I have procured an Argentine Remington RB in 43 Spanish and from the distant looks of it (not in my possession yet) has not been molested by the Reformado nor any other human, in any other way.
It looks like it might be one of those rare prior in cosmolene-sold in the 50's and 60's as new that was never issued, fired a few times and dumped into storage until some lucky guy find the deal of a lifetime from a person who dumps it from an estate and has no idea and cares NOT. It has been in storage for 20+ years where it resides now. I should have it in 5-10 days. Cha-ching!
My desire was to embark on a gunsmithing education course for a second revenue stream and as well, add a rebarrel to the RB as one of the projects. What has curtailed that is the bore is supposedly minty, the original bluing is present and I can't molest a valid firearm. And so I will need to shoot it as a BP 43 Spaniard. I know well the costs of such shooting, cases in the $4 each range by the time you fire a shot. Custom mold, expensive dies, etc, etc.
What I need some advice on is this:
The chambers are wildly variable so I have learned. I will chamber cast as soon as the chamber is clean. I will be seeking advice based on the measurements and pictures on how to address the potentially bottomless throat and a inevitable headspace issue that will arise through the use of current brass.
Or course it is hypothetical at this stage. Until the chamber has been cast and bore slugged, it is all a dream.
My desire is possibly to remove the barrel and set it back up to 2 turns. Not sure of the possiblity of doing so, remember I am not a gunsmith. It has the octagonal breech end. I am wondering if it is set back 2 turns, will that allow me to face off the breech and correct the headspace issues generated by the 348 win brass (parent) rims (with a modified extractor to compensate for the thinner rim) and cut forward or remove some of the inevitable throat use/abuse/miscut and potentially ream the neck a few thou larger to allow a fatter bullet to seat in case without sticking the neck. I understand that most throats are small, necks crooked, etc... Id like a goof bullet fit and if the throat is huge, then I need a fatter bullet!
Yep, asking alot in that one question. Last is will I ever be able to align the sights again perpendicular to the receiver sidewalls with any accuracy? After setback, I have to test fit the barrel to verify I have cut enough back to get the sights stay on top of the barrel where they should be.
Well that wasn't last.
Anybody shoot 43 Spanish as BPCR?? I will ONLY shoot BP with the gun, thats why I bought it. I' rather have a 45-70 or 90 or 44-77crossno but for the minor cost to acquire the gun (WHAT A DEAL I GOT), it's not getting tweaked into some other form till I sell it or my kids get stupid with it. I know I CANT compete in BPCR with it but when I grow up, I would like to do the full BPCR project gun just for sil. shooting.
So anyway, any feedback or experience with similar situations and maybe some 43 Spanish tips would be helpful. I already know that sending it off for conversion is likely to be less expensive over the life of the gun. I will not do that to the gun, it is too clean and perfect and original and did I say perfect and original and the find of a lifetime.....
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Mike