Time to make the donuts....

[geo.ulrich]

Charlie does use cool tool, that being said if you don't use the cores right away like if you leave them laying around for a year they begin to oxidize....

 

[liseo]

Since I'm having some difficulty with the manufacturing process, I was getting neurotic about cleaning it. After washing it 3 times with acetone, I was still boiling the core with TPS and then with white vinegar.
Lubricating the core was one of the last things I would have thought of doing.
But isn't the fact that it doesn't harm the bullet due to the fact that most custom bullets makers produce for calibers with a very slow twist (1/13 for 6 PPC and 1/17 for 30 BR?)
For 6mm bullets with a weight of 105,or 30 caliber 200 grains , which require a fast twist, is lubrication still a good idea?
*** I know I have to find out for myself, but I'd like to hear from those with more experience.

 

[RGRobinett]

Since I'm having some difficulty with the manufacturing process, I was getting neurotic about cleaning it. After washing it 3 times with acetone, I was still boiling the core with TPS and then with white vinegar.
Lubricating the core was one of the last things I would have thought of doing.
But isn't the fact that it doesn't harm the bullet due to the fact that most custom bullets makers produce for calibers with a very slow twist (1/13 for 6 PPC and 1/17 for 30 BR?)
For 6mm bullets with a weight of 105,or 30 caliber 200 grains , which require a fast twist, is lubrication still a good idea?
*** I know I have to find out for myself, but I'd like to hear from those with more experience.

Obtain and read RIFLE ACCURACY FACTS, by Harold Vaughn - in chapter 8, Bullet Core Problems,
Mr. Vaughn addresses the issue of core slippage, describing his methods, and other interesting "stuff".
The book, a TROVE of not only direct, but also, between the lines knowledge/facts, was/is largely dismissed by mainstream bench-rest/precision fanatics. Good shootin'! RG

 

[jackieschmidt]

Randy. Unless I missed it, you haven’t said whether you use squeaky clean cores or some type of personal formula as a lube that makes your 30 caliber Bullets as great as they are.

Also, since I look at consistent excellency in Match Performance as a gage, I would like to have some inside info on what Wayne Campbell does in his operations. He obviously makes an excellent bullet.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I decided to try the lubed core operation on my 68 grn 6mm bullets.

I bought a 1 gallon stainless colander set. I poured it 2/3 full of acetone, then added enough ATF to give it a light pink tint.
I then put 350 clean cores in the colander and submerged it into the liquid. I let it soak for a few minute, and then took the colander out and let them dry over night.
Yesterday morning, I core seated 350 jackets, and early this morning pointed them up.
The finished bullet is close to .0002 fatter than the previous ones done with clean and dry cores. The pointed up really nice with no anomalies.

We have the Texas State LV/Sporter this week end in New Braunfels. I am going to (try) take off tomorrow and test these bullets against the previous ones.
The first bullet measurement is bullets I just made, the next the one is the bullets with clean cores.

 

[geo.ulrich]

I decided to try the lubed core operation on my 6mm bullets.

I bought a 1 gallon stainless colander set. I poured it 2/3 full of acetone, then added enough ATF to give it a light pink tint.
I then put 350 clean cores in the colander and submerged it into the liquid. I let it soak for a few minute, and then took the colander out and let them dry over night.
Yesterday morning, I core seated 350 jackets, and early this morning pointed them up.
The finished bullet is close to .0002 fatter than the previous ones done with clean and dry cores. The pointed up really nice with no anomalies.

We have the Texas State LV/Sporter this week end in New Braunfels. I am going to (try) take off tomorrow and test these bullets against the previous ones.
The first bullet measurement is bullets I just made, the next the one is the bullets with clean cores.View attachment 1656680View attachment 1656681

its just that easy ....

 

[RGRobinett]

Randy. Unless I missed it, you haven’t said whether you use squeaky clean cores or some type of personal formula as a lube that makes your 30 caliber Bullets as great as they are.

Also, since I look at consistent excellency in Match Performance as a gage, I would like to have some inside info on what Wayne Campbell does in his operations. He obviously makes an excellent bullet.

Jackie, after testing several of the practices, and making some pretty decent "wet" cored bullets @ few customer requests, except for those few [large] custom orders, I stayed with "squeaky clean" (dry) cores . . . My dies don't need the diameters getting any larger. The clean dry cores produce very consistent bullet [shank] diameter, if making for only myself, a couple of 0.0001s wouldn't matter. "Pressure-ring" diameter, "is-what-it-is", and from jacket & lead wire LOT-to-LOT will be different/vary.

