Swaging Jacketed Bullets
- Thread starter 1340
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- Western Manitoba
I have never tried to do so with jacketed bullets - you might be able to ram a jacketed bullet through a smaller sizer, though. I had read that chances are good that the core and the jacket get separated (loose their grip) by doing so, though. I think the commercial bullet makers draw (swage) the jackets first, then insert the lead core, then various crimp / swage / etc. for forming the bullet's tip - It would be good to hear if anyone has tried to resize finished bullets and what the shooting results were like?? 0.224 to 0.204 would be reduction of 0.020" diameter - circa 8.93% reduction from start size. 0.284 to 0.277 would be reduction of 0.007" diameter - circa 0.199% reduction in diameter
antiqueguy
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- Location
- windsor ontario
When sizing jacketed bullets down what can happen is the bullet goes through the die and then the jacket springs back while the soft lead doesn’t.
Not the same as say taking a open base FMJ and cutting the tip off although I don’t think that’s as much of a problem as people think it it their was soft points made exactly that way for a long time.
The issue with spring back and the core and jacket separating when sizing is mainly instability.
Just a thought. Temperature? We think nothing of it but big manufacturers do. Lead expands and contracts about 45% more the copper. So in theory sizeing cold, say 5°c should allow the lead to expand and make a tightner fit. But warm makes for easier resizing. But haven't had coffee yet.
That will only happen if the bullet has an exposed lead base.
Most folks overthink swaging jacketed bullets down to a smaller diameter.
It's possible to swage .224 diameter bullets to .204, but "why" when bullets are available?
If you decide to do this OP, you will need to size down in "increments." Doing it all in one pass, especially on such small bullets, will likely lead to a lot of lost projectiles.
I have swaged .323 bullets, down to .318 diameter for some older Mausers, and I can get away with doing it with one pass through a die.
First, you need to get a machinist to make up a set of dies with a taper bore over an inch, leading to a straight bore appx 3/4 inch long that will reduce the diameter by appx .005 with each pass.
The last swaging die will need to be a bit tighter in the straight bore, by a couple of thousandths, as the jacket/core of the bullet will have some elasticity, and will swell a bit after being swaged.
I had to push the bullet through the last die 3-4 times before it slipped through easily, and the diameter was where I wanted it to be.
The bullets need to be lubed with a good high pressure grease before they are pushed through the swaging die.
The bullets will also have to be cleaned after the swaging process, before being loaded into a cartridge.
Believe me, you don't want to do this unless there isn't any other way to acquire proper factory projectiles.
If you've got a bunch of 22 cal projectiles, you're much better off selling them, even if it's at a loss, and purchasing factory projectiles in .204 diameter.
I get it, selling .224 diameter bullets, especially in quantity, has become difficult, with the ban of semi auto rifles chambered for 223rem.
It's possible to swage .224 diameter bullets to .204, but "why" when bullets are available?
If you decide to do this OP, you will need to size down in "increments." Doing it all in one pass, especially on such small bullets, will likely lead to a lot of lost projectiles.
I have swaged .323 bullets, down to .318 diameter for some older Mausers, and I can get away with doing it with one pass through a die.
First, you need to get a machinist to make up a set of dies with a taper bore over an inch, leading to a straight bore appx 3/4 inch long that will reduce the diameter by appx .005 with each pass.
The last swaging die will need to be a bit tighter in the straight bore, by a couple of thousandths, as the jacket/core of the bullet will have some elasticity, and will swell a bit after being swaged.
I had to push the bullet through the last die 3-4 times before it slipped through easily, and the diameter was where I wanted it to be.
The bullets need to be lubed with a good high pressure grease before they are pushed through the swaging die.
The bullets will also have to be cleaned after the swaging process, before being loaded into a cartridge.
Believe me, you don't want to do this unless there isn't any other way to acquire proper factory projectiles.
If you've got a bunch of 22 cal projectiles, you're much better off selling them, even if it's at a loss, and purchasing factory projectiles in .204 diameter.
I get it, selling .224 diameter bullets, especially in quantity, has become difficult, with the ban of semi auto rifles chambered for 223rem.
