Time to make the donuts....

[dcali]

I always insert the core seated jacket in the die and then follow it with the punch. I’s kinda of a fine line between bullet in, up comes press as finger moves out of the way.

Of course, if things do not go as they should, your finger gets intruduced to the concentrated pressure generated by tip of that punch.

I do it this way because with the 30 point up, I can use my body to apply the pressure on the handle rather than just my arm and shoulder.

Which brings up a point that no body has talked about in this thread.

Several years ago, a very well known bullet maker and Hall of Fame Shooters gave details on seating cores to where the core seated jacket is undersized from the finis diameter of the bullet. The idea was, there is always a small amount of spring back with the jacket, which is a copper alloy. However, the lead core has zero spring back. If the seated core is the same size as the finished bullet, it could produce a loose core.

Or something like that.

I tried it. I put just enough core pressure on the seated jacket so the core seated jacket was a tenth under the final bullet size.
They were the worst shooting bullet I ever made. So I continued seating the cores where they have a certain “feel” coming out of the core seating punch, (and of course the correct length), and they are the same size as the finished shank on the bullet, which is .3081.
When I insert it into the point up die, it sticks enough so I can get my finger out of the way.

That mirrors my experience. I've never gone that light, but the only bad bullets I've made were the ones where I didn't seat the core hard enough. I've also noticed that poorly seated cores are the ones that get stuck in the point up die. I'm sure there are a bunch of ways to skin this cat, but I do know it's important.

 

[geo.ulrich]

A little bit off subject but has anyone created a video of themselves going through the core seating and point up process? I'm looking for how some out there are actually making the bullet. I've been making bullets for years but feel there are some out there that are much faster or more efficient in their motions to get the bullet finished.

I tried to load some short videos but it says they are to large I'll see if I can send them via a private message nope still wont work sorry

 

[Kiwishooter]

I tried to load some short videos but it says they are to large I'll see if I can send them via a private message nope still wont work sorry

What size are the files George?

 

[D Coots]

Post video to u-tube account, then copy and paste link.

 

[Kiwishooter]

Nope. I like to do it vertically. And pressing a little green button is awfully tiring

I, and possibly others would like to see that press working.

 

[andrewc6.5]

I, and possibly others would like to see that press working.

G'day Kiwi. The photo shows my #1 press which I use for bullet swaging ops. I'll try and put something together soon. In the meantime here's a short video of the #2 and #3 presses going which I use for jacket making. All of the the pneumatic presses are rated to 1.2 ton and operate between 70-90psi depending what operation.

 

[Kiwishooter]

Here are Georges videos,
(Please correct me if I'm wrong George)
Pointing up

Core seating

 

[liseo]

Now, regarding the topic of lubricating the core, suggesting that it might not be important to have the core completely free of lubricant, what is the majority opinion on the importance of washing the jackets with some solvent to remove oil residue from the stamping operation?
Everyone probably has their own theory, but in any case, if you can give your opinion...
J4 jackets seem absolutely free of any oil, whereas the batch I received from Sierra, you could feel it in your hand.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Now, regarding the topic of lubricating the core, suggesting that it might not be important to have the core completely free of lubricant, what is the majority opinion on the importance of washing the jackets with some solvent to remove oil residue from the stamping operation?
Everyone probably has their own theory, but in any case, if you can give your opinion...
J4 jackets seem absolutely free of any oil, whereas the batch I received from Sierra, you could feel it in your hand.

I have taken some J4 jackets out of the Buckets, and put them in a clear glass of distilled water.
After several days, the water was still clear, with no film on top.

As far as I am concerned, they are clean.

From what information I have garnered in this very thread, if you do decide to lube the cores, make sure the method you use distributes the lube on an even and consistent bases on each core.

You are right about the Sierras. I do not think they clean them at all.

 

[Marklincoln]

for flat base it really doesn't matter but for bt's where you need to put the bullet in the die so you don't screw up so many punches yes flat or on an angle helps, there's always some in the class that are a problem

 

[liseo]

While core seating a batch of 168-grain .30 bullets, I decided out of curiosity to lubricate a core while maintaining the same setting.
While the normal ones came out of the die with a diameter of .3082X", the one with the lubricated core ended up with a .3080X, but with a lot of bleed-by

 

[liseo]

Hello Liseo,


I had to consult with our Bullet Production Manager to get a definitive answer for you and he did confirm that our jackets are totally degreased before they are packaged for shipment for you to use.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is the answer I got from Berger when I asked about washing J4 jackets

 

[D Coots]

I didn't know that.

It seems that the amount of lube needed for J4's is much less that needed for Hines. If I recall correctly.???

 

[21PHX]

What is the “accepted” min./max. total bullet weights made with J-4 .790 and. .825 6mm jackets?

 

[bichettereds]

What is the “accepted” min./max. bullet weights made with J-4 .790 and. .825 6mm jackets?

You mean the weight of the jackets themselves or the finished bullet? Bullet weight variation is going to come largely from the core weight more so than the jacket weight. At least with J4s, from my experience.

 

[21PHX]

You mean the weight of the jackets themselves or the finished bullet? Bullet weight variation is going to come largely from the core weight more so than the jacket weight. At least with J4s, from my experience.

I thought bullet weight was self explanatory. The total weight of the bullet as ready to load ie., jacket and core. All put together.

 

[D Coots]

How about lighter jackets being better than heavier ones as I've heard, and if actually so, why?

 

[bichettereds]

I thought bullet weight was self explanatory. The total weight of the bullet as ready to load ie., jacket and core. All put together.

Youre right. I guess since you specified the jacket used, I wasnt 100% sure. The jackets weight variation is probably .04 grains tops from what I’ve seen. Most are within .02. The rest will be core weight variation. Everyone has their own standards but I’m not happy with anything more than .06 variation on my cores, but that’s just because I know I can make them with that. I’m sure more will shoot just fine.

 

[RGRobinett]

What is the “accepted” min./max. total bullet weights made with J-4 .790 and. .825 6mm jackets?

A given jacket length will make quality bullets over a wide range of weights: the range somewhat dependent upon the nose/radius configuration of the point-up die. Using .790" long jacket length, the typical [tangent] 7-8 caliber point die will likely make decent bullets between 62- 68 Gr. Only testing with your dies will verify any difference in precision. You'll quickly learn when the core length is too short. RG

 

[21PHX]

A given jacket length will make quality bullets over a wide range of weights: the range somewhat dependent upon the nose/radius configuration of the point-up die. Using .790" long jacket length, the typical [tangent] 7-8 caliber point die will likely make decent bullets between 62- 68 Gr. Only testing with your dies will verify any difference in precision. You'll quickly learn when the core length is too short. RG

Thanks Randy, now what about the .825s?