Help Identify Use of Handmade Swaging Equipment

[jonboyb]

Take it easy on me.....swaging is new to me. I do alot of roundball muzzleloader shooting but my last purchase is outside my comfort zone. Recently picked up an old blackpowder bench rifle (mainly to use the underhammer action and stock in another build) that came with a set of custom made swaging die for use in an arbor press. The gun showed up far too nice to not shoot it. The gun is fast twist .44 cal and shoots a heavy grain long conical like a Sharps or Rolling Block. Is there ANYONE out there that could help school me on what each system might do. I have some work to do cleaning up the mushrooms on some of the shafts from a hammer to use them in an arbor press, but hopefully everything is salvagable and usable. One appears to even be a "crude" mold as it is oversized to the bore and has a casting lead funnel hole on the top. The set that appears to be for casting lead is the far left assembly in the top picture and the 4th picture down. Note the heat discoloration on the cylinder and discoloration of the shaft. I cleaned lots of lead residue out of it and that sure looks like a pour funnel on the top. But talk about a PITA system to cast a bullet with!!!! Thanks for any info.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae29/awb1102/IMG_0252.jpg (http://s954.photobucket.com/user/awb1102/media/IMG_0252.jpg.html)

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae29/awb1102/Unknown.jpg (http://s954.photobucket.com/user/awb1102/media/Unknown.jpg.html)

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae29/awb1102/SizingDie.jpg (http://s954.photobucket.com/user/awb1102/media/SizingDie.jpg.html)

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae29/awb1102/Mold.jpg (http://s954.photobucket.com/user/awb1102/media/Mold.jpg.html)

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae29/awb1102/FormingDie.jpg (http://s954.photobucket.com/user/awb1102/media/FormingDie.jpg.html)

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae29/awb1102/IMG_0254.jpg (http://s954.photobucket.com/user/awb1102/media/IMG_0254.jpg.html)

[nhrifle]

I could be wrong but that looks like the equipment to hammer swage boolits.

[jonboyb]

I guess I had always assumed these were for a press and somebody had used a hammer on them, I never thought they could have been purpose built to hammer swage. Honestly, didn't know hammer swaging was a real technique. Quick Google search shows hammer swaging pure lead, slick sided bullets like I need is common.

Now regarding that one piece that looks to have a casting funnel on it, you think that might be used to cast a starting blank or am I totally off that it's even a mold?


Thanks.

[Bullshop]

A .439" would be about right to patch up to about bore diameter for muzzle loading in a 45 caliber rifle.