Herters 9 Ton Swaging Press

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I just picked this old school Herters 9 Ton Swaging Press that came with a set of .38/.357 dies installed. It seems like a pretty solid unit! Is anyone else using one of these or has some experience to share? The surface scale was just dried grease that cleaned up nicely with some ballistol, she's all shiny now.


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jamesharrison said:
How do you mount it? Just held in a vice? Did it come with other dies, or is it simply a WC swage die? [core swage die, core seating die, pointing die]
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The die seems to be a core seating and nose forming die for use with half or 3/4 jackets. There are two holes in the bottom for bench mounting I think. It just came with the dies installed in the press unfortunately. Luckily they don't seem too complicated so having new ones made up shouldn't be too expensive.
 
jamesharrison said:
How do you mount it? Just held in a vice? Did it come with other dies, or is it simply a WC swage die? [core swage die, core seating die, pointing die]
Click to expand...
Bolts to the bench with screws through the holes visible under the ram.

Probably a few guys on the Castboolits forum that have a pretty decent knowledge base on those, in their dedicated Swaging sub-forum. Lots of good reading to be had in the stickies there too! The two Corbin brothers, each have a different website up that contains a lot of info as well. A search online will find.

Not sure there are any sources left out there for half/three-quarters jackets other than scrounging around the tables at gun shows.

If you are willing to put in the work, making the dies isn't that complicated on a small lathe. Lots of guys have gone that way.

If you are worried about not being able to hit very precise dimensions, do a search for "Drill Bushings" on the web, and pick a supplier. Cheap, you can get custom diameters within a couple tenths of a thousandth, and it wouldn't take much to build the rest of the die around one, as well as making your own base and nose forming punches, which are a little less critical than the actual diameter of the die body.
 
I'll add that there are plans out there for a brutally simple Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) hole popper, that will allow you to punch holes through solid carbide or hardened steel drill bushings (bleed holes for core sizing dies, eg.)

12V Battery, a battery charger, and some wire, plus a little PVC pipe... And some placticene to make a dam around the area of the work. Add a little dilectric fluid (kerosene works), and you are burning out broken taps or drilling holes.
 
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