Swaging some 44 mags and gas checks

[Daywalker]

After seeing what ammosmith has done with his 40's and gas checks to make a fully encapsulated hp's, I decided to try them with the 44's. I have had some great results with mine. I still need to tweak them.

I am using 35 cal gas checks. These cases are not annealed. Now what I am going to show you aren'the ones that had initally started making. But these definatly gave a new twist. These were by accident that I made these and I do know how to replicate it. Do not mind the cases as I have creased them but will work on not doing that in the future. These are nickled plated 40 brass one step swage. Cases are not trimmed. After I had ran these through the die, the ogive was made and the hp was formed. I then coverd the mounth with a 35 cal gas check cup up. Then ran it back through the swage die..... maybe it was cup down.. can't really describe it. I will post pictures of each step then you can see where I was going with this....

http://i47.tinypic.com/118lu7o.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/wqu0i8.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/15wi655.jpg

[blaser.306]

What weight do these "pills" end up at ?

[Daywalker]

These weighed in at 240 grains. I am going to post step by step pics in just a second...

[Daywalker]

Ok step by step pictures of this operation:

First using my secret santa gift, a lee universal expanding die (thanks again santa heheh) I flared the mouth just a bit, placed in the casted 40 cal boolit nose first into the case then ran it back into the expander die and seated the boolit making a core:
http://i46.tinypic.com/mijsat.jpg

Next step was to lube the cases then run them through the swage die to form the ogive and give it a hp:
http://i48.tinypic.com/6suntv.jpg

Then, taking the 35 caliber gas checks, I placed them over top the case mouth covering the HP:
http://i48.tinypic.com/5xl8jl.jpg

Then back to the swage die and ran it through once more to give it that final HP with a copper tip look:
http://i50.tinypic.com/ncdp4l.jpg

Now time to research load data and load em and go shootem. Eventually LOL….. These came out right at 240 grains!!! Yes!!! Still got to work on the wrinkles, but maybe minor at this stage. Best part!! I still have no idea what I am doing or talking about LMAO. So easy a caveman can do it!!!

[Edubya]

Daywalker, you've got to be a "REDNECK"! That's a pretty neat idea but I don't know why you would top it off with a .35 gascheck. I think that I would just fill the whole case with lead. That would probably give you a 300 grainer but you could cut the brass back and make a wad-cutter.

EW

[Daywalker]

Well, I have all these 35 cal gas check that I was using on another project. Making 45 acp shotshells. I was playing around with the gas check like another member did to see how it could be done. While playing around, I had a gas check fall from my arm and land next to one of the nickle bullets tat I had made. I picked it up and just kinda sat it on top the bullet for the heck of it and to move it out of the way while I was measureing where the cast boolit had stopped to trim the case. I looked at that bullet topped with that gas check, perfect fit and thought what the hey, ran it through the swage die and thats what I had made. I now have backed my hp punch out of the die some more and I have no wrinkles in the cases whatsoever now and they look perfect and smooth. I was wanting a 245 grain 44 mag bullet but I will be ok with the 240 grain. Not gonna complain about the weight that much from pretty much almost free home made bullets :)

[Daywalker]

For those who might be interested, I have a video uploading to youtube of my process making these. Hopefully, no guarantees, i will be able to shoot these through my Ruger Super Black Hawk come tomorrow at the range. Hoping to get some footage and will post pics. I won't be able to recover the bullets, but I am just shooting these to see how they do. I plan on using 9.5 grains of Unique to start off with... Once the video is uploaded and rendured, I will post the link to it here...

[Daywalker]

Ok here are my test rounds all loaded up. 9.5 grains of Unique. I will be shooting these out of my baby the Ruger Super Black Hawk 44 mag. I messed up 2 rounds but that just how things work on my end lol..

http://i48.tinypic.com/2vb31hx.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/o05x5g.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUUnOA74f9s

[BT Sniper]

Yep your on your way now. Very interesting looking bullet. Lots of fun trying out differnet ways a bullet can come together isn't it. Anything is possible I tell everyone. You use what you have avialable and next thing you know you find somthing that works. Nice job.

BT

[Daywalker]

Thanks BT, I appretiate the kind words. It is def. getting sweeter. Thanks for your help.