What is it

[Vernon Hayes]

This was in a lot of reloading equipment I bought at a estate auction today.
Never seen one before wondering what it is. It has 3570 half jacket stamped on the die. The handle has CH by roddy on one side and 409 on the other.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_237684faeaec0cc5fa.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5169)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_237684faeaf1c095c4.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5170)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_237684faeaf6b9dcb7.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5171)

[Reg]

Looks like a 1/2 jacket, pistol swedging die with a ejector feature ???

[Bent Ramrod]

Reg is right. Did you get the nose forming punch with it? It should have a flanged base to fit into the shell holder ram with a nose shape cut into the upper end.

[Vernon Hayes]

I belive this might be the other part of it. The punch has 357 RN engraved on the end of it.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_237684faf1116417f5.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5180)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_237684faf112a00f8e.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5181)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_237684faf1137c7404.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5182)

[runfiverun]

yeah, that's the other half now you just need a press and you are in business.
[except for the jaxkets and the cores]
that looks a bit upside down to my C&H press set-up.
although if that ram fit in the C&H press it would work quite well compared to the bottom eject set up i have.
the threads on my top die are @ 1.55 inches.
if your ejector gies threads are that size that's the press you need.
if not and they are standard 7/8ths threads, then you'll have to figure out what press takes that diameter ram.

[Vernon Hayes]

Just how strong of a press do you need to operate this swaging die?
The swaging die screws into my old eagle press and the ram looks to be the same diameter, haven't tried to put it in though. Not sure I want to try it if there is a chance of breaking the press. Its cast aluminum.

Also where do you find the half jackets?

Here is a pic of swaging die on my press.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_237684fb1c4d478c51.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5222)

[Bent Ramrod]

I would recommend a cast iron press of O design for swaging use. Unless you have a press with compound linkage, the leverage available in a standard reloading press will probably make you tired if you swage many bullets.

The only press I know for sure had a hole across the ram for securing a ram extension for a punch holder was the RCBS A-2. There may be other ones, though.

Half jackets used to be made by Hornady, Herter's and Speer. I don't think anybody makes them now; the heyday of half-jacket bullet swaging is 50 years in the past. Check E-bay, GunBroker, gun shows, Swappin' & Sellin', etc.