First try with cartridge pens....

[Tortuga]

Got a long way to go, but here are first two experimental rifle shell casing pens with a mesquite top..Still waiting on some antlers..Hopefully next week.. Not near as good as Bobby's, but I'm tryin'..LOL

Jim

[Bobby]

They look alright to me. I can't see the fit and finish real good but I like them. The first one what cal. caseing is that? How much of the transmission do you have in the top part of the pen? Is it good and tight? that is one of the problems with the longer caseings is they don't leave very much for the top to hold on to.

[Tortuga]

First one is a nickel 25-06 Rem Chief sent me. Transmission is about 50 percent up and down..pushed it a little too far towards tip and point doesn't quite retract all the way but I can't figure out how to get the trans backed up or out of there once it's in. There is a kit for pen dis-assembly but that is the ONE thing I ain't got..LOL..I can tell you one thang..a couple of pair of lock jaw pliers won't get er done..Oh, well..they're my first try and things will improve. Still thinking about filling the casings with epoxy before drilling. Drill wandered a little on the way down on first few complete screw-ups. LOL..

Pray for me,...lol.....Jim

[HStewart]

Boy, they look great to me.

[Bobby]

I ain't going to say how many caseings I have messed up drilling.:o
forgot I did have one that popped a very little when I drilled it. I finished it after I cleaned my pants out.:rotfl:

[Tortuga]

LOL..yep, Bobby..on spent shells, if the firing pin was just a HAIR off center, then you are essentally skrewed. On the other hand, went by Carter Country and picked up a bag of .243 winchester unprimed that the guy assured me would work..Maybe ??. Had to jam the nib in the end of the cartridge with a steel vise (nice tight fit anyways) and there is just a little 'shoulder' at the joint. Dunno if I can grind it smooth or just leave it alone. I DO have a bag of 50 of them that I would be more than glad to share with you at no cost to you if you'd be interested.. Maybe you can come up with a solution. Would you like for me drop snail-mail you a couple dozen of them ?. I'll NEVER use up 50 of them boogers....

[Bobby]

I don't need that many but I would like to have a few of them. Maybe 10 or so. Just to try. Are these new caseings or just ready to reload caseings?

[Tortuga]

These are new casings..no POP..LOL...just ground out one with them..Worked OK, but still has that little 'shoulder' but I think I'll just leave it alone..Did skrew up and jammed a silver nib in a new brass casing..silver nib, silver clip, BRASS body..Looks a little screwy but it has character. LOL...I'll pop off a dozen to you Monday AM.. Think I'm getting the hang of it now..just need a little longer mesquite top to take about 3/8 inch extra tubing sticking out of the cartridge..Like I said..this one is OK...just a little DIFFERENT...but, aren't we all...