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View Full Version : jacketed bullet swaging/drawing down



stef76
04-29-2023, 05:20 PM
Hi fellas, not a cast question but thought someone here might have an idea on the following. wondered if its possible to get a big game bullet to .429 cal. Plan is to use in a long throated 444 marlin on a bolt action I picked up which with the added COAL could probably run to similar power as a ruger no1. in 45-70. Would love a jacketed bullet to try. Hawk makes a 350 grain bullet in 444 but I cant get hold of them by phone or email.

Other options are .435 " 410 grain JSP bullets meant for the 425 westley richards and .423" 347 grain JSP bullets meant for the old 10.68mm.

Woodleigh makes both types in standard jacketed round nose softpoints. I either need to bump up the .423 bullet or reduce the .435 bullet to .429 or so.

I know one of the corbins made heavy swaging presses for bullet making at some point. Might be expensive but I could probably supply a few fellas these bullets with similar guns.

Thoughts, ridicule, exorcisms all welcome :)

garandsrus
04-29-2023, 05:43 PM
Probably easier to size down…

IllinoisCoyoteHunter
04-30-2023, 09:11 AM
I’ve bumped both .40 cal and .44 cal jacketed bullets up to .453 in my lead bullet swage dies quite easily on my swage press.

Sasquatch-1
04-30-2023, 09:17 AM
If you are talking about a .429 to .431 bullet, I have made heavy jacked bullets 350 grains plus using 10mm brass and Dave Corbin dies and "S" press. The 10 mm case allows a much longer bullet than the 40 S&W. I would say you can make a soft-point or hollow-point up to 350 grains using the 40 S&W.

If you are not familiar with swaging and you are thinking about getting into it, be prepared for sticker shock. It's expensive.

rolltide999
09-30-2023, 07:38 PM
It is a rather simple and inexpensive process to swage .435 to .429. Just buy a $25 .429 bullet sizing die and punch set from Lee and do it with you reloading press. If this requires too much effort on you reloading press, buy Richard Corbin's Sea Girt swaging press at $325. Done deal. I was discussing swaging bullets down with Richard Corbin a couple weeks ago and he says the absolute limit for swaging down in size is .005 for lead bullets and .010 for jacketed bullets. Beyond that deformation and eccentricity increase so much that useability and accuracy are suspect. From .435 to .429 is only .006 difference for jacketed bullets, so you should be good.

SSG_Reloader
10-01-2023, 10:52 AM
I actually have some .429 die sets out currently on my bench as we speak and am off all week and can play around and Swage some heavy ones if you want try some. I'll PM you.

I read that right that you're looking for some heavy bullets to try right?