55 Boys & 50 BMG

[idahoben]

I own a 55 boys AT rifle with both the original barrol as well as the conversion 50 BMG.

Shooting the 50BMG is no big deal as I have about 5000 rounds. However I only have 45 of the Boys.

Anyone know where I can get some and reloading components, tools, instructions etc?

Ben

(My 15 year old daughters prayer: "Dear god, my brother is in Iraq. Would you please keep him there?")

[Durandal]

I'd go with the .50 BMG since the .55 puts you into DD area and very rare.

I'd also suggest going to a large caliber .50 BMG or DD/NFA weapons forum to get more help.

[StukaJr]

www.midwayusa.com has the reloading supplies you need - they are the retailer I've stuck around with after trying most others... Some ranges and stores that sell reloading equipment hold reloading classes - I would recommend a class as even with two manuals you are still learning from your mistakes.

I would also recommend reloading for a smaller caliber first and then working your way up - learning to reload on .55 Boys is like learning to drive on an Ferrari Enzo... There is not a straight up way to reload it and I don't think there are dies manufactured for it - you would have to either pay hundreds of dollars for a custom die set or follow some process of making due with .50BMG dies... Of course, people that do that have gotten there after years of reloading - starting straight from that may be an overwhelming task... Small percentage of reloaders ever touched a .50 and I'm not even talking about a rare caliber like Boys - level of advice would certainly be rare or someone's guesswork - not one of my manual mentions Boys (most of them don't mention .50 BMG either)... Also, .50 requires either a press with enough clearance for the cartridge - so you have to make sure that the press is designed to accommodate the cartridge, by itself or with special attachments...

Reloading .308 or .30-06 is a good start in my opinion - cheap tools, components and myriad of information. Going too fast and too complicated in reloading from the start is a good way to get a KB - you really do need the reference of what you are doing, unless you find a class or a mentor whom will teach you straight onto a .55 Boys.

My 2 cents



I own a 55 boys AT rifle with both the original barrol as well as the conversion 50 BMG.

Shooting the 50BMG is no big deal as I have about 5000 rounds. However I only have 45 of the Boys.

Anyone know where I can get some and reloading components, tools, instructions etc?

Ben

(My 15 year old daughters prayer: "Dear god, my brother is in Iraq. Would you please keep him there?")

[wiking]

I know RCBS makes custom reloading dies, but they cost alot of $$$$
But your best bet, unless you come across some old reloading kit, is to use the .50BMG for shooting, and keep the .55 rounds as a collectors item and show them off.

Reloading is a fun, but at times dangerous, hobby. like StukaJR says, start a bit smaller with something easy and learn the ropes, going wrong with a small caliber can be bad enough, going bad with a .50 or a .55 will most defenitely kill you.

Lee has a .50BMG reloading kit, and Lee is cheap and ingenious, but durable and quality kit. Starting with a single-stage Lee reloading press for .50 in the big calibers could be an idea.

[StukaJr]

Lee's equipment is a good start, but I have found myself replace most of the Lee's stuff as I learn more and more - Lee's tools are best deal for the person wanting to save money, but not the person whom wants to save their time... Also, you got to be a masochist to use Lee's products for long - I turned my all-red Lee's Aniversary kit set up into all green RCBS set up in less than a year's time... Lee's tools and primer game me aching fingers and the kind of blisters I've never seen in my lifetime - I literally had to quit after prepping a little over a hundred .308 brass in a day. I also found that needed torque came from my arm on the press - when I applied the same pressure as Lee's press on my new RCBS rock chucker, it blew off the top of the collet die p-)

[Durandal]

Hey guys, I think he was asking if we KNEW of any reloading kits supplies for .55 Boys, not if knew anything about reloading.

I think anyone that can attain a destructive device and .55 Boys rounds as well as swap barrels so he can shoot both .50 BMG and .55 Boys is probably at least a fair bit knowledgeable about reloading...maybe not.

That said, Midway has no .55 boys dies...which I think was what he was wanting.

[StukaJr]

Hey guys, I think he was asking if we KNEW of any reloading kits supplies for .55 Boys, not if knew anything about reloading.

I think anyone that can attain a destructive device and .55 Boys rounds as well as swap barrels so he can shoot both .50 BMG and .55 Boys is probably at least a fair bit knowledgeable about reloading...maybe not.

That said, Midway has no .55 boys dies...which I think was what he was wanting.

"Anyone know where I can get some and reloading components, tools, instructions etc?"

To me, the above sentence reads like the person has no experience in reloading - it's also inquiring about a good place to acquire reloading components, tools and manuals - not just dies... Midway does not carry .55 Boys dies because nobody manufactures them - there is a slim chance that die company will make one of a kind special order - given luck, time and whatever price they choose. Get a list of manufacturers - RCBS, Redding, Foster etc and start calling. That said, there is a way to re-load .55 Boys with .50 BMG (and Midway carries .50 BMG dies) - how to do it, I do not know but some people claim they can, but then again, such info will not be posted without a healthy warnings as it is risky.

