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Beginning bullet swaging
If a guy wanted to learn how to swage bullets (.204 or smaller), where should he start?
I have been doing some reading on Corbin's web site but would like to see just what the process includes. I have some experience in casting and reloading but know next to nothing about the swaging process. Is there anyone near central Illinois who swages bullets and would be willing to show a novice what is involved? Thanks, Gary |
#2
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Gary,
I'm a long way from Illinois, but your post is exactly why we started this forum. I intend to take some digital pix of my setup and discuss the steps involved. The main reason for you to contact a bullet-maker before you begin is to make sure you have the temperament for the process. Some people can't imagine spending several hours at a time on these processes; others (like me) love it. Also, making bullets for benchrest is a bit different than making hunting bullets, mainly because BR shooters routinely eliminate other sources of error, leaving the bullet to take the blame for a miss. That's a challenge.
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Pappy |
#3
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Gary, for the small diameter bullets, a normal heavy duty reloading press will work, with the appropriate dies, of course.
: Perhaps the easiest way to swage .204's is to start with .224's. I used a rockchucker to swage .375's down to .358 and ended up with the prettiest .358, 270 gr. spitzers you could imagine. The 300 gr. round noses looked like ink markers. Both shot well under 1" from the .358 Norma mag. so the accuracy wasn't harmed. I suspect pressure within the lead bullet swaging dies was quite high, though. There are dies meant for making .224's etc on loading presses - why not .204's? : On the other hand, perhaps some of our wealthy friends here will suggest you get the whole she-bang- thousands of denaro and do it right. |
#4
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While Daryl is right in that the Reloading press can be put to work swageing the small cal bullets, I don't think the cost savings merit it. The difference in cost between reloading press dies and dies for the Corbin swage press is not great. But, the difference in both ease of production, and precision are.
A basic set up would include; A 3 die set for open tip bullets(Core swage-core seat-point form) , a core cutter, lube, lead wire, jackets, and a press. Your current reloading scale will do for weighing duty. The only major difference between the reloading press set up and the swageing tool set up is the one time cost of the press (Which can serve extra duty as a heavy duty reloading press as well) My first foray into bullet swageing was with a Corbin "Free Bullet" set up, for making 22 caliber bullets on the reloading press from fired rimfire jackets. It was fun, but also difficult and frustrating, and nearly drove us away from the hobby. Eventually we set up dedicated swage tools, and it really made a difference! -John |
#5
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IMO, John is totally right......
I agree with John totally.
You can definitely get by with a reloading press for bullet swaging, but it does not make the job an easy one. When I got into swaging, I bought a swaging press to do it on, and I would probalby quit if I had to go back to a simple reloading press to do it now. There is a huge difference in quality and precision between the two types of presses. Also, as John mentioned, a reloading press willl serve as an adequate way to swage bullets, but a swaging press is a much better set-up which will easily adapt to reloading cartridges if one press is all you want. My swaging press even came with a shell holder adapter to make the switch to cartridge reloading an easy one, but I've never used it for that purpose. I still use a couple of Rock Chuckers to reload rifle cartridges. Some old habits are hard to break, I guess. On the other hand, I can't imagine going back and trying to use one of the Rock Chuckers to swage bullets with. JMO - BCB
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I miss mean Tweets, competence, and $1.79 per gallon gasoline. Yo no creo en santos que orinan. Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and just get used to the idea. Going keyboard postal over something that you read on the internet is like seeing a pile of dog crap on the sidewalk and choosing to step in it rather than stepping around it. If You're Afraid To Offend, You Can't Be Honest - Thomas Paine |
#6
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The Right Tool for the Job
What are the features of a swaging press that make it more suitable than a reloading press for swaging bullets?
I’m a firm believer in using the right tool for the job. I’m curious about the definition of “right tool.” |
#7
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I'll try.....
Probably the easiest way to compare a bullet swaging press with a regular reloading press is to take the press handle and wiggle it sideways at any point as you cycle the handle. On the reloading press, you will feel "wiggle" and slack in the linkage when you do that.
When you do that with a swaging press, there is absolutely no "wiggle" as all moving surfaces are honed to a more precise fit and all pivot points run on bearings instead of just simple machine bored metal to metal contact surfaces. Also the ram itself runs inside a machined sleeve that keeps it in perfect alignment as it moves up and down. It's not just a steel ram running inside a hole bored in a cast frame. The fit is a lot more precise and tight as far as tolerances are concerned. Yet, when the swaging handle is cycled, it moves very easily and smoothly with no "take-up" in the linkage, but it's movement also feels very tight and precise, if that makes sense. That may be an oversimplification and not what you are looking for, but that's what I see in the swaging press I own versus a couple of RCBS Rock Chucker presses that I own. The more precise alignment is necessary as you use a lot more force to swage bullets, even when just making 20 caliber bullets, than you do re-sizing even large cartridge cases. Like was stated earlier, you can certainly use a reloading press for bullet making. But with each pull of the handle on a swaging press, you can feel more certain that everything has stayed in as good alignment as possible because the press linkage itself is assembled with a lot more precision and works without any "take-up" like you have and can feel with a reloading press linkage when you put it under stress. When I bought my swaging equipment, I seriously considered not buying the press. However, after receiving the swaging press I purchased (Corbin CSP-1 S-Press) and comparing the way it is built with a standard reloading press, it became obvious very quickly that it's just a better made device for the task at hand. I've never once regretted spending the extra money for it. HTH - BCB
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I miss mean Tweets, competence, and $1.79 per gallon gasoline. Yo no creo en santos que orinan. Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and just get used to the idea. Going keyboard postal over something that you read on the internet is like seeing a pile of dog crap on the sidewalk and choosing to step in it rather than stepping around it. If You're Afraid To Offend, You Can't Be Honest - Thomas Paine |
#8
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FYI: Dr. Dave Corbin has a directory of bullet swagers (dozens and dozens, some international... one was in Poland???) --who use his equipment and probably pay a fee to be listed... it is a bit easier to find at swage.com. In all likelyhood, there is someone in your general area who could "show you around" their operation... you just need to look. See how far you want to travel and how willing they might be. enjoy.
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#9
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bullet making lessons
gary, i'm not to far from you and make benchrest bullets, dies, presses, bullet spinners, bullet boards if you need some help email me i will do whatever i can. also last time i spoke to larry blackman he only makes steel dies now whoever was e.d.m.ing carbide didn't want to fool with it anymore. i also made the horizontal press that randy robbinet is using. george
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#10
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Bullet Spinners and Bullet Boards
Quote:
What is the purpose of the bullet spinner and the bullet board? Thanks John |
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