- Location
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Got a CNC lathe that could use more work want to know the exact material to use for .50 cal rounds can anyone help me....
What material do you use for .50cal bullets
- Thread starter mad_machinist
- Start date
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Looking for material code for example
Aluminum 7075-t6
Brass, bronze, copper is not specific enough want exact material name as there different grades of it with slightly differently material make up....
Aluminum 7075-t6
Brass, bronze, copper is not specific enough want exact material name as there different grades of it with slightly differently material make up....
BigBore585
CGN Regular
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I think mild steel could get stuck in the barrel, or if it did not get stuck it would destroy the barrel.
Kingjenky, mild steel or even one of the softer leaded steels would still be hard on the rifling.
You're after something that is listed as being quite ductile. And then I'd consider annealing it after the machining just to be sure it's super soft and as ductile as it can be. Or try annealing the rod first and then machine it. I'm sort of thinking that you'll want the little extra stiffness for the machining and then anneal it. Likely it will cut with less gumminess as it arrives. But you could try it both ways.
Found this list of alloy types to start you out with a search.
http://www.russelmetals.com/en/Products/BrassBronzeAndCopper/Pages/Home.aspx
I'm also going to suggest that you'll likely want to cut some grooves in the skirt to form riding bands. The narrower bands will hopefully be easier to swage to fit the rifling.
You're after something that is listed as being quite ductile. And then I'd consider annealing it after the machining just to be sure it's super soft and as ductile as it can be. Or try annealing the rod first and then machine it. I'm sort of thinking that you'll want the little extra stiffness for the machining and then anneal it. Likely it will cut with less gumminess as it arrives. But you could try it both ways.
Found this list of alloy types to start you out with a search.
http://www.russelmetals.com/en/Products/BrassBronzeAndCopper/Pages/Home.aspx
I'm also going to suggest that you'll likely want to cut some grooves in the skirt to form riding bands. The narrower bands will hopefully be easier to swage to fit the rifling.
Cheap easy way to find out would be to walk in and buy box of turned bullets, and have them analyzed for content. That will, at least, tell you what that maker is using.
Grab a box of Barnes bullets too, they are at least partially lathe turned along with the swaging that is done to close up the point.
Cheers
Trev
Grab a box of Barnes bullets too, they are at least partially lathe turned along with the swaging that is done to close up the point.
Cheers
Trev
Before you spend five cents Bing or google ' Corbin Bullet Swaging ' . Totally different process, but exactly the same principle.
Atm they probably have the best set up for semi professional bullet fabrication tech you can get. There's a bunch of articles that discuss not just the ' how ' of bullet making but more importantly the ' why '. Buddy of mine bought a full set up a few months back and 50 was one of the first calibers dropped off his list. Just not enough volume or profit margin to justify the set up. 338 maybe plus a bunch of others potentially. Research your profit margins and market first, then worry about your mats list. gl
Atm they probably have the best set up for semi professional bullet fabrication tech you can get. There's a bunch of articles that discuss not just the ' how ' of bullet making but more importantly the ' why '. Buddy of mine bought a full set up a few months back and 50 was one of the first calibers dropped off his list. Just not enough volume or profit margin to justify the set up. 338 maybe plus a bunch of others potentially. Research your profit margins and market first, then worry about your mats list. gl
