Belgian Bulldog revolvers explained - HLebooks.com

This ebook is downloadable at this webpage : http://www.hlebooks.com/ebook/bulldogE.htm

 

Ebook's Content
  

The revolver in the second half of the 19th century

- From cap and ball to the self-contained cartridge
- Smith & Wesson in the USA
- Eugène Lefaucheux in Europe
- The English Tranter revolvers
- Evolution of the English revolver's double action lock

The first Webley cartridge revolvers

- The first Webley solid frame revolver
- Webley revolver of 1866 in caliber .577"
- Early English centerfire cartridges
- The intermediary ratchet plate in several models
- The Webley R.I.C. revolvers
- The Webley "Bulldog" revolvers

Analysis of a Belgian "Bulldog" revolver

- Caliber and markings
- Crowned R marking standing for "rifled barrel"
- Trigger mechanism with three screws
- Trigger mechanism in single and double action mode

Field dismounting of a "Bulldog" revolver

- Side swinging of the ejector rod
- Cylinder arbor when it houses the ejector rod
- Removal of the cylinder arbor
- Removal of the cylinder

Advanced dismounting of the revolver (I)

- Dismounting of the ejector rod housing
- Unscrewing the friction spring
- Dismounting of the grip plates
- Dismounting of the cover plate
- Dismounting of the lever of rebound

Advanced dismounting of the revolver (II)

- Dismounting of the mainspring
- Dismounting of a S shaped mainspring
- Partial dismounting of the hammer
- Dismounting of the trigger assembly

Advanced dismounting of the revolver (III)

- Removal of the hammer
- Hinged strut and stirrup
- Dismounting of the trigger return spring
- Dismounting of the loading gate
- Instructions for reassembly
- Specific tools
- Testing the return spring

Functioning of the Belgian "Bulldog" revolver (I)

- Today use of a vintage Belgian "Bulldog" revolver
- Vintage cartridges in caliber .380
- About the use of smokeless powder cartridges
- Black and smokeless powders explained
- To recognize and find black powder
- Reloading of a new black powder cartridge

Reloading kits for .380 and .320 black powder calibers

Functioning of the Belgian "Bulldog" revolver (II)

- Functioning in double action mode
- Rotation of the cylinder
- Vertical travel of the hand
- Locking of the cylinder
- The reasons of a possible bad indexation of the cylinder
- Cocking of the hammer in double action mode

Functioning of the Belgian "Bulldog" revolver (III)

- Functioning in simple action mode
- The lever of rebound explained
- French service revolver model 1892
- Revolver of "Bulldog" type without rebounding hammer
- French service revolver model 1873
- The classical manual safety
- Manual safety on the hammer
- Manual safety of push button type
- Safety actuated through the lanyard ring

French 1899 - 1900 catalog of Gaucher Bergeron (I)

- No semi-auto pistol still offered
- The ending story of the pinfire revolvers
- Pinfire revolver converted to the centerfire system
- Centerfire black powder revolvers
- Centerfire ammunition for revolvers
- Pinfire ammunition for revolvers
- Two types of traditional cartridges with pellets

French 1899 - 1900 catalog of Gaucher Bergeron (II)

- Model "Baby" with concealed trigger
- Different types of trigger
- The so-called "hammerless" model
- True typical "hammerless" model
- Hammer cover plate
- Typical mainspring for rebounding hammer

French 1899 - 1900 catalog of Gaucher Bergeron (III)

- New "reinforced" models in caliber 8mm
- French service cartridge in caliber 8mm 92
- The revolvers in caliber 6mm Velo-dog
- The revolvers of US design (originals and copies)
- The so-called "revolvers of war"
- "Bulldog" revolvers in the Manufrance catalog of 1910

Some remarkable models

- The "Clic-clac" model of Emile Fraipon
- Grip frame with finger rest
- Tiny model in caliber .22 short
- The "Revolvelo" model with ring shaped trigger
- "Bulldog" revolver with long barrel
- "Bulldog" revolver of German make
- "Bulldog" revolver of US make

 

Ebook screen prints

Reloading kits for .380 and .320 black powder calibers

 

Reloading kits for black powder .320 and .380 centerfire "bulldog" cartridges - HLebooks.com

Email contact : hl-ebooks@skynet.be

Revive your antique "Bulldog" type revolver in .380 CF short or long
(also known as .38 short or long Colt).