I know plenty of firearm builders whom don't know the first thing about cartridge reloading.

My original statement stands - from a person with only a year's worth of reloading experience, learning on Anti-Tank caliber cartridge is bad ju-ju... I never blew up a gun once, but first time jitters of loading a cartridge and frustration with deciphering written text of the process in the multiple manuals is bad enough - unknown SAAMI pressure of the .55 Boys, no tested COL, no reliable manual info and low proliferation in the shooter circuit makes it a very risky proposition. First rule of reloading applies - never trust any load data off the internet... Manuals are just catching up to .50 BMG and starting to publish loading data on it - reloading Boys is like developing your own load...

[Durandal]

"Anyone know where I can get some and reloading components, tools, instructions etc?"

To me, the above sentence reads like the person has no experience in reloading - it's also inquiring about a good place to acquire reloading components, tools and manuals - not just dies... Midway does not carry .55 Boys dies because nobody manufactures them - there is a slim chance that die company will make one of a kind special order - given luck, time and whatever price they choose. Get a list of manufacturers - RCBS, Redding, Foster etc and start calling. That said, there is a way to re-load .55 Boys with .50 BMG (and Midway carries .50 BMG dies) - how to do it, I do not know but some people claim they can, but then again, such info will not be posted without a healthy warnings as it is risky.

I know plenty of firearm builders whom don't know the first thing about cartridge reloading.

My original statement stands - from a person with only a year's worth of reloading experience, learning on Anti-Tank caliber cartridge is bad ju-ju... I never blew up a gun once, but first time jitters of loading a cartridge and frustration with deciphering written text of the process in the multiple manuals is bad enough - unknown SAAMI pressure of the .55 Boys, no tested COL, no reliable manual info and low proliferation in the shooter circuit makes it a very risky proposition. First rule of reloading applies - never trust any load data off the internet... Manuals are just catching up to .50 BMG and starting to publish loading data on it - reloading Boys is like developing your own load...

Not disagreeing with you on the safety issues...just saying is all. :)

[StukaJr]

Not disagreeing with you on the safety issues...just saying is all. :)

Yeah, I do have to "x2" on your sticking with .50 BMG comment p-)

[Engine Mech]

Where I live there are a couple of people shooting anti tank rifles and making their own ammunition. They have made the dies for the Boys and the mauser tank-gewehr M1918 themselves and they resize 50 cal brass, machine off the original rim and swage on a sleeve with the correct size rim. They knurl up 50 cal projectiles to the correct size.

[idahoben]

Durandal. Thanks for standing up and understanding. I have more reloading experience than anyone I know. Reloading over 200 different calibers I shoot from the 5mm velo dog to a 470 no 2 nitro express. I simply have had zero sucess on the Boys.

At this point I'm thinking of having a top end machinest cut out a belt on a 50 BM die. Or perhaps cut a new stainless die for me.

But I'm still strugling for ammo and brass, and especilly primers. Any ideas? I did pick up a few rounds at the Castle Rock Cartridge show last week.

Thanks
Ben

[Peter A Meyer]

Ben,

Don't know if you'll see this, but I have been reloading for the Boys for many years, and selling ammo all over Australia. I use dies by Australia's top custom die maker (long retired) and other equipment I've made such as case trimmer, deburrer, inertial puller for .50 and .55, etc. I reload necked-up .50 BMG and original .55 cases.

Contact me at <peterameyer44@gmail.com> and I'll give you all the help I can if you still need it. I don't know that in the current climate that I would be able to export - I don't think I could handle being swamped with paperwork and red tape even if it was possible.

I'll see if I can contact you by e-mail directly if this site allows it.

Pete.

[Durandal]

Hey Pete, do you care if I send your contact onto a friend of mine? He's a boys owner and might be interested in speaking with you.

[Peter A Meyer]

Durandal,

No worries - be my guest. Always glad to help.

Pete.

[Peter A Meyer]

Durandal,

Forgot to ask - do you know if Ben got his Boys up and running, or even how to e-mail him? Thanks,

Pete.

[Durandal]

Ben who?

The only Ben I know does a lot of suppressor stuff...no larger than .308.

[Peter A Meyer]

Sorry, Idahoben!

[Geezah]

Dur.......

Where were you today?

We were nearly over-run by Zombiesp-)

[Durandal]

Dur.......

Where were you today?

We were nearly over-run by Zombiesp-)

I know man, we were hosting a pre-wedding party for friend's of the wife...well, they are my friends too, but the came with her when we got married. :)

It was a wine party and I have that family room that needed some serious finishing work.

Then the in-laws are down next weekend.

And we've got harvest...so...I'll be down for Monday nights though.

I saw you did good in the GSG run.