.577 Snider's Spun Over Hollow Nose

[SPJ]

In the sources I've read on Mark VII Snider rounds, it saws that the hollow nose of the bullet was covered by having lead "spun" over it. I am not sure what "spun lead" means though. Can anyone explain to me the process of spinning lead over a bullet?

https://books.google.com/books?id=U4...20lead&f=false

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/brit...ng-t20336.html

[curdog007]

The boolit would have been spun in a collet, and an appropriately shaped polished "ironing tool" would have been fed in, pushing the lead over and closing the cavity, while forming the correct nose profile. Same sort of process as spinning sheet metal.
The first versions of the Snider boolit used a wooden peg in the cavity. These work very well in the boolits I have tried.

[SPJ]

The boolit would have been spun in a collet, and an appropriately shaped polished "ironing tool" would have been fed in, pushing the lead over and closing the cavity, while forming the correct nose profile. Same sort of process as spinning sheet metal.
The first versions of the Snider boolit used a wooden peg in the cavity. These work very well in the boolits I have tried.

Would a clay plug like that in the base work just as well in the nose? Clay is easier to get and shape after all.

[SPJ]

Also, is it possible to replicate that without exposing yourself to lots of lead dust particles?

[yulzari]

First you would need to have a Metford type Snider bullet with the hole in the nose and the base cavity. Initially the holes were filled with a sycamore peg. Then that cost was saved by spinning the lead around the nose of the hole over which covered the opening. Metford originally designed the hole for an explosive shell. Then he began using it as a target bullet by filling the hole with powdered charcoal so that it would mark the target to be more easily seen, and discovered that it was more accurate too as it allowed a longer bullet for the same mass, by moving the mass to the periphery to maintain rotational inertia.

Should you find (or make) a source of Metford type bullets please let me know as there are many Snider shooters who would love to have the real thing (don't forget the cannelures). Clay could be used, but is heaver than needed. Any light wood thin dowel to fit the hole would do. There are lightweight DIY fillers that would be easy to use.

[justashooter]

Also, is it possible to replicate that without exposing yourself to lots of lead dust particles?

planishing (spanning) does not generate particulate. it deforms the metal, and has been done with lead, tin, aluminum, and steel. the metal is not removed. it is displaced.

[Outpost75]

planishing (spanning) does not generate particulate. it deforms the metal, and has been done with lead, tin, aluminum, and steel. the metal is not removed. it is displaced.

Furthermore it is often done wet with a water soluble lubricant such as Johnson 700 wax-draw. If you had an old-style Ideal roll crimper designed to be used in a drill press you could have the punch machined to a full-radius hemisphere and just use soapy water as a lubricant when spinning the nose closed. The original bullets could be fabricated easily enough starting with a 14.5mm diameter pure lead cylinder of 31 grams and upsetting them in a hammer swage to form cavitities in each end, then stuffing the nose with a Styrofoam "peanut" and spinning closed.