Small Game Bullet tool

Rex

Active Member
Any machinists make something similar to the old Hannid Small game bullet tool that flat pointed .22 rimfire ammo?
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I've made several tools to FN standard RN 22LR. Just took a hunk of old 22 barrel, chambered it to 22LR and cut the front back till I got the FN size that looked good. I used a file usually, being careful not to cut into the steel. I did have a small set of very sharp side cutters I flattened one side on that work good too, misplaced them of course!
 

GWarden

Active Member
The Neal Waltz die is a great system. Interesting thing I found, some rifles group sizes were greatly improved using the Waltz die, some no difference, and one group size enlarged.
bob
 
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Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
I purchased the Neal Waltz die and it is TOP NOTCH!
Like GWarden, I found improved accuracy with some brands.

There are two advantages to the Waltz die:
1. It provides a means to flat point .22 rimfire bullets.
2. That flat-pointing operation also swages the bullet to a slightly larger diameter and does that in a very controlled manner. That increased diameter can result in improved accuracy.

The real advantage is the die allows you to squeeze better performance out of low cost bulk cartridges.
Years ago, I sorted cheap .22 cartridges with a rim thickness gauge. Again, the advantage is the process allows you to increase the accuracy of cheap ammunition. Of the two techniques, I think there is FAR more value in the Neal Waltz die than the rim thickness gauge (which I believe was made by Sinclair. If memory serves)

I can highly recommend the Neal Waltz die. In today's environment of re-occurring shortages, there is benefit to having that die. You can squeeze more accuracy out of bulk rounds (maybe not to the highest level possible with high quality target ammo but better than cheap ammo)
The flat point also makes a good small game bullet.

There's a hollowpoint pin included but, IMO, the flat point is a better option.

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Gary

SE Kansas
I made one that works pretty good, it's just slow going. This weekend will be an excellent time to stay inside and flatten a bunch with the negative temps we're supposed to get.
In looking closely at the Neil Waltz Die, that could be made pretty easily with the Die blanks Keith sold to members a few months/years ago. Might look around and see if I still have one.
 

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GWarden

Active Member
Rex
I remember the first time I was squirrel hunting after using the "Hannid" tool that puts the big metplat on .22 ammo. At the shot I heard a vary loud "whack". First I thought I had missed the squirrel and hit the tree it was on. The squirrel dropped from the side of the tree at the shot though. I used a range finder and it was 52yd from me to the squirrel. The sound was the bullet hitting the squirrel. I always like to use a good standard velocity ammo for hunting. The one draw back was that one had to get a good square hit to the brain pan to get a instant kill. Have had some head shot squirrel that were not dead when I went to pick them up, with the Hannid tooled ammo there was no more head shot squirrels that were not instantly killed.
 
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blackthorn

Active Member
When I was a kid, I hunted Squirrels for the hides. I used a .22 and the cheapest no hollow point ammunition I could find. They had to be hit in the head or the value of the hide went down. One fine winter afternoon, sunny, cold and with a good stiff, but steady breeze, I took careful aim at a squirrel in some willows. The willow it was on was moving slightly in the breeze. I fired; the squirrel dropped. I walked over, picked it up and looked for the hole that should have been in its head. Nothing there! I was holding that squirrel in my left hand and all of a sudden, I saw its eyes sort of glassily look around. Before I could react, that little varmint bit me. His chisel-like teeth went right through my heavy horsehide leather mitt, through the heavy home knitted inner mitt and through the web between my thumb and first finger. Now it was stuck because it could not get its mouth open enough to release from the mitts. I strangled it and then had to pry its teeth out of my hand. I was a couple of miles from home and by the time I got there my mitt was full of blood and it dang well hurt, and Mother was NOT impressed. I still have that scar some 60+ years later. On examination, the bullet had just cut a swath of hair off that squirrel’s head, enough to knock it out but no blood, good hide.
 

Dale53

Active Member
blackthorn;
Reading your post about the squirrel bite, sure brought back a "fond" memory. I was a teenager, and worked for my Dad who owned a Hardware Store and Appliance Repair Shop. We had a very talented employee who came from SE Ohio (we live in SW Ohio). Vic had a farmer friend who owned a nice 200 acre farm. There was a large woods on the property full of squirrels. My father, VIC, and I drove down to the farm and camped out over the weekend.

The land was flat and the farmer insisted that no rifles be used, only shotguns. We would separate and still hunt through the woods. The first day, I shot a squirrel in a tree with the shotgun. I went to pick up the squirrel and it bit me, like you, right through the web between my thumb and forefinger on my right hand. Being Irish:rolleyes:, instead of screaming in pain (he didn't let go) and jumped next to a tree, and wiped his head back and forth until he DID let go. His head was flattened to half it's thickness.

I didn't stop hunting, but for the rest of the trip, everytime I shot a squirrel, before I picked it up, I drew my 2" snubnose .22 Colt Banker's Special, and carefully shot each one in the head. I am NOT a slow learner!:angry:

"Thanks for the memories",
Dale53:p
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I did a lot of work with a Savage 23 in 32-20, just a great little small game rifle. My favorite bullet was the Lyman 311316. I got a super accurate load at one point in the old Remington tissue paper thin brass. It was running about 1500. I was fine head shooting our northern Greys, but a body shot would cut one almost in half if hit right. They aren't the large Greys you see in the park, these guys are smaller, not all that much larger than a Red. I got a 311359 to try, thinking the FN on the 316 was too much of a good thing, but I never got a chance to work with it.
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
I did a lot of work with a Savage 23 in 32-20, just a great little small game rifle. My favorite bullet was the Lyman 311316. I got a super accurate load at one point in the old Remington tissue paper thin brass. It was running about 1500. I was fine head shooting our northern Greys, but a body shot would cut one almost in half if hit right. They aren't the large Greys you see in the park, these guys are smaller, not all that much larger than a Red. I got a 311359 to try, thinking the FN on the 316 was too much of a good thing, but I never got a chance to work with it.
Before I got my .25-20's for squirrels I used a Stevens Model 44 in .32-20. I used a simple 100 grain Lee round nose bullets and 4.2 grains of Unique, (or 13 grains of 3fg). Squirrel hammers, little damage on an errant shot, but slams them to the turf. Like using round nose 44 and 45 on rabbits. Go with the easier rib cage shot, drop them in their tracks, eat up to the hole.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I used my Win '92 32/20 with its long barrel for squirrels a few times I shot a 115g moly bullet I bought. It was loaded with a few grains of PB. Very quiet load and deadly inside 50y. Body shots took them right outta the tree! Head shots of coarse where instantly effective. But nothing blown up nothing wasted. I tried same Load in my Marlin lever but its shorter bbl wasnt same Accuracy wise.
My 25/20's where pushed harder making them coyote shooters. A Hornady 60 g made short work of a yote! Later the Speer 75g FP was even better!! Today all I have is a Savage 23 but it shoots well. Couple years ago I grabbed a couple 25-20 molds but dont think I every tried them in This rifle. ::)
We can only use CF on private land & most of my squirrel was on state so a 22 RF ruled the roost. Couple years back the state opened state lands to ALL RF calibers and the 17M2 is now in charge! Haven't found anything better.

CW