Continuing to Improve my Bullet Making.

Boolitcaster

Boolitcaster

CGN Regular
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Vancouver Island
I have refined to my weight and length variations to the bare minimum possible, but still have had challenges with uniform tip forming.
I think that these are looking much better though.
200 grain, .312”

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Bullets look good, I've been thinking of getting a Corbin press and dies to make my own as well.
 
Are you using brass with all the same headstamp?

Have you weighed your jackets and your cores to find out where the difference might come from?

I can see a slight difference in web thickness getting magnified if the brass is being drawn down in diameter.
If you then try to shove the same lead core size into two jackets with a different thickness of "bottom" then your tip forming will be uniform and weight will be off.
 
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bertn said:
Are you using brass with all the same headstamp?

Have you weighed your jackets and your cores to find out where the difference might come from?

I can see a slight difference in web thickness getting magnified if the brass is being drawn down in diameter.
If you then try to shove the same lead core size into two jackets with a different thickness of "bottom" then your tip forming will be uniform and weight will be off.
Click to expand...

I use slightly underweight cores, then add small slivers of lead until at the desired weight +/- .1 grain. I then melt the lead in using acid flux. Time intensive, but the best option when using casings for jackets.

I try to use matching head stamps when possible.
 
I have no experience with swaging just trying to help figure out where inconsistencies might come from.

I understand the total weight method you explain so the endresult after melting should be spot on weight wise
doing it this way.

If however you have used a jacket with a thicker bottom then that one has the same final weight but more volume since there is more brass and less lead than a bullet made with a thinner bottom.

Have you weighed jackets after the final swaging and trimming? How much weight difference do you see there?
 
bertn said:
I have no experience with swaging just trying to help figure out where inconsistencies might come from.

I understand the total weight method you explain so the endresult after melting should be spot on weight wise
doing it this way.

If however you have used a jacket with a thicker bottom then that one has the same final weight but more volume since there is more brass and less lead than a bullet made with a thinner bottom.

Have you weighed jackets after the final swaging and trimming? How much weight difference do you see there?
Click to expand...

That is a good question. I just weighed 10 jackets destined for the 200 grain bullets.
All matching headstamps and probably from the same lot#.

Weight in grains:
77.6, 77.5, 77.4, 78.3, 77.4, 77.4, 77.1, 77.6, 77.5, 77.9

The larger variances are almost certainly due to my error when cutting on the lathe. The lathe is very old and the vice slips from time to time. I have a squirt die for making exact weight cores, but I find it to be prone to clogging and in general operation, a pain in the a$$.

I am sure that there is much more variance in the lead cores.
 
Boolitcaster said:
That is a good question. I just weighed 10 jackets destined for the 200 grain bullets.
All matching headstamps and probably from the same lot#.

Weight in grains:
77.6, 77.5, 77.4, 78.3, 77.4, 77.4, 77.1, 77.6, 77.5, 77.9

The larger variances are almost certainly due to my error when cutting on the lathe. The lathe is very old and the vice slips from time to time. I have a squirt die for making exact weight cores, but I find it to be prone to clogging and in general operation, a pain in the a$$.

I am sure that there is much more variance in the lead cores.
Click to expand...

Would be interesting to know the bottom/base thickness of the lighter and heavier ones to see if that is consistent or varies.

See below the thickness difference of Federal vs Winchester 223 brass.
If you were to swage them both down you are going to end up with a substantial base thickness difference.

By the way I have to say I think your bullets look great! Have you fired some and if so how do they perform?

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bertn said:
Would be interesting to know the bottom/base thickness of the lighter and heavier ones to see if that is consistent or varies.

See below the thickness difference of Federal vs Winchester 223 brass.
If you were to swage them both down you are going to end up with a substantial base thickness difference.

By the way I have to say I think your bullets look great! Have you fired some and if so how do they perform?

View attachment 654251
Click to expand...

I haven’t managed to shoot under an inch with 5 shots at 100 meters, but I have gotten really close.
There always seems to be flyer with me, even when I use factory bullets.

For that matter, I have never got under an inch with Speer Hot Cores either.

I did weigh different makes of casings after cutting a few years back. If I remember right, there was a difference of multiple grains between brands.

Also, yes you are correct. Differences in cut length make a big difference in how well the tips turn out. The rejects still shoot okay though.
 
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