ok, I have everything in order to swage...but the dies...help?

[thegreatwrzesinski]

ok! so my shopping list for swaging is almost complete, all I need is the dies! I am going to get a lee challenger single stage press to do all my swaging on. Where can I find some dies? also how much are they going to cost? In the end I want to reload all my calibers [.380acp, 9mm luger, .38/.357, .40, .45 acp, .223, and .308] but at the moment I want to start slow, probably start with .380, .223, and .308 then move up as I feel comfortable and perhaps adding more as I get other caliber weapons. Can anybody help? Also I heard somewhere that I can swage .380 and 9mm in the same die? Is that true for any other calibers?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

a LEE challenger press is probably not up to swagging.
Have you checked out CH's website ?
they have lots of dies available.
what are you going to use for jacket material ?
Jon

[thegreatwrzesinski]

probably old brass if I even jacket them, I am more leaning toward paper patching. and why would the lee press not work? it is an o frame press so it can withstand plenty of pressure, arent the threads the same too? I also have a 6 ton hydraulic press that I could use but it would take alot longer.

EDIT: quote from ch4h.com

"Both dies will work in any standard reloading press.
Both dies available with RN (round nose) or
SWC (semi-wadcutter)."

so thank you for pointing me in the right direction! and they arent as expensive as I thought they would be!

+1 for help!

[Daywalker]

The Lee classic press is way stronger than the challenger press. The challenger press is Aluminum and will not withstand the pressures that it takes for swaging. The Linkage on the Lee classic will have to be beefed up. Have to remember, some of these press's, like Lee's were not designed for swaging, they were designed for reloading which do not require the pressures that swaging requires...

[BT Sniper]

Yep go for the Lee classic or RCBS rock chucker instead. The CH dies are certainly a very good way to get started in swaging. They will benifit from stronger internial parts thats for sure. Much posted about that here

The pistol caliber bullets will be easiest and cheapest to make ie. CH dies. The .223 and certainly good .308 bullets will be a bit more $ though CH does offer a 308 die that will make good 308 bullets. Info on that here too.

Certainly can be alot of fun and like any hobby you can spend as little or as much as you like. Would certainly recamend the 40 cal bullets from 9mm brass in one step of a improved CH die as a very easy and enjoyable intro to swaging.

Good shooting

BT

[WallyM3]

Can I recommend that you do a search for an RCBS A2 (or better yet, an A4). Cast aluminum really isn't up to it.

Overkill will serve you well for years.

[shaggist]

There's a RCBS A4 up for auction right now on Evil Bay. Item #330444693185

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I would be worried about the linkage of the challenger, more so than the aluminum frame. but then, if you stick with pure soft Lead and the the jacket material (if you use brass) is fully annealed you'd probably be OK...But be forewared, the one time a swage starts going a little tough, backoff and toss it in the remelt pile. whether it's lack of Lube or too far undersized/not fully annealed brass, or a harder lead core..once you notice it's too difficult on the press, if you don't stop, you'll darn sure break something, probably the linkage.
Jon

[strahd_zarovich]

I didn't think that CH did dies for 223. I would love to look into 22lr to 223 bullets.

[Daywalker]

ch doesn't. I am sure they probably could make you one for a price...

[thegreatwrzesinski]

Sorry for the delayed response in the post, but how would I go about "beefing up" the lee cast press?[I'm probably going to swage the pistol calibers, then .223 and .308] Can I get all the stuff at Home Depot? I'm STILL saving to take the plunge into this hobby, I haven't swaged a single bullet but I am completely enthralled by it. Thank you all for your responses you all have helped me so much before I even got started!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

...The Linkage on the Lee classic will have to be beefed up...

thegreatwrzesinski,
I hope daywalker chimes in here.
I use a LEE classic cast with standard linkage.
I have swaqed about 600 0.3995" brass jacketed with BT improved CH die.
I am about to swaged some 44 cal later today.
to me, it seems strong enough for swaging pistol calibers.
I have replaced the top part of the RAM with
a solid piece threaded for 1/2" fine thread
for excepting CH style base punches.
Jon

[thegreatwrzesinski]

sounds good to me! would It be able to handle making a .308? im probably going to be making alot of it [a friend of mine owns a 1919 in .308 and I won an m1 garand in .308 along with a few other rifles of the caliber. I have a few hundred rounds of 7.62x51 brass that I can use.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

the 308 is in my plans as well, see this thread
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=61720
it's probably be months before I have a finished bullet,
but I think the LEE classic cast will be up to the task
the CH die should make a bullet up to 165 or 170 gr. I Hope !
I wish it was capable of 200, but it is not..Jon

[Daywalker]

I have the RCBS Press myself for swaging. I have read many threads on here by BT and some others that have broken their Lee Classic at the linkage while swaging. There are some pictures of the broken linkage as well that might be able to provide some information. I was going to get the lee classic myself as I perfer the Lee presses when reloading, however, the wife was being what she thought looking out for me and over paid for an rcbs off of Ebay. I think the price she paid was a bit more than a new Rcbs press made. As I get some time later on, I will go back through the threads and find the links about the Lee classic cast press..