp at the fold, and rolling a new crimp. I used the roll crimper from Ballistic Products. The resulting shell is now short enough for the 65mm chamber. At 50 yards, the slug would print about 6" below the rifle bullet hole. That would definitely mean a 25 yard shot maximum. I did carry the gun during the deer season, but I didn't have the opportunity to use it. I used my drilling from my stand on opening morning, and got a nice buck (see my post under Hunting with Germanic Guns), but in the county I was hunting in in northwester Wisconsin, we were also allowed two antlerless permits. The little bockbuchsflinte was nice and light to carry through the brush while trying to chase deer toward the other hunters in my party. There's always next year........
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Norske,
Good show. There is no doubt a 28 ga. slug will kill a whitetail, even if not ideal, an awful lot of them have been put down by poachers with 22 LR.
MikeComment
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