Another Bullet Making Thread (lots of photos & video)

[Tim Singleton]

We all ought to be glad they are willing to sell them at all

 

[alinwa]

HOleeee CaRUSo this is a kewl thread!!!

Lee you are a wonder.

Thank You

 

[TrxR]

Are those lee presses he is using or something else? Are these dies still available? Also the spools of lead do they come in different diameters? What kind of outfit would you source the lead spools?

Thanks

 

[Tim Singleton]

Catch up with George Ulrich
His modified presses and his dies

 

[liljoe]

I would also recommend giving George Ulrich a call about dies and converted presses.
I will also say that getting lead in straight pieces is a lot less work.
Joe

 

[Hoodoo]

Awesome thread, perfectly illustrated how much time goes into making good quality bullets.

 

[LRCampos]

.

Would anyone knows how to clean/polish the finished bullets from the lube and looks like the beautiful Bergers out of the box?

I tried using straps of cotton tissue in a rotatory thumbler, but got inconsistent results.

Put on vibratory thumbling with walnut dry media resulted on the meplat full of dry media.

From time to time I found a small steel sphere on Berger's box, so I presume they use it for polishing.

Any ideas?


LRCampos.

 

[RGRobinett]

.

Would anyone knows how to clean/polish the finished bullets from the lube and looks like the beautiful Bergers out of the box?

I tried using straps of cotton tissue in a rotatory thumbler, but got inconsistent results.

Put on vibratory thumbling with walnut dry media resulted on the meplat full of dry media.

From time to time I found a small steel sphere on Berger's box, so I presume they use it for polishing.

Any ideas?


LRCampos.

Lee has constructed a very nice thread here!

Two very good options: 1) steel ball-bearings - these both polish and burnish; 2) white rice - gerat polishing and no residue in me'plat openings. Oh, and for crazy good, both media together! I only
burnish/polish my "long range" & BT offerings, where, I believe, the burnishing helps uniform the me'plat edge, thus uniforming BC. I will polish some point-blank offerings, but, only on somewhat "tarnished" jackets. Well tarnished jackets can be very quickly restored to a shiny copper state by boiling in a mild citric-acid solution, then, thoroughly rinsing, and drying.

Oh, I usually burnish/polish in vibratory "tumblers" - time varies. The rice is usually good for about 6 Hr., before the outer shell is worn through, and an oily/powdery film begins to collect on the drum walls and jackets - it's pretty easily removable from the jackets, with brake cleaner, etc.. RG

 

[RGRobinett]

Are those lee presses he is using or something else? Are these dies still available? Also the spools of lead do they come in different diameters? What kind of outfit would you source the lead spools?

Thanks

Yes, those are Lee Classic Cast [iron] presses - they are the most "dead-nutz" commercial press on the market: more precise axial and radial alignment than any/all of my converted RCBS presses, of any era/model. Made in the USA, and the least expensive press on the market. At the time I purchased mine, they were $96.00 each, from Graf & Sons - so, I bought 1/2 dozen, figuring I couldn't go wrong . . .

My original self-converted press, done about 2007/8, has proven quite up to the task of precision bullet swaging, as have it's five siblings - the original has a LOT of strokes on it, and has outlasted RockChuckers -several replacement parts (mostly leverage straps) - to none for the Lees. Following some discussion with George Ulrich, he began making and offering much more professional Lee conversions.
The concept of using the Lee Classic came, indirectly, through pals, from Ferris Pindell, who, at consecutive Super Shoots, had advised them, that the LEE CC are/were, "dead nuts plumb", and the best option for bullet swaging - they ignored Mr. Pindell, because he was, "getting old - how can a LEE be better/best ?!?" After the second telling, I bought six of them, converted one, which, per Mr. Pindell's advice, proved to have the most perfect axial and radial alignment, of any press I had in the shop: never a reason to, "look" back". RG

 

[Larry Koch]

Good read

 

[INShooter]

Good read

Thanks for bringing this thread back to life. As someone who works at making my own bullets I love to reread it.

 

[WIB3]

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.

 

[Spoonbill]

I have had bullet making on my mind for a while now. Going to read entire thread then report back with tons of questions

 

[Evlshnngns]

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.

 

[Spoonbill]

I guess my first questions are
How much is the initial investment in tooling up with quality tools?
Where are the best places to get these tools?
Where to get quality jackets and cores?

 

[Grimstod]

With todays prices that cost is a lot less relevant.

 

[TrxR]

As far as the equipment the dies are expensive .
All the other stuff needed like presses, measuring tools , tumblers and so forth will get up there as well especially if you buy Lenzi presses.
As far as cores you can go two ways if your in the US, you can buy cores from Hood or make your own from lead wire or even cast them.
Jackets you got to order way ahead apparently . im just rigging up now , my next purchase is dies. Ive got pretty much everything else except dies , lead and jackets.

 

[Larry Koch]

I'm just getting started as well. If you can find someone who is a hall of fame shooter, and a great gun smith, and doesnt mind helping us newbies. That is a good way to go. I say Hall of fame shooter, because he or she doesn't have to worry about competition in the future, and will pass a few cards held close to the vest. I'm not sure what every thing cost yet, but if you can make some of the accessories yourself will help.

 

[Spoonbill]

I would like to learn and maybe invest so I dont have to rely on manufacturers to stock shelves. Self sufficient. One of the reasons I started to handload in the first place. Self sufficiency and loading better ammo than I could buy already loaded. Without someone on hand to teach me in person I would also like to know what it takes to match or exceed a manufacturers quality. I dont want to invest time or money if I couldn't

 

[HTSmith]

I would like to learn and maybe invest so I dont have to rely on manufacturers to stock shelves. Self sufficient. One of the reasons I started to handload in the first place. Self sufficiency and loading better ammo than I could buy already loaded. Without someone on hand to teach me in person I would also like to know what it takes to match or exceed a manufacturers quality. I dont want to invest time or money if I couldn't

I’m with you but don’t assume jackets are going to be on the shelf to be bought any old time