The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

This is one for you paw loaders and lead smelters we thinks...

We're thinking of getting a replica de Lisle carbine, probably one of Chris Goodwin's, and we're wondering if there is a an option for extending its useful range. We shoot mainly at 25 m and 300 m. The former would be no problem but bullet drop on a subsonic .45 ACP at 300 m might well have us giving the RCO palpitations. Is there any scope for using a more streamlined bullet on the .45 ACP, or are we pretty much stuck with off the shelf ballistics? We don't currently paw load - despite much encouragement - but this could cause us to wander over to the Dark Arts...

Personally I think you'll struggle off the shelf and even with hand loads you'll be trying to turn a 100 year old design into something it isn't and never will be ?

Having said that it sounds great fun ! (But so are proper mortars I would think?)

There are reports of the DeLisle being used effectively out to almost 200 yards, but we imagine that the 70 mil rule wasn't uppermost in the minds of the Commandoes on a dark and dangerous beach back in 1944...

Well I wouldn't risk being at the dangerous end at 300m either personally but your talking about targets , aren't you??????

Oh of course, ooman, of course. You are on our side in 'the cull' debate, aren't you ?

Lee used to sell a mould which cast a boolit that was known as the "witches hat"!
It was a 150grainsish semi wadcutter that ,well,looked like a witches hat.
I had a S&W 625 and still have the very last 10 round target I shot with it using these boolits.
Nearly a one hole group at 20 yards,it was a supremely accurate load/boolit and would probably work well in a carbine to 50 yards or so.
As for 300 yards I would look at a 185 to 200 gn truncated cone type boolit(lead or fmj)and get the velocity up to 1500fps or so.
In fact I would look at cutting back 45 win mag or 308 cases to get the longest case length in the chamber i.e more powder capacity.
We have a " modern" DeLisle as a club gun and ,TBH,I dont think its that accurate!
Hope this sort of helps!
Tony
PS If you decide to reload I have a couple of spare,used,die sets.

Oh that! Well frankly no I'm afraid not ?

The de-lisle is perfect for anything out to 800+m in fact I'd recommend nothing else especially if your up against oomans with rubbish old 308/260/300rum kind of stuff ! You will be able to stand in the open with total safety.

Hmm, wearing day-glo orange and yellow jackets too we supposes?

No no black and white is fine if you could hold a small wind flag or something that would be nice?

Hmmm, he must think we have less sense than an SNP or Labour voter...