Reloading press question

[just Warren]

I was reading that one could swage certain bullets with a reloading press.

Isn't that a strain on the device? How much pressure do they normally exert in the reloading process and how much during swaging? 

If I wanted to get serious about making my own bullets of course I would buy a swager but in case I just want to do a little I want to know if any press I buy can do the work without breaking.

[Bogie]

A rockchucker would be pretty much the minimum. RCBS used to make a press that was like a Rockchucker on steroids - I think folks call it a rockcruncher or something like that... People also make swaging-specific presses...

[230RN]

RCBS = "Rock Chucker Bullet Swaging" press.  It's kind of massive, with a double toggle link.  It is capable of full-length resizing .50 BMG, reforming large cases, etc.  It has a removable adaptor in the press head to bring it down to the 7/8 X 14 thread of normal sizing dies. And can even be used with shotgun dies --I think up to 10 gauge.

I've got one of those old massive ones, but it's on permanent loan to one of my sons.  He makes .223 bullets with it out of .22 LR cases, and I used to make .243 bullets out of .22 Magnum cases with it --along with all kinds of other experiments. That thing can develop enormous forces with the double toggle link.

It's a little bit over-strength for normal loading operations, but let's face it, it was originally designed for bullet swaging. I used to make .243 Winchester cases out of .30-06 cases with it.

Right now I use a "Partner" Press which is 100% suitable for normal operations, but I don't think I'd try to do any bullet swaging with it.

Terry, 230RN

[Mabs2]

Find ammosmith on YouTube, sounds like something he would know.

[Jim147]

230RN summed it up pretty good.

My brother has watched a bunch of the ammosmith stuff. He had me watching one about making 45 from 40 cases. It was interesting.

Here's some good reading too.

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=41

jim

[lee n. field]

I was reading that one could swage certain bullets with a reloading press.

Isn't that a strain on the device? How much pressure do they normally exert in the reloading process and how much during swaging? 

If I wanted to get serious about making my own bullets of course I would buy a swager but in case I just want to do a little I want to know if any press I buy can do the work without breaking.

You might look at the Lee Classic Cast press as well.  Check or inquire at the castboolits forum referenced elsewhere.

I have a Handloader's Digest annual from 1962.  It's interesting to me that more space is given in there to swaging, than casting.

[Mabs2]

Some of his stuff is really weird, but some of it is really neat.

[Hawkmoon]

Some of his stuff is really weird, but some of it is really neat.

Some of whose stuff? To whom or what does this post refer?

[230RN]

Hawkmoon

Quote from: Mabs on March 26, 2011, 08:11:41 PM
Some of his stuff is really weird, but some of it is really neat.

Some of whose stuff? To whom or what does this post refer?

Wondered about that, too.  Wrong thread?  PM inadvertently posted?  A portion cut out by mistake?

[AJ Dual]

He means Ammosmith on Youtube.

Stuff that's both weird and neat would be like how he makes brass jacketed HP pistol bullets out of spent pistol cases. Like here, using 9mm brass (I think here it's Blazer Aluminum actually) to make .40 caliber JHP's...

I can't remember if he's invented this, or is just reviewing/showing it off.  ETA... these are C&H dies, he's reviewing/demonstrating them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLtFCRtwRN4

Think the Forensics lab or M.E. that finds the first one of these in a body won't be confused as all hell?  

[kgbsquirrel]

This is the press I use for .50 BMG reloading. I've been meaning to get a set of dies from Corbin to use with it in order to form .224 bullets from .22LR cases and lead wire but I've been slow about scrounging up the $800 for the dies. I've had to throw my full weight into the ram arm when full length resizing some old LC .50 BMG brass (and yes the cases had been properly lubed first) and the bench top gave way before the press did.  On another front, I've resized .30-06 into 8mm Mauser before on a small Lee single stage, it required more force than usual but not inordinately so. YMMV.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=670552

[AZRedhawk44]

RCBS = "Rock Chucker Bullet Swaging" press.  It's kind of massive, with a double toggle link.  It is capable of full-length resizing .50 BMG, reforming large cases, etc.  It has a removable adaptor in the press head to bring it down to the 7/8 X 14 thread of normal sizing dies. And can even be used with shotgun dies --I think up to 10 gauge.

I've got one of those old massive ones, but it's on permanent loan to one of my sons.  He makes .223 bullets with it out of .22 LR cases, and I used to make .243 bullets out of .22 Magnum cases with it --along with all kinds of other experiments. That thing can develop enormous forces with the double toggle link.

It's a little bit over-strength for normal loading operations, but let's face it, it was originally designed for bullet swaging. I used to make .243 Winchester cases out of .30-06 cases with it.

Right now I use a "Partner" Press which is 100% suitable for normal operations, but I don't think I'd try to do any bullet swaging with it.

Terry, 230RN

I snapped my "Partner" press in half, from resizing .308 winchester on it.  It ran great for several thousand various pistol rounds and even about 500 or so .30-30 rounds, but it snapped at the base while sizing .308.  Too much resistance.

Granted, I was using Hornady One-Shot lube.

But, I've been using a Rock Chucker since then (though I have a replacement Partner from RCBS via warranty).

I could see using a Rock Chucker as a swaging press.  You'd need a VERY stable bench though.



My RockChucker is the left press.  Replacement Partner is the right-most.  No longer have the turret in the center... a Dillon SDB is there now.

If I were to swage on here, I would probably rebuild this bench so it was reinforced on top and bottom with a light gauge steel sheet under the press, top and bottom, to distribute the stress of the swaging operation across all the 2x4 planks.  I thought this bench would be indestructible, but the front 2x4 is starting to show some torsion, despite the 3 pieces of all-thread squeezing it together and the biscuit-joins between the 2x4's and the stiffening 2x4 frame under it (as well as being screwed into the studs of the wall behind it).

[230RN]

Yeah, that's the one I loaned to my son, on the left.  Note the black thingie on the top of the press.  That's the adaptor to bring it down to 7/8 x 14 for regular dies.  (Incidentally, for those having interest, 7/8 X 14 is a standard pipe thread, except not tapered.)

I'm disappointed to hear that your Partner press broke on .308s.  I was planning on loading 7.62 X 54R with mine.  Was that with trying to resize military brass?

As far as I know, I "invented" making .243 bullets out of .22 Mag cases back in '78 or '79 or so, I guess.

But I guess it would be obvious to anyone who has a 6mm rifle (mine was .243 Win) and happened to take a micrometer to .22 Mag cases.  Had my own machine shop, made my own dies and core molds for the process.  I went only so far as to determine whether it was possible or not, and I made ~15-20 bullets without going further to refine the process.  Results were pretty mediocre, to tell you the truth.

The whole project was borne of my long-standing philosophy that small-arms technology should not reside solely with Big Companies and The Government, but should be in the hands of ordinary mortals such as thee and me.

Nowadays, though, that old philosophy of mine is more wishful thinking than anything else.

Terry, 230RN

[Bogie]

Most bullet makers use purpose-built swaging presses. Bart Sauter's is a horizontal throw, and it's almost like he's arm wrestling the handle (or at least it was a few years ago).