How hard?

[Chris C]

I'm familiar with the process of swaging.................but just familiar. How hard is the lead of a swaged bullet?

[ronaldod]

I prefer dead soft lead. As it is better for the lifetime of the dies.

[Chris C]

What, then, would be the highest BHN one would consider swaging?

[Reload3006]

its not really a question of BHN it is more what the lead is alloyed with. Ductility is of major concern to swagers. I prefer pure lead but sometimes want or need a harder boolit. I have used harder alloys up to 12 to 15 BNH very hard to swage but it works. Hard on your arm and dies I think arsnic that is in wheel weights really keeps the ductility down and even softer lead is while not impossible to swage a lot more difficult.

[Cane_man]

hardest i have used is 11 BHN for .224 and it worked fine

[Chris C]

Okay. Thanks. That's all the info I needed. Appreciate the quick comments.

[mold maker]

The hardest I've used was range lead from mostly FMJ. Never over 12 BHN. It really gave the arm, and even the bench, a workout.

[Chris C]

Needless to say, since I shoot 19+ BHN bullets, I won't be delving into the hobby of "squishin" my own. I didn't know and just had to ask. Thanks for the comments.

[Alex_4x4]

How hard is the lead of a swaged bullet?

And what device it is possible to measure?

The price of the device should not be equaled to the price of an ocean yacht.

[JakeBlanton]

I've been curious how much pressure (psi) it takes to swage a bullet. I've heard that it is around 80,000 psi.

[R.Ph. 380]

I've been curious how much pressure (psi) it takes to swage a bullet. I've heard that it is around 80,000 psi.

Depends in the lead, size, leverage,die and press. Too many variables for a simple answer

Bill

[williamwaco]

I have swagged .357 HPs from wheel weights BNH 12.

Works fine.

That said: softer is better.