What do I need to make swaged bullets?

[Alex]

I'm hoping somebody here has some practical experience using the Corbon swaging equipment. I'm having a hard time figuring out what I actually need to make bullets at home. If I just wanted to make some simple swaged bullets with a gas check for say 40 S&W, 38 Special, and 45 ACP what would I need and how much would it cost. I have an RCBS Rockchucker which sounds like it will work for some of the operations and I also have the equipment to cast bullets now, I'm just interested in moving away from that. Any thoughts, experiences, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[JackM]

There's a bullet swaging forum here. I don't know much about it myself, but these folks seem eager to help.
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewforum.php?f=44

Bye
Jack

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Swaging information

Depending on the caliber and length of the bullets swaged it would take a rock chucker or better to do the job. Corbin is the major source of components and the C-H company was another source til the owner passed on and the company sold. As a C-H distributor in the 1970's I stocked swaging dies, lead wire, a cut off tool to cut the wire into desired lengths, different calibers and lengths of copper jackets and a canneluring tool. The swaging dies were sold with round nose or hollow pointing punches.

The canneluring tool made an impression that you can see on higher powered jacketed bullets to crimp the cartridge case mouth into. My wire came in two sizes large and small diameters.

The larger the caliber the more force is needed and if the piece of lead wire is cut too long force will make it squeeze out of a bleed hole. Swaging can be enjoyable along with bulletcasting and reloading as a hobby. Swaging is a precision hobby to be able to make your own jacketed bullets of the same weight. When I was a youngster Corbin sold a kit if I remember correctly on making jackets out of fired 22 rim fire jackets. And they built up a lot since. They also have a how to book and I am not familiar with any other sources. I can only state my own experience.

I do have some materials left if you wish to contact me but I sold the material and did not make them myself.

I did sell a monster C-H press for swaging and before my time in the 60's and 70's an earlier C-H company sold a Swage-o-Matic press that is still being operated and can appear on e-bay rarely.

Paul Jones Retired C-H Distributor. (I sold to Dealers)

 

[JackM]

I should have added that the Corbin brothers have gone their separate ways and Richard Corbin's site is:
http://www.rceco.com/

Bye
Jack