Swaged bullets using .22RF Cases
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Anyone want to know what RCBS stands for?
ROCK CHUCK BULLET SWAGE
One of the largest reloading manufacturers got started back in the 40s by making swaging dies to make .22 bullets out of fired .22 cases. Of course, the reloading scene has developed dramatically over the years, and very few people actually reloaded their own ammunition in those days. Also, wartime and post wartime shortages had a lot to do with it.
As more and more people started reloading, the Benchrest shooting started, and more information and new companies started, the development of bullets, powders, rifles and equipment gave us better and more reliable components. I started reloading during the 50s when the Hornet, Bee, and Swift were about all that was available unless you had a wildcat or custom gun. Mine was a .22 R2 Lovell on a Winchester Low Wall action with a Fecker Scope. Then, Mike Walker of Remington came up with the .222 and the world of varmint hunting changed forever. Wildcats like the Wasp and 22-250 were things you made yourself, and when Remington adopted the 22-250 as a factory cartridge in the 60s, it put the Swift on the back burner.
The .22 swaged bullets worked then but had some deficiencies. For the lower powered cartridges, even a 55 grain bullet had to be a hollow point because the 22 RF cartridge was too long. You had to get up into the 65 grain weight class to get a lead point exposure. Most barrels in those days were 1-14 twist, so the 60+ grain bullets did not perform their best with that twist. You had to have a custom barrel. You had to really clean the cases, both inside and out. Expansion was so-so and could be "iffy."
Nowdays, with mass production, with improved production methods and quality control, with the availability of bullets, with the "discount" stores and dealers, and bulk buys, it is hardly economical or feasible to produce bullets from fired .22 RF brass. What you would pay for dies, a special press, lead wire, lubricants, and other little goodies you would need to make these bullets would keep you shooting for years and that does not take into account the time and effort of making your own.
There are many custom bullet makers out there who have invested a lot of money into equipment so that they can make those 'special' bullets for target or long range shooting. They have a business, but I can not recall of one who uses empty .22 cases for jackets.
We also made .22 bullets from fired shotgun primers. For the Bee or Hornet, the lighter weight bullets performed well, especially for those of us who were on a budget. Components were scarce and hard to come by in those days. Only a few manufacturers made them. You could buy CIL, Sierra and Speer, but had to order from people like Ellwood Epps in Clinton, by mail. The ordinary gun shops did not really carry reloading components.
.
.
Anyone want to know what RCBS stands for?
ROCK CHUCK BULLET SWAGE
One of the largest reloading manufacturers got started back in the 40s by making swaging dies to make .22 bullets out of fired .22 cases. Of course, the reloading scene has developed dramatically over the years, and very few people actually reloaded their own ammunition in those days. Also, wartime and post wartime shortages had a lot to do with it.
As more and more people started reloading, the Benchrest shooting started, and more information and new companies started, the development of bullets, powders, rifles and equipment gave us better and more reliable components. I started reloading during the 50s when the Hornet, Bee, and Swift were about all that was available unless you had a wildcat or custom gun. Mine was a .22 R2 Lovell on a Winchester Low Wall action with a Fecker Scope. Then, Mike Walker of Remington came up with the .222 and the world of varmint hunting changed forever. Wildcats like the Wasp and 22-250 were things you made yourself, and when Remington adopted the 22-250 as a factory cartridge in the 60s, it put the Swift on the back burner.
The .22 swaged bullets worked then but had some deficiencies. For the lower powered cartridges, even a 55 grain bullet had to be a hollow point because the 22 RF cartridge was too long. You had to get up into the 65 grain weight class to get a lead point exposure. Most barrels in those days were 1-14 twist, so the 60+ grain bullets did not perform their best with that twist. You had to have a custom barrel. You had to really clean the cases, both inside and out. Expansion was so-so and could be "iffy."
Nowdays, with mass production, with improved production methods and quality control, with the availability of bullets, with the "discount" stores and dealers, and bulk buys, it is hardly economical or feasible to produce bullets from fired .22 RF brass. What you would pay for dies, a special press, lead wire, lubricants, and other little goodies you would need to make these bullets would keep you shooting for years and that does not take into account the time and effort of making your own.
There are many custom bullet makers out there who have invested a lot of money into equipment so that they can make those 'special' bullets for target or long range shooting. They have a business, but I can not recall of one who uses empty .22 cases for jackets.
We also made .22 bullets from fired shotgun primers. For the Bee or Hornet, the lighter weight bullets performed well, especially for those of us who were on a budget. Components were scarce and hard to come by in those days. Only a few manufacturers made them. You could buy CIL, Sierra and Speer, but had to order from people like Ellwood Epps in Clinton, by mail. The ordinary gun shops did not really carry reloading components.
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