Samples, and goofing around

[DsGrouse]

270 grain swaged lead SWCs.





270, 280, 290, 300, and 360 grain bullets.

[DsGrouse]

Here is the 360-grain bullet chrono data.

Three crimps, two seating depths, and one powder charge. This, I think, is part of the reason the SD is a bit wider than I expected.



One of the spent bullets after hitting steel.





As for the groups,
270 grainers, about a 4-inch group at 55yds
280 grainers, a 4.5 inch group.
290's was a 5 inch group at 55 yds
300-grain bullets were about a 4" group.

The 360's I shot at Steel, and they all hit, so...at least an 8" group. Everything did well, it fired, and velocity was right in the realm I'd expected. They all hit the paper and steel. So, I consider it a positive outcome. I think as I get new dies and refine my process, I'll be in a position to create better and more consistent ammo.

[DsGrouse]

More samples. These are 200 to 260 grain samples


A few 290 to 310 grain swaged bullets.



A few 280 grain JHP samples


Final samples 362-364 grain JSPs. Next up, trim down the cases to make this same bullet at 280 grain and 300 grain sizes.




The smacked ends are due to having to tap the bullets out of the swage press using a mallet. I'm thinking I can fix that in the future by using a different process.

I've putting in an order for swaging dies and presses. I'll keep at this as time goes by and let you all know how it goes.

[DsGrouse]

I finally got some guilding metal jackets in. I've got more on the way. Here are a few .452 cal samples using .680 and .840 length jackets.



Issues I found with jackets. They tend to crush more easily than spent brass used as a jacket. Meaning the length I set the dies at is a little more finicky. You can see some of the in the tops and bottoms of the bullets. Each one of these was a different adjustment. The fine lines on the bullet jacket is lube. It wipes off.

The .840 jackets are interesting as they did really well in the point forming stage. I think if I back out the die when using the .840 jacket, I can eliminate that folded portion.

The .680 Jackets should make perfect 300 grain +- 3-grain bullets with minor adjustments in die length.

All in all, I am quite pleased with how the jackets and bullets turned out. I need to do a few solid-tipped JSPs instead of the hollow points.

[DsGrouse]

Samples part two... 0.680 jackets again
300grn JHP test samples



290 grain JSP test samples



I've a bit of fine-tuning to do. I need to add a bit of material to my core and swage it down with a bleed off. That should even out the noses of the bullets. I'm also probably hitting the bullets too hard when ejecting them, which is giving some that splayed-out nose.

[Hatchdog]

^^^^^^^ maybe so but you sure are making progress. This last batch is looking great.

[CT_Shooter]

I enjoy reading about this very interesting project. Thanks for sharing your progress as you go. I'm impressed.

[DsGrouse]

So, I took the advice of another swager and set my cores to about 3 grains over the weight I wanted. I put the cores in the core Seating die, then passed them into the tipping die just enough to give the copper jacket a curve. Once that was done, I ran the cores back through the core seating die with the bleed-off ram.

The result after running them through the point-forming die? +- 0.3 grains on my 300-grain bullets.

Photos are prior to trimming the sprue.
My best ones yet.




I also went back through my previously run bullets and ran them through the point forming die again. I'd finally gotten the point form die right where I wanted it. That second pass uniformed my bullets considerably. I'm looking forward to trying them out. Does anyone want to help fund a couple of blocks of clear ballistic gel?

[5shot]

It's been interesting watching your skills evolve to the point where you're turning out some really good looking bullets. I've never attempted swaging and will stick to casting. It's an old dog-new trick sort of thing with me. But, my prairie dog shooting buddy has made it into the Benchrest hall of fame using his own swaged bullets. He has either won or placed well in numerous national matches.

Carry on

[DsGrouse]

My blank-forming die arrived today. I gave it a go on both gilded and brass jacket bullets.


I need to play with the core weight and depth of the blank firing die. Ideally, I'd like the petals to be scored a little further down.