J slugs, how I make them

[uncle dino]

Here's how I make my 20 gauge tube jacket slugs. Got a lot of inquiries on how to make them. So, here ya go. Right or wrong, this is how I do it.
Materials, 5/8 .050 wall copper tube, and pure lead cores.
1. Cut tube to prescribed length.
2. Place tube in jacket end rounding die, and close up one end with press.

3. Reduce jacket through sizer die.
4. Flatten end of jacket

5. Insert lead core and swage to expand core in jacket.

6. Point form nose.

7. Now at this point, I can use slug as is, but I've been having a problem with the slug riding over a roll crimp an tearing the hulls. So I made a punch to press a step (roll crimp ledge) into the nose. Kind of like a modified semi-wadcutter. Last pic looks like a fmj (just the lighting) about 3/8 inch of exposed lead on nose.

These slugs weigh 440 grains, I think I've got everything. Thanks D

[Blood Trail]

Brother, that's slicker than baby snot right there. How'd you make that punch?

[uncle dino]

Bt. Just turned it out on the lathe. I've been using 4140, these punches are so large I've never bent one. Time will tell if the edges hold up, takes a lot of force to put that edge around nose. D

[Blood Trail]

Good work, brother. Well done.

[Cap'n Morgan]

Veery nice! Now go forth and make some 12 gauge j-slugs. I command you!!

[uncle dino]

Cap'n.. I do make them in 12. Actually I can do 10 through 28. The 12's are a drawn cup jacket instead of a tube. D

[cpileri]

yup, those are awesome looking!

[725]

Outstanding!

[sluggageslinger]

Genius!

[MrWolf]

Pretty dang impressive.

[dverna]

How do they shoot?

I admire your talent and the quality of your work. Well done!!

Don Verna

[uncle dino]

They shot pretty good, 4 inches at 90 yards in rifled barrel. Working on some better loads, extremely dirty and temperature sensitive. I'm sure these can do much better.

[Wyatt 525]

Impressive engineering on overall process. Have you picked any outta the backstop as to see what that copper jacket looks like after impact?

[uncle dino]

I cannot take credit for process. All jacketed bullets made basically same way..core, jacket, squish, This just bigger. My backstop gonna need some work, just got a 4 ft square bale of cardboard from the grocery store. Weighs 600 lbs. it oughta do the trick, just don't shoot the binding wires. D

[Wyatt 525]

Just thought you might have already salvaged a few trophies for us to take a look at? When you pick a few outta that cardboard backstop would you mind sharing a picture? Just wandering on what a fired one looks like. Thanks

[uncle dino]

Will do, hoping to load some more up for this weekend. Going to try a couple of different loads. As long as weather cooperates. 12 inches forecast for tomorrow..yuck. D

[CASTING MACHINE]

When finished what is the od of those bad boys. Excellent process and explantion as well. Thanks.

[uncle dino]

These particular slugs measure .622, I can do them in .615 also..d

[cpileri]

I measured out the 12ga's at .7295 average, and the 20ga at .624, average. but yes, some of the 20s are .622.
C-

[uncle dino]

I finally recovered some fired slugs. These were fired into a 4 foot square bale of cardboard. It was slightly damp and frozen. Just froze enough I couldn't quite separate it by hand. Had to get out my loader tractor to expedite the process..penetration was about 24 inches on average. These were 12 gauge, 600 grain "long slug". Lead in nose, lead in base, and 6 hard cards in the middle. These were fired at approximately 1200 fps...nice moderate load that doesn't beat you up. Slugs look pristine, other than rifling grooves. I was hoping for some expansion, but that is not the case. I'll expose more lead at the tip, that will help them swell a bit when they hit. D