bumping jacketed bullets up in diameter?

Claven2

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Ok, so I need to figure out how to upsize .284" bullets to .287".

I made a .288" diameter die, sizing ram, and reamed the bullet profile into the die plug (all on a metal lathe), but alas my press doesn't have enough force to upset the bullet past .2845" at most.

Anyone done this before?
 
Use the big press that we use to load 50 cal. It can take regualar thread dies, too.

The guys at berger take .323 bullets and swage them down to .318 for me.

maybe they could do the same for you, starting with 308 bullets.
 
Swaging isn't much of an option, I'm afraid. Going from .308" to .287" is 19 thou, if I do that the jacket can spring away from the lead and cause jacket delamination when firing.
 
What are you using for a press?

Had it set up to use that last little bit of travel going over center?

Got access to an arbor press or hydraulic press. Slow, but it'd do, possibly.

Oh. Swaging is what you want to do. Taking the bullet from a large size to a smaller size, is drawing it. The Corbin brothers sell draw dies along with their swaging stuff. I think the general ghist is to draw it too small. then swage it back to the size you need.


Cheers
Trev
 
upswaging

My friend has up swagged .355 Frontier 138 plated to .401 for me to use in my 40 open gun. They work well and fly even better.
the plating didn't even crack.
yes he hydrolicly swagges at 500psi for this application.

supermag
 
I always thought that swaging was any process of changing a bullets shape - i.e. increase or decrease its size, or otherwise deform it.

Could you heat the bullet to a safe temperature (such as in boiling water)? That would soften the lead inside, and the copper jacket a bit.

RCBS used to sell a monster press (the Big Max) and I've seen a few for sale here and there over the past year. Corbin makes dedicated swaging presses, but then you're into some major money http://www.corbins.com/pr-csp2.htm
 
You could try paper patching a plain base cast bullet. You've solved the problem of finding a sizing die. Might be worth a try. I found this on another site . . .

"I have been patching since the early 70s. All my rifle cast loads are patched. Jacketed velocity, accuracy, and performance on game for a fraction of the price. For 30 cal. I size .301/.3015, wrap with 16# paper, lube with BAC and push through a .310 die before loading. RHN of 15.0/15.5 will work over 3000fps in a 300RUM. I use 12.0 BHN in my 45-70 and .458 win mag up to about 2600fps. Any questions you can e-mail me pdawg.shooter@gmail.com and I will help in any way I can."
 
I made a few swaging dies your die has to be bigger than the diameter of the bullet you want to make it is trial and error the bullet springs back a little maybe your die is a little bit to small?
 
You could also make up a die and punch that you just wack with a hammer--still have to allow for the spring-back--Maj Charles Nonte occasionally wrote articles in magazines back in the '60's and 70's describing the process.
 
Swaging is a process that involves increasing a bullet's diameter. Drawing is what you do when you reduce a bullet's diameter. A "Bump Die" is a swaging die.

When you draw a bullet down more than 5 or 6 thou, you tend to get jacket separation. The more you draw it, the bullet tends to deform and bend.

I own one of those Princess Auto arbour presses, and I doubt that they'd be enough to generate swaging pressures. If I recall correctly, it takes over 60,000 psi to swage a jacketed bullet (preferably 80,000). Lead bullets and 22s can do with less.

I have 2 swaging presses. My Corbin Series II generates up to 130,000 psi and my Walnut Hill will do up to 180,000 - both have arms designed to provide some mechanical advantage during the swaging process. Your standard reloading press will do around 30,000 psi with some of the stronger ones topping 50,000.

You should talk to Corbin's or RCE and tell them what you want to do and thay can provide you with possible solutions. It will likely involve buying a swaging press and a point forming die.

If you're making the bullets for a .280 Ross, the spec says .287, but I understand many barrels are .288 or .289. It might be best to slug your barrel before ordering dies.
 
"...would soften the lead inside..." 212F won't do anything to lead. Except get it hot.
Use a cast bullet. You can't swage jacketed bullets. The jackets won't expand right.
"...on a metal lathe..." You could make your own solid copper bullets out of 3/8" bar stock. It'd take forever though.
 
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