As compared to "wet" cores, I "like" the extremely small probability of variation the dry core method provides. Though it does add a potential variable, with a little common sense, even the wet method should be quite controllable & predictable.


With the pressure involved, I'd bet that most of the lube is evacuated - as would be most air. Several years ago, pal, Terry & I observed bullet production at the Sierra plant: the cores on their GREAT 168 Gr. International HP BT were getting seated with a LOT more lube than I would have imagined! RG

 

[jackieschmidt]

Jackie, after testing several of the practices, and making some pretty decent "wet" cored bullets @ few customer requests, except for those few [large] custom orders, I stayed with "squeaky clean" (dry) cores . . . My dies don't need the diameters getting any larger. The clean dry cores produce very consistent bullet [shank] diameter, if making for only myself, a couple of 0.0001s wouldn't matter. "Pressure-ring" diameter, "is-what-it-is", and from jacket & lead wire LOT-to-LOT will be different.

As compared to "wet" cores, I "like" the extremely small probability of variation the dry core method provides. Though it does add a potential variable, with a little common sense, even the wet method should be quite controllable & predictable.


With the pressure involved, I'd bet that most of the lube is evacuated - as would be most air. Several years ago, pal, Terry & I observed bullet production at the Sierra plant: the cores on their GREAT 168 Gr. International HP BT were getting seated with a LOT more lube than I would have imagined! RG

Thanks for the reply, Randy.

If these 6MM bullets shoot, I will dedicate some 30’s and try it. If not, I will just continue with what we have been doing.

 

[Kiwishooter]

This was something I managed to view in person a number of years ago, I never saw it in operation.
I wonder where it is now?
Hopefully a Benchrest museum will get created and a number of these items will find residence there

 

[c2a4r3l]

Any idea how many presses Ferris pindell made like that.

I know of one still being used.

 

[Kiwishooter]

Any idea how many presses Ferris pindell made like that.

I know of one still being used.

I have no idea how many Ferris made, but the one I saw was a work of art

 

[David Conder]

Ferris I think he made trips to serria bullet plant to help with there bullet machines
An dies setup maybe someone can give us further information he made many
Bullet dies sets

 

[Phys86]

This is very neat. Thank you for sharing. I had wondered how some of you make your own bullets.

If you're making boattail bullets, how is the boattail formed? Do the jackets and cores start in the same cylindrical shape and the die forms the boattail, or do the jackets and cores already have the boattail along with the die?

 

[jackieschmidt]

The BT is initially formed when you seat the core. The core seating die forms it.

The BT is finalized in the point up die.

 

[JoeDuke]

The jackets and cores are exactly the same as flatbase bullets. As Jackie said above, the boattail is formed in the dies.

 

[geo.ulrich]

sometimes jackets are preformed before seating cores as in long range bullets the 3 jackets are preformed.
the photo of the 2 seated cores the one on the left was seated without preforming the one on the right was preformed before core seating. about the only difference is the radius size on the corners and it takes way less core seating pressure with the preformed jackets. I have also had customers that had me make core dies to match that the boattail was also preformed on the core. you get a real nice sharp corner preforming.

 

[Mulligan]

sometimes jackets are preformed before seating cores as in long range bullets the 3 jackets are preformed.
the photo of the 2 seated cores the one on the left was seated without preforming the one on the right was preformed before core seating. about the only difference is the radius size on the corners and it takes way less core seating pressure with the preformed jackets. I have also had customers that had me make core dies to match that the boattail was also preformed on the core. you get a real nice sharp corner preforming.

Of course, George is correct.

Long 6's and I suspect any bullet with a long boattail, may need (shoot better) the boattail preformed on the jacket prior to core-seating.

CW

 

[JoeDuke]

sometimes jackets are preformed before seating cores as in long range bullets the 3 jackets are preformed.
the photo of the 2 seated cores the one on the left was seated without preforming the one on the right was preformed before core seating. about the only difference is the radius size on the corners and it takes way less core seating pressure with the preformed jackets. I have also had customers that had me make core dies to match that the boattail was also preformed on the core. you get a real nice sharp corner preforming.

Nice! Having never made any long boattails, I was not aware. Thanks for your knowledge George.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Learn something every day.

 

[JoeDuke]

Jackie, did you draw any conclusions on your “wet core” bullets?