Making jackets

[Casper_SWAT]

Has anyone made jackets from copper pipe caps?

[rancher1913]

you would need to anneal them and it would have a fairly thick wall. probably not the most stable as the wall thickness is not uniform. for a large caliber it might work but the cost is going to be up there.

[uncle dino]

Nope too expensive.. Take micrometer with you if you want to buy some.. Runout is horrible on any I've ever checked, ymmv.. D

[Casper_SWAT]

What I'm thinking is if you use them as a base and then swage them down to whatever size you need using reducing dies. Annealing them should have been understood, sry. As far as expense I got 100 off eBay for $28.

[uncle dino]

Do try drawing some without annealing.. Sometimes you get a surprise and it works.. Sometimes when you draw down several times annealing can come back to haunt you with punch pushing through the base. as drawn section work hardens and base is still soft..always try first. What size?

[Casper_SWAT]

1/2" cups is what i got off ebay, and just figured I should be able to draw the cups down to whatever I wish. I have a jacket making die, from copper strip, in the works but am having some minir issues and was wanting to experiment with the cups. Where is everyone getting their copper strip from? I got what i have now (50 ft) from Georgia Copper for $89 + shipping.

[Sasquatch-1]

At the price you paid for the tubing caps I think you would do better to buy the jackets.

Prices below are from Dave Corbin. Didn't check anywhere else since I use old brass for jackets.

Bullet Jackets (Specs, prices subject to change with availability)


* J-22-705 ------ .224 cal X .705 len., per 500 (VB)-------------- 58.00
* J-22-70b ------ .224 cal x .705 len., box of 4500 (VB) -------- 510.00
* J-22-70c ------ .224 cal x .705 len., carton of 9000 (VB) ----- 925.00
* J-22-800 ------ .224 cal x .800 len., per 500 ------------------ 58.00
* J-22-80b ------ .224 cal x .800 len., box of 4500 ------------- 510.00
* J-22-80c ------ .224 cal x .800 len., carton of 9000 ---------- 925.00
* J-6M-102 ------ .243 cal X 1.02 len., per 250 (VB)-------------- 54.00
* J-6M-10b ------ .243 cal x 1.02 len., box of 2500 (VB) -------- 525.00
* J-26-940 ------ .264 cal (6.5mm) x .94 len., per 250 ---------- 54.00
* J-26-125 ------ .264 cal (6.5mm) x 1.25 len., per 250 --------- 58.00
* J-30-115 ------ .308 cal x 1.15 len., per 250 ------------------ 58.00
* J-30-11b ------ .308 cal x 1.15 len., per 1500 ---------------- 335.00
* J-30-11c ------ .308 cal x 1.15 len., per 6500 --------------- 1400.00
* J-30-125 ------ .308 cal X 1.25 len., per 250 (VB)-------------- 58.00
* J-30-12b ------ .308 cal x 1.25 len., box of 1300 (VB) -------- 290.00
* J-30-12c ------ .308 cal x 1.25 len., carton of 6500 (VB) ---- 1400.00
* J-38-442 ------ 9mm/38 cal x .442 len., per 500 ---------------- 58.00
* J-38-500 ------ 9mm/38 cal x .500 len., per 500 ---------------- 58.00
* J-40-650 ------ 40 cal X .650 len., per 250 -------------------- 54.00
* J-40-143 ------ 405/408 cal x 1.43 len., per 250 --------------- 68.00
* J-45-540 ------ 45 cal x .540 len., per 250 -------------------- 54.00
* J-45-680 ------ 45 cal x .680 len., per 250 -------------------- 54.00
* J-50-177 ------ 510 cal x 1.77 len., per 100 ------------------- 54.00
* J-70-130 ------ 700 cal x 1.30 len., per 100 ------------------- 54.00

(VB)= Versatile Benchrest Precision/Hunting or Target

[Casper_SWAT]

I believe your correct, I'll look into this.

[KAYDADOG]

Earlier this year finally got setup making 50/cal bullets 300/gn to 500/gn using 45/acp small primer brass. Everything I do is on a custom hydraulic press using Dave Corbin H-dies. The lighter 300/gn bullets are used for the Desert Eagle. Anything heavier is for the 500-S&W Magnum. It's costing only about $0.05 each to make these bullets versus up to $0.80 each for factory. It won't take long to justify the cost of the 50/cal die set.

Currently invested in 9/mm draw down die set to make 357 jackets. These end up being 0.800" in length which can be trimmed to make lighter 9/mm or 357/Sig bullets. Using the full case length for 158/gn bullets works with some excessive point lead due to variations in case weight. To remedy this and finish off the tips to look all the same I made up a fixture for my 6" wide belt sander to just clean up tip to a perfect flat point. The fixture is totally adjustable on a linear slide and can do 15 at a time. Also have an indicator to adjust the amount being taken off from left to right keeping them as close as possible, usually only several thousandths difference. Any of these bullets finished are less than $0.03 each. A Dave Corbin 9/mm/357 jacket will cost you $0.13 each. Richard Corbin was selling them for half that price several years ago.
I luckily did purchase thousands from Richard Corbin before he got out of the business. No one currently sells jackets at a reasonable price. Right now it's cheaper to buy finished factory bullets for some calibers than buying the jackets, plus dies, plus press etc. Using 9/mm cases for jackets is probably the most cost effective way to go if you shoot those calibers. Multiple calibers can be made from them 9/mm. 357/Sig and 357/Mag and probable others.

Unfortunately I'm spoiled because I'm using a 4/post fully automated hydraulic press I built several years ago. Every bullet is always the same based on the setup records kept for each caliber and step performed. I also make the lead wire for cores of course using Dave Corbin's led wire extruding die setup. This by far is the easiest way to make cores. Using the 0.8/lb billets made it takes less than 10/sec to make 0.312" two foot long core wire longer for smaller diameter wire.

The only other step or cost involved when using cases for jackets is that they have to be annealed. I'm currently induction annealing my cases with a Fluxeon annealer and integrated his unit into a fully automated project that I just finished. To fully induction anneal a 9/mm or 45/acp case to 750/deg takes between 4.8/sec and 5.2/sec. To auto cycle cases takes about another 5-6/sec. At least 325-350 cases can easily be annealed in an hour.
The unit I built is fully adjustable so rifle case necks only can be annealed if required. This was a very expensive project but better than an oven or standard torch method. Every case comes out identical due to precise heating times. It's only a hobby.

My goal was to try and post some pictures for the different 50/cal and 9/mm drawn cases and finished 357 bullets. I haven't got the time yet to do so. Will try and get to that within the next week if possible.

It's taken about three years plus working on all these projects. The final products made were worth all the time and effort.

Good luck on your goals, it never ends.

[Casper_SWAT]

Good luck on your goals, it never ends.

Thanks, my wife loves my never ending gun addiction.