308 bullets from 5/16" copper tubing

[Multigunner]

A friend had a bucket full of penetrators from the 168 gr AP .30-06 bullets. He had been testing penetration of these bullets which were available in quantity at the time by handloading in both .30-06 and 7.62 NATO. The Bullets were said to come from France and had two crimping cannelures to allow differing seating depths for the various .30 cartridges they might be used with.
He had used an old concrete foundation as a target and when the penetrators went through the jackets disintegrated leaving the undamaged penetrator clean as a whistle.

I'd considered using some of these to make an AP bullet for the .357 by swaging a length of copper tubing around the penetrator and sealing the base with a gas check.
The nose of the jacket would be open with a tubular body. On impact I figure that if it hit unprotected flesh the open nose would act as a tube cutter , if the nose were saw cut it might peel back in petals.
Velocity would have been fairly low with such a heavy bullet.

Of course I never got around to making these and mislaid the AP cores long ago.

[Southern Son]

Thanks for that, BT. There are some smart people on this websight, but some of the stuff that happens in this swagging section is really wild.

[littlejack]

knifemaker:
I traded to Bullshop some older Barns 400 grain .458 bullets. The printing on the box stated
the jacket thickness to be .032.
You are correct.
Jack

[BT Sniper]

Now if I could make a TSX bullet

BT

[Reg]

Quick question.
Did you use the copper tubing "as is" @ .312 dia. or did you draw down the tube under size, say .305 or 6 , then swedge up ?
Thanks

[BT Sniper]

Takes a few steps. With the material I had on hand it was better to start with using the copper tube as is. First closed up the base of the tube to a point still at .312 , reduced it to .302 in a reducing die, then flatened the base in the core seat die. From there it is a jacket ready to go! Swage up to .306 in the core seat die and finish off to .308 in point forming die.

BT

[firefly1957]

BT Sniper Not sure if you equipment will eject it but you may consider designing a bullet that is bore diameter except for a one caliber band at the base. Reason being to reduce friction of bullet going though bore with the rest of bullet riding the bore it should be accurate and one caliber of copper will give plenty for rifling to grab onto.
Have you been able to shoot any of them yet? You talked about shooting them in (wet) paper do you ever use water to test bullets?
I have tried to swage copper wire in 22 die with Lyman Orange Crusher press and just can not get a good fill out.

[BT Sniper]

Left to right

140 grain .264 Berger, 170 grain BTSniper .265, 260 grain .308 from 5/16" copper tubing, 220 grain 30 cal Sierra Match King.

Working on a customer set of dies to make 30 cal jackets from 5/16" copper tubing. As you can see the possibilities are endless. Don't know of many 260 grain 30 cal bullets but it can be done!

I had good sucess making a heavy .264 bullet from a sized down Sierra 30 cal match jacket. I din't worry about a long pointed ogive on this bullet. I was looking to make bullets heavy and slow for my 6.5x55 sweede with long throat. haven't shot any yet but they sure look good. I used a plastic ski plug for the nose.

Good shooting

BT

[BT Sniper]

Got a customer's set of 30 cal copper tubing jacket making dies just about ready to ship. Here is a look at some of the bullets I made from 5/16" copper tubbing.

Left to right.

1" jacket, 1.25" 1.50" 260 grain, 220 grain, 180 grain and a 180 grain Sierra Pro hunter








These are just the first prototypes, it is possible to get the base closed even more so there is no evedence there was ever an opening making it look exactly like commercial made, cup drawn jackets.




Good Shooting and Swage On!

BT

[mr mom]

Did ya get a goat ?????????

[BT Sniper]

Nope, we let them grow up. Took a few shots though, missed. Oh well

How is the 44s coming?

BT

[VIbullets]

those look just like what the doctor ordered

[mr mom]

brian .... had a little trouble , but played around with adj. and got it ....
loaded up 40 with diffrent charges and went to the range. what a pain !!!! i always had 1 of the kids with to do the walking !!!!
anyway , got the scope sighted in with 4 shots ... then went to see what load was the best... 3rd group !!! 39.6 gr of imr 4198 . ended up with about a 1 in. group with those 265 gr. flat tops !!!!! at 75 yds ill let the kid do the 100 if he wants. my eyes arnt as good as they use to be !!!

and the 12bvss still a shooter !!!!!!! 5 shots the size of a dime.

got a nice bruse on my sholder !!!!!

we are heading up to see the 2 boys on thursday . 10 hour drive , cant wait to see the kids face when he sees this .444. he still thinks he is getting his old .35

thanks for everything !!!!!