i have decided to make some of "NoZombies" .22 Ladybug cases using a series of Drill bushings mounted in Machined PT&G Blank die bodies (@ $20.00 each blank and about $7.00 each Hardened (Rc61) Alloy Steel Drill bushing).
I machine the Blank die body on a Friend's Lathe as his work schedule and available Machine time permits.
The Die bodies are Drilled and Tapped for 1/2-20UNF x 1-1/2" Full Threads deep in the top for any accessories.
The Die Bodies are Drilled and Reamed to .4999" diameter and about 5/8" deep to accept a pressed fit bushing with a lip for swaging down over the bushing to solidly retain it.
All die Bodies are also drilled 3/8" Through for extractor punch clearance.
The size Drill Bushings used are: .277, .272, .2656", .261", .257", .250", and .246" with two of the .246" used (one with radius entry down and one with square exit down).
I have chosen to use a Batch of 500 each PPU .25ACP cases I bought form Graf And Sons that turned out to be .617" or more long and .274"-.276" diameter which was out of range for my .25ACP needs.
The First Sample swaged down quite well, with the thin displaced Brass ring 'shearing' off at the Extractor Clearance Cut (ECC) until the .250" swage step.
As the ECC was .250" no real 'shearing' happened. then the .246" step formed the displaced brass ring into a 'fillet radius' on top of the rim.
This will need to be turned off to make the rim top a square corner again.
Thinking on this process problem; perhaps it would be a good Idea to re-machine the ECC to a smaller diameter before these last two swaging steps and the subsequent .246" shearing step, to complete the formed case.
Holding a .25ACP case reliably in the available 6 Jaw chuck may be a problem that I will have to further consider.
Chucking the case far enough out to machine will entail clamping on the thin wall of the case body.
Without internal support, the thin wall will probably collapse under clamping / turning pressures.
Luckily the cases seems to extend in length slightly as the diameter is reduced.
So perhaps the 'Ladybug' trim length of .625" will be met.
These formed cases will have a rim diameter of .304"-.307" like the parent .25ACP; so it my also be useful to turn the rim diameter down for feeding from magazines made for .22Long RF cartridges.
That should not be problem for hand feeding as single shot only.
Note that all this Experimental 'swaging' of Brass cases is done on my used RCBS "RC" loading Press.
Note also buy the matching Drill Bit to go with the Drill Bushing ID; for the inevitable 'Stuck Case' when you forget to lube each case before swaging it.
Chev. WilliamBoth Bullets and Cases, that is!