see the envelope on the table, when I arrived home after
school.
I quickly opened the envelope to find another envelope. I
peeled that one open to find one sheet of 8.5" by 11" paper
and a small plastic bag with a single lightweight die.
"That's it!?!" was my initial thought.
It turns out it WAS. It is very simple in design and use.
The paper was the instructions and the die is all you need
besides a hacksaw and a file to convert regular military ball
ammunition, full metal jacket, to varminting ammunition.
The process was simple enough I found, after reading the
instructions. You start the die on your press, put a .308
round in the shell holder and run the ram all the way up.
Then you turn the die down onto the bullet by hand. This
exposes just the tip of the bullet. I tried it, just to see
it work. It was that simple.
Once everything is in place, you use the hacksaw to cut the
tip off flush with the die. This is then cleaned up using the
mill bastard file.
I sat down a few days later and got to work altering enough
ammunition for my tests. Once I got use to the steps I was
able to alter 200 rounds in just over an hour of total time.
According to the Hanned literature, these were meant for
varminting rounds. They have no results on big game. If my
testing this summer see satisfactory results, I may try this
round out of my L1A1 for whitetail hunting. I was not able to
try it deer hunting with the L1A1. I would prefer trying a
military bolt action rifle if I find one available. I will
also have to check into the legality of using this altered
ammunition before taking it deer hunting.
Actual shooting results:
I used a Century Arms International FN/L1A1 semiautomatic
.308 for my tests. I mounted a Tasco 4x scope on it for
optimal accuracy for the testing. I also had a Harris bipod
mounted on the barrel and used sandbags to add stability on
the bench.
I zeroed the L1A1 using FMJ military ball ammunition. It was
surplus, mostly from the 70's. The converted ammunition was
made from the same surplus ammunition.
I was able to keep the FMJ ammunition inside a 2" group, even
with the heavy trigger pull of the L1A1. I would estimate the
pull at somewhere around 8-9 pounds. The L1A1 started with a
12+ lb trigger and the spring had been reduced to get it
below 10, I wish I had reduced it further
before testing the converted ammunition.
When firing the converted ammunition, accuracy improved!! I
was able to keep rounds touching and inside a 1" group. I was
not able to notice any appreciable difference in velocities
between the two types of ammunition. However, the average
velocities were closer and the standard deviations were not
as great as the FMJ ammunition.
I would have to say that as a varminting ammunition this is
a alteration. The Convert-A-Ball die would save a varminter a
large amount of money by making use of inexpensive FMJ ammo.
Of course, the die would mean using reloading time to convert
the bullets instead of reloading, but since components for a
.308 cannot be purchases as cheaply as the
surplus ammo it would mean savings on the pocket book.
Accuracy was good enough for me to attempt shots on varmints
out to about 250 yards with the L1A1. If I had a bolt action
rifle, I’m sure the accuracy would improve even more greatly
and stretch the useful maximum range.
I attribute most of the accuracy improvement to the bullet
nose shape. The original FMJ points had been bent and
mushroomed slightly due to bulk storage and shipping. The new
nose gave a consistent shape and was probably more resilient
to aerodynamic influences.
I was able to only use the ammunition on one small varmint, a
gopher. It was definitely explosive as compared to a .22 long
rifle as that is the only other caliber with which I’ve shot
gophers. I would say that the same bullet on a larger varmint
would do a lot more damage than a FMJ.
The Convert-A-Ball is a good investment for a .308 caliber
varminter who would like to save money on varminting
ammunition. I am impressed enough to look at purchasing other
dies from Hanned for .22 rimfires.
HERE IS SOME ADVERTISING COPY FROM THE HANNED LINE WEBSITE ON
THIS TOOL:
What the CONVERT-A-BALL Does
This die quickly converts inexpensive military ball ammo into
awesome small-game/pelt-varmint ammo that effectively stops
your quarry without excessive damage to either pelt or meat.
