.500 bullet from 45 ACP

[Lizard333]

Nope, not an "A". I own two supremes and they are great reloading presses. They are stout and strong. I've never disputed that they are not good reloading presses. They might even be fine for swaging 224's out of 22LR.

Let's take my bias towards buying the right tool for the job out of the equation. I know of no one here that uses a reloading press for swaging on a regular basis, WITHOUT MODIFICATIONS. Fact is, if these presses, no matter the brand, were fine to swage bullets, they wouldn't have been modified.

There are a number of members here that started with reloading presses found they were not up to par, made mods, got better results, and still ended getting a dedicated swaging press. I try to save the "new" guy some heartache and frustration with standard presses. Buy once, cry once. This hobby isn't cheap. Why skimp on the single most important tool?

I'm thankful those that helped me get started, pointed me in the right direction. I try to pay it forward and help others. I've swaged with both presses, and there is no comparison.

[Nickle]

I've used an A press, and I can tell you they're a lot more rugged than a Rock Chucker.

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

Lizard, I agree with your logic. IF you are going to know you will like bullet swaging, then go ahead and buy a swage press. BUT, not everyone is sure if it is going to be for them. On the outside, swaging can be decieving. What the beginners sometimes fail to understand is the amount of time involved in making their own jacketed bullets...especially from rimfire jackets.

So my point is that for starting out to see if you like it, a RC, Lee CC, or A series press will do absolutely fine. If a beginner finds they don't like swaging, then they just have to sell their dies to the next beginner that wants to give it a shot..and probably get exactly what they paid for them.

When I got into boolit casting, if I was 100% sure I would have liked it, I would have bought custom group buy molds, an RCBS ProMelt, and a Star lubrisizer. I started off tumble lubing with Lee snot and lee molds to see if it was for me.

Same goes for reloading equipment. I started out with a cheapy Lee single stage. Now I am what you could call a press addict. But at least I admit it!

[tiger762]

I heard that. I went with an RCECO Walnut Hill and complete kit to make 224 from 22LR. Two things about a real swage press: Bronze bushings and much shorter stroke length. This press has two modes. 2" stroke for swaging and 4" stroke for reloading. In swaging mode (where I keep mine), there's mechanical advantage out the butt. So rather than slipping a length of pipe over a reloading press handle, and popping a blood vessel, I can sit and leisurely watch some 'tube. Another thing about swaging is that you'll throw the handle through a lot longer range of motion. I have an RCBS Ammomaster with 50BMG kit, a Lee Classic Cast and six single-stage Lee's set up for common reloading tasks. They all have their purpose. Just like trying to swage with a Lee C-press would be wack, using the swage press to reload, while possible, would be overkill.

This truly is not for the financially faint of heart

Buy once, cry once. This hobby isn't cheap. Why skimp on the single most important tool?

[Fetzner808]

BT has any one sent these down the pipe of a .50 Beowulf yet? I'd be happy to be the tester

[DukeInFlorida]

This thread needs to be a sticky!

[bbailey7821]

Hey Fetzner,
I've got a set on order and thats my plan.

[DukeInFlorida]

I had given a few to a fellow in Maine before I moved, and he loaded them into a 50 Beowolf. The bullet size and weight is perfect for that chambering. Got good reports back. Keep in mind that these are Hollow Points, very closely resembling Hornady XTP. As long as you are OK with that bullet type, they will work fine.

BT has any one sent these down the pipe of a .50 Beowulf yet? I'd be happy to be the tester

[bbailey7821]

hey Duke,
Did he happen to give you any loading data on that?

[DukeInFlorida]

No, but I developed my own data based on the Hornady book. The swaged bullets I make are the same size, weight, and style as the Hornady XTP bullets. That data works perfectly for my gun.

Proceed with caution, your mileage may vary. Start at starting loads, and work up if you feel the need to. I load thousands of rounds with Trailboss, and almost as many with LilGun. I won't give you load data, since there's too much opportunity to make transcription mistakes.

[bbailey7821]

understood, Duke. That's how I will proceed. Thanks for the heads up!

[bbailey7821]

P.S. I doubt highly that you are south of me

[DukeInFlorida]

Yup... you got me beat..... I'd have to wager that we are south of 99% of the participants of this forum.

[bbailey7821]

Roger that, Duke!

[Destroyer_85_golf]

anyone know where to get a set of the dies to swage .500 bullets?

[Hickory]

anyone know where to get a set of the dies to swage .500 bullets?

Try this link.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...current-prices

[woodbutcher]

Just found this thread.Great write ups and pictures.
Boolits look outstanding.Thank to all for this thread.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Wolftracker]

I too have Corbin dies for the 45ACP. I've made 45's out of .40 Smith brass but haven't had a lot of luck with accuracy. I think BT's dies must have different internal dimensions, at least with the core seater that accounts for spring back in the brass, but am not sure. Otherwise, they look good, and I haven't tried everything yet, like reducing them to .451. Just need the time!

[BT Sniper]

Perfected rolling over the tip of the jacket on a lighter 335 grain bullet vs. the traditional 350 grain .500 cal bullet made from 45 ACP brass.

Use a 240 grain 44 cal cast boolit (335 grain .500 bullet when formed) instead of a 255 grain 45 cal cast boolit (350 grain formed bullet).

Check it out.

[rolltide]

Those are great looking bullets Brian. How much does the last bullet on the right in the first pic weigh?

Looking at the progression of the bullets as you have them pictured, a thought occurred to me. A person could use your die set and notch die with an inverted gas check inside the jacket to make a "magsafe" type bullet filled with lead shot. This would make a great personal defense round for the 500 S&W that could be used without fear of over-penetration in home defense. I will have to experiment around and do some testing on multiple layers of sheetrock with a round like that. You could also use the notch die and 2 gas checks in the actual 500 S&W case to make a shot load round for snakes and other pests. Since the notch die set is universal, you could do the same with other large bore pistol calibers, or any straight walled case for that matter. There is just no end to the great custom rounds you can make with this great set-up Brian. Thanks for bringing these great tools to market.


Having just received my die set and other tools from you, I have to say again that the immaculate craftsmanship and pride that goes into your work is obvious in the appearance of your product, not to mention the precision of the products these tools produce. It almost makes we want to store them in a display case when I am not using them.

Roll Tide