0.458 Caliber 45-70 or Socom Swaged Jacketed Bullets

[KAYDADOG]

As promised about fourteen months ago to post the finished bullet results, I finally received my Corbin H-Style 0.458 caliber die set. I'll be using them in my Uberti 45-70 but believe they are the same bullet the Socom rifle uses. After checking the Corbin website with the new owners, the standard H-Style punches went up 40%, $50 to now $70. Die sets have also gone up in price. Luckily this will probably be the last set I'll need.

I wanted to make multiple sample lots from 300/gr bullets to 400/gr bullets. Copper jackets and 40/S&W cases would be used to see how things turn out. Using copper jackets, the bullets probably look as good as a factory bullet. I had several thousand from the RCE days so the cost per jacket was probably around $0.07/each. The bullets using 40/S&W cases for jackets are very comparable at $0.04/each and will probably shoot about the same. I'll be testing them out in the local indoor range this year and at the 200/yard range next spring.

Here are all the results with a total of 465 made. The labels should explain the details.
These probably only took about five hours to make. I previously swaged all the various core weights after the die order was placed. Sorted the 40/S&W cases for the same head stamp. Even doing that the cases could vary several grains. The bullets using copper jackets are all probably within a half grain. I don't believe a several grain variation will make a difference with a 350/gr or 400/gr bullet. If I were making rifle bullets like a .308 I would make sure the weight would not deviate more than one or two tenths of a grain.

Thank you for all the past comments and replies.

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[M-Tecs]

Thanks for posting.

[cwtebay]

Pretty incredible results! Good work!

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[Sasquatch-1]

Have you considered 10 mm cases if you want a heavier longer bullet?

BTW, those are some nice looking bullets.

[KAYDADOG]

I haven't considered using 10mm cases only because I use the 40/S&W cases for 44/cal, 45/ACP and now 45-70. I may have some from range pickups and would make some samples if I ever have the time. I had the die set made with a 1/E profile with a 0.250" Meplat, so it would be safely loaded in a lever action rifle. Especially with the 40/S&W cases the nose profile is 100% above the case mouth with a 400/gr bullet. A longer jacket should just start up the profile making a good-looking bullet. The cannelure needed to be raised as the bullet weight goes up. I had to make sure they would be able to be loaded at the cannelure grove keeping the cartridge OAL under the 2.550" limit.

These were just initial samples to see what was possible to successfully make. Using the copper jacket to make a 300/gr bullet just had enough lead above the jacket for it to be made. Otherwise, I would have had to use a shorter 0.550" long jacket or invest in a new punch to core seat the lead inside the jacket.
I didn't get a chance to make some 450/gr bullets and that would be the next goal.

Thank You for your comments.

[Intel6]

Very nice! Those bullets look great.

Jacketed bullets for my .458 SOCOM, 45-70 and my .460 Weatherby Mag were the reason I started swaging years ago. I was interested in using fired cases as jackets since I have lots of brass around to use. I use .40 cases since they are easy to use but mostly use .45 ACP cases which need to be annealed and reduced in diameter before use making more work. The other thing I have done is cut down berdan primed 7.62x51/.308 cases to make bullets with longer jackets. These also need to be reduced down like the .45 ACP cases. Being able to add cannelures to the bullets made it easier for them to be used in the different cartridges. I put a lower cannelure for loading in the SOCOM and add one higher up for the 45-70.

This is a 255 gr. JHP made from a .40 case. I actually started sizing these down to .454" and shooting them in my .45 Auto Rimm/Colt revolvers as it is a bit light for the SOCOM.

319824


This is a 300 gr. JHP made from a .45 ACP case and is one of my standard SOCOM bullets

319825


This is a 405 gr. JHP made form a cut down 7.62x51 case. I wanted to use a longer jacket for easy feeding in the AR15 when shooting in the .458 SOCOM.

319826

A few recovered 300's from the SOCOM, not much left after shooting steel plates.

319827

Here are a few bullets primarily made for the 45-70 but I put both cannelures on them in case I wanted to load them in the SOCOM.

The bullets across the front L to R:

Speer .458" 405 SP
405 gr. Marlin "M" bullet from an LBT mould
405 gr. soft point dual cannelure
350 gr. JHP DC
300 gr. JHP DC

319828

[Sasquatch-1]

For 44 mag and 45 acp I have used 40 S&W, 10 MM and 357 Sig. The Sig I trim to just where the bottle neck begins. I use a system where I use a tubing cutter, a lee three jaw chuck and a drill to trim the 40's and the 10's. Makes just the right length for a good soft point.