Military Full Metal Jacket (FMJ or "Ball") ammo is
designed to puncture, not to immobilize; therefore, when used
against game, FMJ ammo typically punches a small hole that
will not stop the animal. Virtually all of the round's energy
is wasted on the dirt after the bullet passes through the
animal. It wounds, but does not dispatch. This is why the use
of such ammo is prohibited for use against large game in many
states. The fact is that it won't work on small game or
varmints either, as-is, but works great after conversion in
this die! Experience has shown that 22LR ammo produced with
our 22-SGB Tool will effectively immobilize animals up to 40
pounds in weight. The CONVERT-A-BALL die gives your military
FMJ ammo the same point-form as our 22-SGB Tool gives to 22LR
ammo. The key is that the stopping power of both types of
ammo is produced by a "meplat" (flat point) having a diameter
that is scientifically calculated for optimum performance on
game. This meplat produces an audible "SLAP" upon impact that
provides substantial initial shock. In addition, the meplat
point-form produces a shock-front during its passage through
the target, yielding a dependable, significant wound channel
without the meat-destroying "blow-up" common with bullets
designed to rapidly expand upon impact.
Because your converted ball ammo will have over twice the
muzzle velocity of .22LR ammo, the bullet's action is much
more vigorous -- somewhat like with a softpoint hunting
bullet, but with greater penetration. Therefore, it is
suitable for varmints of all sizes -- from a mouse to a feral
mastiff -- but should not be used on edible game any smaller
that a big jack rabbit.
Ammo you produce with your CONVERT-A-BALL die puts game down
humanely, and with relatively little meat damage, yet is
often cheaper than the cost of reloaded ammo. However, no
commercial bullets are available that would produce an
equivalent result in handloads. You get maximum performance
for minimal cost and effort. In addition, its higher velocity
makes your center-fire SGB ammo even more effective than
22-SGB ammo, especially when used either against
larger varmints (e.g., coyotes) or at longer distances. Even
with the more expensive chamberings of commonly available
ball ammunition, the cost per round is comparable to that of
reloading, but with the CONVERT-A-BALL, you produce each
round quicker and with less trouble (e.g., no need to pick up
spent brass).
How it Works
The process is simple, as shown on the reverse side of this
sheet. Each round goes through the following process:
Insert an FMJ round into the appropriate shell holder and
raise the reloading press ram fully (die is adjusted UP so as
NOT to contact the fully-raised bullet);
Screw-down the die by hand until, by finger tightness, it
gently grips the bullet's tip;
Use a fine (32 teeth/inch) hack saw to remove the protruding
tip of the bullet-with practice, this takes one slice;
Finish the point flush with the die top using two-three
strokes of a mill bastard file; and
Lower the ram, remove the finished round, and unscrew the die
(upward) a bit for the next round.
It only takes around 20 seconds per round -- faster (and
often cheaper) than reloading. The CONVERT-A-BALL die is
designed to last a lifetime, and yet it pays for itself in
only a few boxes of shells. NOTE: USE ONLY ON BALL AMMO
HAVING A STEEL OR THICK GILDING METAL JACKET AND A CORE OF
EITHER STEEL OR LEAD. NOT FOR USE WITH ARMOR PIERCING, OR
TRACER AMMO.
The CONVERT-A-BALL die comes in two sizes to fit all big-bore
ball ammo: SHORT VERSION (fits 7.62X39 and 308 NATO); and
LONG VERSION (fits 6.5x55mm Swedish, 7mm Mauser, 7.62x54R
Russian, 303 British, 30-06, 7.65x54 French, and 8mm Mauser).
The converted ammo is ideal for larger small game species as
well as for general predator/pest/pelt work.
With your SKS, for instance, it is an absolute blast when
used on running jack rabbits or coyotes out to 200-300 yards!
Why let your old war horses sit in the closet when you could
be out having fun with them?
Contact The Hanned Line on line by clicking on their name.
The Hanned Line
P.O. Box 2387
Cupertino, CA 95015-2387
E-mail Dennis Smith