odies dad
03-04-2014, 11:57 PM
Went to an auction last weekend and scored a 3 die set of Lachmiller swage dies in 38, 44, and 45 cal.
Got a couple each partial boxes of 38 and 45 half jackets also. Also got most of a box of .30" lead wires about a foot long and a cutter.
Got a chance to try them out.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1413883/2795971/408919528.jpg
This is what the swage dies look like. This is the 45 die, but they all look the same except for the punch and the bore diameters.
The punch fits on the appropriate shell holder
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1413883/23511305/408919709.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1413883/2795971/408919522.jpg
This is the component and what they turn into.
Left side is the 45 and the right is 38.
Just cut the lead core to length, set in the half jacket and run in the swage. The half jacket goes in the top and the punch forms the nose. Whack the rod at the top to eject the finished bullet.
Makes 150gr 38’s and 200gr 45’s.
Lachmiller was bought out by RCBS a while ago. I found an ad for these dies from 1960. They only made these 3 sizes and cost $15 each. I got all three for not much more with the jackets.
I made a couple full jacketed 45's using annealed 40 S&W brass and a 40 cast bullet, but I need to refine my technique some for consistancy.
Got a couple each partial boxes of 38 and 45 half jackets also. Also got most of a box of .30" lead wires about a foot long and a cutter.
Got a chance to try them out.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1413883/2795971/408919528.jpg
This is what the swage dies look like. This is the 45 die, but they all look the same except for the punch and the bore diameters.
The punch fits on the appropriate shell holder
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1413883/23511305/408919709.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1413883/2795971/408919522.jpg
This is the component and what they turn into.
Left side is the 45 and the right is 38.
Just cut the lead core to length, set in the half jacket and run in the swage. The half jacket goes in the top and the punch forms the nose. Whack the rod at the top to eject the finished bullet.
Makes 150gr 38’s and 200gr 45’s.
Lachmiller was bought out by RCBS a while ago. I found an ad for these dies from 1960. They only made these 3 sizes and cost $15 each. I got all three for not much more with the jackets.
I made a couple full jacketed 45's using annealed 40 S&W brass and a 40 cast bullet, but I need to refine my technique some for consistancy.