kawalekm
04-15-2008, 11:47 AM
Since my "40S&W case to 44Mag bullet" project was so successful, I've started looking at what other cases could be used to make bullet jackets. Earlier I posted a suggestion about using a .223 sizing die for making .357 jackets out of 380Auto cases. I've purchased a Lee RGB die set and started experimenting. My original idea was to drill a .354" hole through the top of the die and push the cases through the die.
Well, the die sort of laughed at my drill bit, and I decided to try a second idea. I drove the case up into the die body (heavily lubed), and then drove the case back out with a steel rod going through the threaded decapping pin hole.
That works! I'm able to reduce the size of the case as much as .352", but driving the case back out with a rod and mallet results in some jacket deformation. If I want to do it that way I may want to rig up an automatic ejector as described by Swagerman in his earlier post.
I'm still inclined to make it a push through die for maximum output, but drilling through hardened steel presents a problem. I can think of a couple of alternatives to finish it. First, I could anneal the top of the die with a torch to soften the steel enough for a regular drill bit. I would try this with most of the die immersed in water to localize heat close to where I'm drilling. Alternatively, I could purchase a carbide (or whatever) bit that's hard enough to cut through 50 Rockwell hardness steel. EDM is a third possibility. One big consideration though is cost. I don't want to spend 50$ drilling a hole in a 12$ die. Suggestions please!
Michael
Well, the die sort of laughed at my drill bit, and I decided to try a second idea. I drove the case up into the die body (heavily lubed), and then drove the case back out with a steel rod going through the threaded decapping pin hole.
That works! I'm able to reduce the size of the case as much as .352", but driving the case back out with a rod and mallet results in some jacket deformation. If I want to do it that way I may want to rig up an automatic ejector as described by Swagerman in his earlier post.
I'm still inclined to make it a push through die for maximum output, but drilling through hardened steel presents a problem. I can think of a couple of alternatives to finish it. First, I could anneal the top of the die with a torch to soften the steel enough for a regular drill bit. I would try this with most of the die immersed in water to localize heat close to where I'm drilling. Alternatively, I could purchase a carbide (or whatever) bit that's hard enough to cut through 50 Rockwell hardness steel. EDM is a third possibility. One big consideration though is cost. I don't want to spend 50$ drilling a hole in a 12$ die. Suggestions please!
Michael