Hi guys. I have a Gehmann retailed normal Drilling (16/70x16/70) where the rifle calibre is 5,6x61R. It was made 1960 by Ludwig Borovnik and bears his Ferlach 40.xxxx proof number.
I use Bertram Australian brass cases in 5,6x61R. No problems. If I were going to anneal them I would use molten lead, a few seconds inverted in this no deeper than the shoulder, followed by water quenching, (as Nick Harvey recommended). Keep the water bucket well back to avoid any splash-backs. I have necked up and necked back 5,6x61 rimless cases after doing this with no splits. Make sure the primer flash hole is blocked somehow to stop lead getting into the case.
The powder I use is Hodgdon H870, unfortunately no longer made. The data used is from an article on both the rimmed and rimless 5,6 vom Hofe by Dave Wolfe in Handloader magazine. I have two rimless 5,6x61 SEvH rifles and the H870 did not achieve the expected velocities from Handloader in these. However, H870 is quite adequate for the rimmed version, from memory "only" around 3,300 fps. Keep in mind that, when comparing only combination guns, (comparing only apples with apples), this is probably among the fastest .22 calibre cartridges available, especially with modern powders.
In regards to bullets, S&B make a .228" bullet, intended for 5,6x52 Savage Hi-Power, but probably OK in the break-open 5,6x61R. Depending of course, in what the application is. I've used Degol .228" bonded bullets in my rimless 5,6x61 rimless cartridges. Over an Oehler 35p they do around 3,800 fps, (using different Hodgdon powders). I shot a feral goat a very close range in a quartering-away shot using this. A year later I announced to my shooting companion that I had found the exact spot of old skin and bones and that perhaps I could recover the bullet. He though that ridiculous. It was about then that I held the bullet up! It was intact and somewhere I still have it and also the retained weight, which was quite impressive. Another friend found me a very old Speer bullet packet in .228", (meant for the .22 Savage Hi-Power). So old that Speer weren't able to date it by the usual ID marks on their packet. It's a while ago now, but I recall these disintegrated on the way to the target, the same way that Dave Wolfe found with some of his lighter jacketed bullets back in the day.
In terms of vom Hofe velocities being determined "over a type-writer", I saw a pre-war 7mm vom Hofe Mauser action rifle come up for auction online, (in Egun?). As I recall it had a 30" barrel. With the powders of the day, these might well have developed something like the published velocity in that length. But when someone repeats the test in a more modern, much shorter barrel, and perhaps also with old pre-war ammunition, it may well come up much shorter in velocity. I also have here a Mauser 66 in 7x66 SE. Newer powders have nothing to apologize for.
Also, I wonder about that S.E.E. effect. There was, apparently, a shortage of suitable powders and someone marketed an unsuitable French replacement, that may have been part of the explanation. But also, downloading seems to facilitate the S.E.E. effect by allowing the primer flame to jump across the gap left above the small powder charge (when prone) and light both ends at once. I never load less than well up the shoulder as seen when the case is standing upright. I also wonder also if the people who marketed the then new 5,6x57 RWS saw the old vom Hofe round as potential competition and trundled out the "paper tiger" claim and also the S.E.E. one. S.E.E. has been seen even in cartridges like the .38 Special. I'm not sure anyone would argue that old pistol cartridge is "overbored". Newer powers like H4831SC have much better suited the 5,6x61 rimless and the old "overbore" claim might be just a footnote of history now.
BTW, I have never seen a photo of Ernst August vom Hofe. Perhaps in this forum someone has? That would be most interesting.
Also, BTW, the date of the death of this cartridge designer coincided with the Russian arrival at Peenemünde where he was working in 1945.