[rockrat]

I don't think I have seen a 40 s&w case at our range in quite awhile. Good looking bullets

[KAYDADOG]

Sasquatch-1, I looked into your suggestion of using 10/mm cases for jackets. I didn't realize they are about 0.140" longer than a 40/S&W case.
I would definitely use them for the heavier bullets. It would finish the nose of the bullet off even better.
The problem now is trying to find at least 1000 once fired brass 10/mm cases at a reasonable price.
Most of the online sites are around $0.15 per case which is way too high. May have found one site for $0.10 each plus shipping.

Just surprised I haven't got any offers from the Forum WTB site.
I know 10/mm isn't too popular.

[Sasquatch-1]

Sasquatch-1, I looked into your suggestion of using 10/mm cases for jackets. I didn't realize they are about 0.140" longer than a 40/S&W case.
I would definitely use them for the heavier bullets. It would finish the nose of the bullet off even better.
The problem now is trying to find at least 1000 once fired brass 10/mm cases at a reasonable price.
Most of the online sites are around $0.15 per case which is way too high. May have found one site for $0.10 each plus shipping.

Just surprised I haven't got any offers from the Forum WTB site.
I know 10/mm isn't too popular.

I belong to a private club with outdoor ranges. Those shooters who have truckloads of money tend to leave their brass on the ground. Back when I was able to bend over and pick up the empties, I would often find 10's mixed in with the 9's and 40's and the occasional 357 sig.

[SSG_Reloader]

The 44 cal copper jackets bump up to .458 easy enough? Good to know!

[Dutchninja]

Amazing stuff, good post!

[Sig556r]

Thanks for sharing…

[Huvius]

I’ve been very happy visiting the local recycling center and rummaging through their brass bin.
Think the last time they charged $2.00 a pound to purchase so that’s about 2 cents each for 40S&W. Takes a little time though but a bonus is all the other brass you find - all of my black powder 45LC cases I use I got at the recycler.

[rolltide999]

Kaydadog,
Great Job and great looking bullets. I make 458 bullets for 458 Lott, 458 WM, and 45-70. I also make some 454 and 452 stuff for handguns. I find those big meplat bullets work great for rifles and handguns. I make jackets from copper tube and .308 brass for the rifle bullets and from 40sw brass for the handguns, like you and Intel6. Great looking work guys.

[phidelt208]

Kaydadog,
Great Job and great looking bullets. I make 458 bullets for 458 Lott, 458 WM, and 45-70. I also make some 454 and 452 stuff for handguns. I find those big meplat bullets work great for rifles and handguns. I make jackets from copper tube and .308 brass for the rifle bullets and from 40sw brass for the handguns, like you and Intel6. Great looking work guys.

I would love to see your process for making 45-70 bullets .458
Maybe some photos of each step.

[KAYDADOG]

Photos of the finished bullets is all that I will post or have the time for right now. The process is pretty much the same as making any caliber jacketed bullet.
I use a hydraulic press which achieves the best repeatable quality finished product. For a 1000-piece lot I couldn't see myself doing 3-4 thousand cycles by hand.
Making the large caliber bullets takes quite a bit of pressure to core seat the lead in the jackets for them to fully expand. I don't think you would want to do a 1000 piece lot for this operation. Considered making or buying a swaging press, not a loading press when I first decided to get this involved in swaging bullets. Since I had the background in machining, hydraulics, PLC programming and design decided to spend the time to build my own fully automated four post hydraulic press. It was the best decision I made going into this hobby. The money saved probably paid for the 5-6 Corbin H-Type die sets over the years.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

[rolltide999]

I would love to see your process for making 45-70 bullets .458
Maybe some photos of each step.

Actually, a guy on youtube has made a great detailed series of videos on the entire process. He is making 223 bullets using 22lr for jackets, but the process is exactly the same for any caliber. The only thing that changes is the bullet shape, diameter and jacket type used with each different die set. The die set in the video is using a Dave Corbin hand press. I use a very similar arrangement with a Richard Corbin hand press for making my 458 caliber bullets for 45-70/458 wm/458 lott.

See video series here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPx0TGMCqAs&list=PLkawBN9wSjK9ehh5qLCqtInhNzFV--mFV

You can see Richard Corbin die sets for 458 rifle bullets (in stock) at this page.

https://www.rceco.com/dies-340-to-730/

[Brassmonkey]

Good use for berdan 7.62x51