Full Kit for .380 Centerfire Short or Long (.38 Colt)

Content: tools (same for short and long case) + 12 (short or long) reloadable brass cases + 25 round nose bullets + 25 primers (not shipped toward certain countries - without reduction of the kit price). Delivered in a wood box.

.380 CF / .320 CF Kits PRICE LIST

Tools furnished : base (1), Recalibrator (2), Bullet seating rod (3), Pushing rod (4), Primer cap ejector (5), Power measure (6)

  

Case and bullet dimensions :
.380 long: Case diam. = .375" - Rim diam. = .430" - case length = .960" - Overall length = 1.390"
.380 short: Case diam. = .375" - Rim diam. = .430" - case length = .700" - Overall length = 1,145" 

bullet weight : 10 grams (base diam. = .358" - total length .708")

How it does work.

Install the shell upside down in extremity of the recalibrator with two grooves

Position the priming cap (small pistol type) on the case pocket

When the priming cap is positionned on the case pocket, you have to find the most appropriate tool to gently press the cap inside the pocket.

 

One most easy way is to use a vise (no doubt that an engraving vise, as shown above, is one of the handiest). The whole assembly (recalibrator and cartridge) is positionned between the jaws, and the priming cap is gently forced inside the case pocket through the vise jaws pressure.

  

Install the primed case on the base ring as shown above, and fill the case with black powder until reaching the limit of the bullet seating (must be evaluated before). The primer measure furnished with the kit can be used as spoon, but it was not calibrated for the exact quantity.

Engage now the base of the lead bullet in the mouth of the loaded case. Try to position the bullet as most vertical as possible to ease the next step.

Put the recalibrator above the base ring so as to surround the cartridge. Notice, that the two external grooves of the recalibrator are below.

      

Take now the bullet seating rod, and let it drop inside the recalibrator until it is stopped by the bullet (third picture above). The extremity of the bullet seating rod is hollowed to marry the bullet ogival shape (second picture). The bullet seating rod is fitted with two nuts that will be used to lock the grooved central nut at the correct vertical positioning on the rod, when the first bullet will be properly seated inside the case.

With a nylon mallet strike the seating rod, while verifying from time to time the bullet progression. Stop when perfect seating is reached.

Central cylindrical nut lowered against the recalibrator and locked by the two hexagonal nuts.

When perfect seating of the bullet has been reached, just lower the central grooved nut against the recalibrator (by rotating it clockwise), and lock it using the two standard hexagonal nuts above. The bullet seating rod is then set to the exact length (second image above), and a subsequent seatings will be performed more quickly without verification of the bullet progression inside the case.

You have now one cartridge made, and ready for the shooting range.

After firing

 

Removal of the crushed primer cap

After firing, in order to re-use the case, the primer must be first removed. This can be done using the short rod with a thinned extremity. The case is positionned on the base ring, and the decapping rod is introduced inside the case. The thin extremity bears against the inner face of the primer cap. You have just to tap in the rod until the primer is pushed out of the case pocket.

The cartridge case, which is very strong, is generally only very slightly widened by the explosion, and could probably be re-used without resizing. If resizing proves necessary, it can be done using the recalibrator. Clean the case, and lube it at its external face. Then enter it in the extremity opposite to the one with the grooves. Then press the case until totally enclosed in the resizing tool. This should be done more easily using a vise (with padded jaws), but a nylon mallet an also be used.

The pushing out of the resized case can be performed using the intended rod (4) provided in the kit.

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.380 CF - .320 CF  RELOADING KITS and COMPONENTS - PRICE LIST

Rimfire Reloading

32 RF - 38 RF - 41 RF   Kit PRICE LIST

Pinfire Reloading
7mm
9mm
11/12mm
12/16 gauge

11mm French revolver reloading kit11mm French reloading kit PRICE LIST

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