In my opinion, a lot of us with the interest and drive to make dies and presses and with at least some shop exp. could do a nice job making the projects we discuss IF we had the proper machines and tools to begin.
In my opinion, a lot of us with the interest and drive to make dies and presses and with at least some shop exp. could do a nice job making the projects we discuss IF we had the proper machines and tools to begin.
I agree completely, but unless you are in the business, few have the means much less the space to create a machine shop. I own a small drill/mill and a mini-lathe, but getting the accuracy needed out of my toys is more luck than skill.
Since I powder coat a bore rider reforming die as BT sniper described I believe is a doable project with minimal equipment but equipment capable of accuracy. Close is not good enough, a cast bullet that comes out of the mold is close. Basically, for a 30 caliber, the nose of the cast bullet would be reformed to fit the lands, (.300" would work on most) and the band (no lube grooves needed for PC) to .309". A mold or custom mold that dropped an undersized bullet to begin with would be an asset. With reforming dies I think even an accurate spire point design may be possible.
Of course it might be cheaper in the long run to just buy a ready made die, especially if enough had an interest to justify a company tooling up to make them. If reforming produced a concentric bullet and PC the jacket, Full Power Long Range Accuracy could be achieved with homemade bullets.
Of course some will say why go to the trouble and expense when you can buy commercial jacketed bullets. My answer is that is true, but just a little while back, 2012 to be exact, the shelves went bare and that is what brought me back into casting and powder coating to begin with.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |