Another Bullet Making Thread (lots of photos & video)

[DaveTooley]

I hope all the bullet manufacturers know if they want to charge double for a bullet, the grassroots movement will chew them up.

I would really like a 270-290gr .338 bullet making setup. A 285 eldm is a 95 pennines, good goo...they can keep em.

All this sounds easy but it isn't.
It's requires lots of physical strength to make 30 cal. bullets because of the forces involved. Been there, done that back when I was in really good shape. No one to my knowledge has ever attempted 338's. It would take air assisted presses and even then it would be abusive on equipment unless oversize pressed were made. I had a tech friend at Sierra. He knew when they were running 338's. He could feel and hear the presses running.
First thing would be to get in line at Sierra for jackets. Probably your only source. The dies for 338 would be oversize vs smaller calibers which adds cost. Then the one off tooling charge to make the dies if someone agreed to make them. Then sourcing the correct size lead wire which would be very costly considering todays commodities market and the minimum purchase required. Then add another year for the learning curve.

 

[DaveTooley]

My only question as being very new to this process, where does one go to purchase core searing punches where you don’t have to wait years to get the investment. I have found that cores vary from lot to lot and a wide selection of punches is required but I have no idea how or where to purchase them. I’m making 103 class 6mm boat tail’s on a 15 OJ Nemei die. I have found that the punches and correct lube are key.

PORTER PUNCHES

porterpunch.com

 

[WIB3]

Thank you Dave for the information I will check them out.

 

[WIB3]

First of all, all custom bullet manufacturers have my utmost respect. If you are considering this to produce world class projectiles do your homework and start lifting weights. This is not an overnight venture and results are not so often rewarding. The whole COVID thing has made purchasing components impossible. But when everything finally comes together the feeling is exceptional. No one will reveal their secrets and that is expected and respected, but it truly is not brain surgery. I personally weigh every jacket , spin every core to .00002 runout. I weigh every core to .002gr. I than sort by equal matching components. Some will call me crazy but it does produce extremely consistent bullets.

 

[Coonman300]

Man, that was really cool. I had no idea that’s how it was done. I’ll freely admit I’m a dumbass and always assumed they “injected” the lead in the jackets. Of course, many of my friends and my wife will freely admit I’m a dumbass also.

 

[Larry Koch]

Good read...

 

[Link]

Right now cores and jackets are backordered, way back ;]

 

[Ken Melgaard]

Right now cores and jackets are backordered, way back ;]

Yes, Dave
It all sounds easy to make a custom .338 caliber bullets
Have been looking at making them!! The biggest issue is getting someone to make the forming dies (1 1/4x12) dies like said getting someone to make them and a three die set @ around $4000 plus for the dies plus punches
Can order the Sierra jackets (part # T9300F) but they are $0 .453 each and are only 1.605” long good for 250-260 grain, but difficult to get the 1.700” plus long jackets for 300 grain bullets (J4 if you want to order 50K plus jackets)
Can get 6mm diameter lead wire(@ .5% Antimony) to make the cores
Have even designed heavy duty presses for the pressing them
Not hard to do as l make heavy 7mm & 30 caliber bullets.
But the dies are the biggest issue and/or the wait for them
Ken @ Copperhead Bullets

 

[D Coots]

Last I knew Bart was the dealer for Hines jackets.

Berger fills orders once a year.

 

[Spoonbill]

I have probably 150 lbs in lead all in 5 lb ingots left over from molding sinkers. Does anyone trade good projectiles for just the lead?

 

[DaveTooley]

I have probably 150 lbs in lead all in 5 lb ingots left over from molding sinkers. Does anyone trade good projectiles for just the lead?

Jacketed bullet makers can't use ingots. They need lead wire either on a spool or cut to length from a trusted source.

 

[Spoonbill]

It sure sounds tempting to get into but it sounds like to me that unless a man can sell some projectiles it would take quite a while to pay off. I wish I knew someone in my a o who swaged their own to learn from.

 

[JMayo]

Very interesting read.

 

[TrxR]

In my research i have come across a few guys tha make jacketed bullets that are casting their cores from pure lead ignots. Mind you they are for personal use only. I believe they cast them a little heavy then run them through a core swaging die.

Jacketed bullet makers can't use ingots. They need lead wire either on a spool or cut to length from a trusted source.

 

[BartsBullets]

In my research i have come across a few guys tha make jacketed bullets that are casting their cores from pure lead ignots. Mind you they are for personal use only. I believe they cast them a little heavy then run them through a core swaging die.

I’ve been making Benchrest bullets for over 20 years. I don’t know if anyone making cores from ingots. Certainly not for benchrest bullets.
I made a boat load of cast 45s With them.

 

[Spoonbill]

I’ve been making Benchrest bullets for over 20 years. I don’t know if anyone making cores from ingots. Certainly not for benchrest bullets.
I made a boat load of cast 45APC With them.

Is there a mold to make the cores from ingots?

 

[BartsBullets]

Is there a mold to make the cores from ingots?

None that I’ve ever heard of.

 

[TrxR]

I believe this guy i was talking to made his own mold. He was also using the scraps from the swaging the cores from lead wire . The rest of the bullet making procedure was the same as his benchrest bullets. Im not saying they were as good, he may of being using them as foulers or club fun shoots. It would be alot more time consuming i would think.

is the makeup of an ignot different than lead wire? if not i wonder if a person could make lead wire from an ignot?

Im thinking using lead wire or buying cores is a far better idea although buying cores here isn't really an option so the only real option is rolls of lead wire.

None that I’ve ever heard of.

 

[BartsBullets]

H

I believe this guy i was talking to made his own mold. He was also using the scraps from the swaging the cores from lead wire . The rest of the bullet making procedure was the same as his benchrest bullets. Im not saying they were as good, he may of being using them as foulers or club fun shoots. It would be alot more time consuming i would think.

is the makeup of an ignot different than lead wire? if not i wonder if a person could make lead wire from an ignot?

Im thinking using lead wire or buying cores is a far better idea although buying cores here isn't really an option so the only real option is rolls of lead wire.

the bottom line is If you’re going to make cores for Benchrest bullets you’ll need lead wire. Forget about ingots. Honestly it’s not even worth discussing.

 

[TrxR]

H

the bottom line is If you’re going to make cores for Benchrest bullets you’ll need lead wire. Forget about ingots. Honestly it’s not even worth discussing.

Thanks.

What size wire would you recommend for making 30cal?