Hammer Dies

[Digital Dan]

Short on text, big on pictures of the subject.

There's a reason they call them hammer dies:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3726_zps773ab2ed.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3726_zps773ab2ed.jpg.html)

The slug on the left, a finished bullet on the right. Alloy is pure lead and the product is a .50 caliber picket form of 420 grains.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3714_zpsdf91ad67.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3714_zpsdf91ad67.jpg.html)

The components, from top left to right and down: Die body, ram, bullets, ejector pin, base

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3716_zps01e26191.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3716_zps01e26191.jpg.html)

Strip cutter, cross strips, bullets and assembled die on right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3712_zps27e1b967.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3712_zps27e1b967.jpg.html)

The assembled die with a slug inserted. Note the short distance between the diameter change in the ram and the die body top. After the ram is struck with the hammer this will sit about 1/8" above the die body. It is NOT a stop. I have another die with a perfectly cylindrical ram which is an alternative.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3724_zpsb491fc3d.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3724_zpsb491fc3d.jpg.html)

Lastly, the interior of the die body with ejector pin removed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3717_zps08beb61c.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Black%20Powder/IMG_3717_zps08beb61c.jpg.html)

[mikeym1a]

Very interesting. Did you make these, or are they commercially produced?

[Digital Dan]

No and not that I'm aware of. I would very much like to find a machinist with the moxie to make a few sets for me.

Another benefit of hammer dies is their ability to properly fuse two cast bullet segments seamlessly into a high quality bullet. Second from right below is a two diameter, two piece 800 grain .50 caliber. Pure lead base and alloyed nose rider on top.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Black%20Powder/DSCN3462_zpsd415f1bf.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Black%20Powder/DSCN3462_zpsd415f1bf.jpg.html)