Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading

Swaging - nothing yet, just doing some math.

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bkoenig:
As far as I can tell, it will cost $400 + to get all of the dies for swaging .22 caliber bullets.  If I could really crank out a lot of bullets that might be worth it, but it seems like an awfully slow process, mainly when it comes to handling the lead cores.

Still, I might give it a try some day.  The idea of an unlimited supply of bullets is intriguing.

bkoenig:
Ok, just revisiting this.  I need a Lee-style bullet sizing die in .377 to size cast bullets for a 38-55 I just picked up.  Lee doesn't make one like that so I figured I would just make one myself on the lathe.  After all, it's just a 7/8-14 threaded rod with a hole through the center.  I could make one out of mild steel pretty easily.  No need for anything too hard for sizing lead.

That got me to thinking, I bet I could make a set of bullet swage dies myself.  I doubt if I could produce match quality bullets with a home made set, but if I could turn out something equivalent to bulk bullets it would still be worth it.  I'm thinking I will give it a try after I make a cast sizer.  Probably will use drill rod and harden it when it's all finished.

JimP:
There is (or was) tooling available to make 9mm jaketed bullets out of 9mm brass cases and lead wire...

lemme look ....


http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?122905-9mm-Swaging

unfy:
bkoeing: i really should get a house with a work shop so i can fiddle with stuff :( ... so very jealous.  depending on your metal work tools and stuff, even harder steel shouldn't be a problem as long as ya take it slow and with lube... *cough*.

But yeah, with proper metal milling tools and stuff, there's nothing stopping you from making your own reloading tools.  For something like swaging, just make sure to include tiny bleeder holes where appropriate.

Jim: awesome.  I don't do 9mm, and for a reloader to canibalize brass for jackets seems weird.. but... still cool.


Since my primary interest at the moment is plinking rounds, I'd love to find a jacket material that's dirt cheap and not hard on barrels.  Bulk 9mm brass can be fairly inexpensive to get ahold of if you buy it (or happen to visit a range that doesn't mind brass harvesting heh).

I still have one last experiment or two to do with plating... but... just haven't bothered (call it disappointment if ya will heh).  I've got another idea for the plating that I *may* pursue, I dunno.  Plating would be the ultimate for cheap plinking rounds that don't have leading problems :(.

With the swaging and custom jackets and all of that, there are some really high quality bullets you can make.  I mean really really pretty stuff.

JimP:

--- Quote ---don't do 9mm, and for a reloader to canibalize brass for jackets seems weird..
--- End quote ---

Use the brass until it's worn out ...then make a bullet out of it?

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