Copper tubing for jackets

[beastybronco]

I have seen lots of info on making jackets by sizing down the tubing but not much on sizing up. Is it just not feasible to do this or what? Thank you for the info


Josh

[BT Sniper]

I just happened to finish a customer order for a 1/4" copper tubing jacket die.

You can size up a little no problem. I have had luck taking .375 up to .400 and I'm sure other combinations will work too. Can't go to much or things start to wrinkel. I imagine about .025-.030 bump up might be about max.

BT

[MIBULLETS]

BT is right. If you need to go up more than that it would be better to get the next larger sized tubing and reduce it.

[beastybronco]

So I take it that if I wanted to do both .22 and 30 cal I would need to get two sizes of tubing?

[BT Sniper]

I haven't tried 22 cal but I imagine you would use 1/4" tubbing. I have thought about it, Don't know how well it would work, wouldn't be much room left for a core.

I have made 308s from 5/16 tubbing and that worked very well.

BT

[MIBULLETS]

Most likely two sizes yes. If however you had a source of tubing thin enough so that it would still work for the 22 stuff and be thick enough for 30 cal, then you might be able to draw it down that far. I don't know of any common tubing that fits that description but there very well may be something out there.

[Reload3006]

Is there tubing that you can make into .224 and .243 jackets Yes there is. Is it feasible Perhaps. For me no it takes a round over die and a draw die. then you have to anneal then draw. You can get 22lr and 22mag cases and make all the .224 and .243 bullets you want a lot easier and a lot cheaper than a round over die and one or two draw dies and all the different length round-over punches you need to do the job there are too many jackets available in those sizes as well to make it cost effective .... .Can it be done Yes (refrigeration tubing) is it cost effective or practical IMO no not at this time.

as far as going up in size all tubing cutter flare sets have expansion swage punches So you can go up in size too again as has been said why buy bigger tubing then go down.