.44 swage dies

[firefly1957]

I bet he does how much are they and what nose profiles?

[Dark Vaj]

It was a semi wad cutter type die and round nose, but someone has already bought it, could be made full lead, 3/4 jacketed or gas checks or 1/2 jacketed, it was 185 plus shipping

[rolltide999]

It was a semi wad cutter type die and round nose, but someone has already bought it, could be made full lead, 3/4 jacketed or gas checks or 1/2 jacketed, it was 185 plus shipping

Absolutely correct on all counts. Can also be made full jacket if you make a jacketed core (with 40SW brass and core seat punch from jacket maker die), run it through a dual diameter die (Lee sizing die custom made .009 under full diameter), then carefully adjust the lead bullet die to point form only to dual diameter mark on the jacketed core. Voila, a full jacket semi-wadcutter softpoint, or essentially a FMJ round nose semi-wadcutter. Lots of options with the addition of a few accessory dies.

$185 for 429 LB die set with SWC, RN, and HP punches
$105 for 40SW to 429 jacket maker with core seat punch
$50 for custom Lee sizing die set

But like Dark Vaj says, someone bought the 429 LB die that was in stock. You have to react fast if you see them on his site, or someone else will beat you to it.

[firefly1957]

I have made the parts to make .45 and .357 Bullets in reloading dies. I used .308 die for 45 and .223 Rem Die for .357 .

Back in the day people did complain of leading using the old Pacific half & 3/4 jacket swaged bullets I have found using coated cores cures that and the bullets do shoot well also.

[wilecoyote]

...I have made the parts to make... .357 Bullets in reloading dies.
...I used .223 Rem Die for .357 . .

... if you don’t mind perhaps could I learn something more about which/how done those parts ?
Thanks!

[firefly1957]

... if you don’t mind perhaps could I learn something more about which/how done those parts ?
Thanks!

I thought it would be easy to just find the articles on cast boolits about this but not so ? Or maybe my eyes and mind are not connected yet at 5 am!

Below is a list I copied from a post here to use this method you need a rod that fits your reloading press die and is snug in the proper size reloading die . "snugness" in die is not real critical with jacketed bullets as lead will not leak around the push rod from bullet base. then you need a ejector rod that pushed the bullet out . Depending on make of reloading die you may be using either the bullet seating or resizing die for a bottle neck cartridge your bullet will have the same taper and nose angle as a cartridge case . These are not high ballistic coefficient bullets but are pretty good pistol and close range rifle bullets . You seat the core in the bullet case or Jacket then push it into die stopping at the case neck ,then you tap the bullet out from the top after lowering reloading press ram . There is a good description in this forum if you can find it , I do not have any pictures to show or link for you .

When doing this LUBING IS A MUST! Otherwise you will never eject the bullet!

This is the list from another member:
something i think you all would find interesting. this is a project i've been working on for years, and have come to the conclusion that the information would be best served to be Shared with everyone.

reloading dies can be converted to point forming dies very easily. with this, you only have to replace the de-capping assembly with an ejection assembly then instead of using a case holder, you would use a bottom punch. here is a list of what caliber reloading dies that can be used to become bullet swage dies.

45 ACP (.451)
280 remington (.441) 17-30
270 winchester (.441) 17-30
25-06 remington (.441) 17-30
**** 243 winchester (.454) 20 sizing die.

44 mag (.430)
257 roberts (.429) 20-45 lee (.431)
244 remington (.429) 26 lee (.431)

40 SW (.400)
**** 220 swift (.402) 21 lee (.406)
224 weatherby

38 Spl & 357 (.357) lee (.356)
6x47mm (.357) 23 lee(.358)
**** 222 remington (.357) 23
223 remington (.354) 23 sizing die (.351) seat (.358)
17 remington (.356) 23 lee(.358)

9mm (.355) lee (.356)
6x47mm (.357) 23
222 remington (.357) 23b
**** ;l7 remington (.356) 23
223 remington (.354) 23

380 acp (.355) lee (.356)
6x47mm (.357) 23
222 remington (.357) 23
17 remington (.356) 23
223 remington (.354) 23

the information above should be read like this for example
to make a 45 acp swage die you could use
280 rem die, a 270 win die, 25-06 rem die or a 243 win die.
for a 44 mag you could use a 257 roberts, or a 244 rem die.
for a 40 sw you could use a 220 swift or a 224 weatherby. and so on.

In my case I used a .308 Winchester die then was given to me for .45 acp bullets . The bullets had no jacket were formed much like the .44 bullets I started this tread with , a deep imprint of a T-40 bit was used then the bullet was point formed by being pushed into the .308 die. They were pretty good in the .45 acp Being powder coated they did not need lube .

For .357 bullets I used a old .223 Hornady Pacific die these chrome plated dies always gave me trouble and I replaced them in use with Lee dies ! I did lap the dies out a bit to get the exact .357" needed . Bullets could be half jacketed , powder coated or annealed 9mm cases . In my case I could NEVER get 9mm cases to expand in .357 magnum pistol in water even with pressed shot core the jacket held without opening a bit . I did get good expansion from 357-44 B&D barrel because of higher velocity .

I found T-30 tool bit makes good hollow point for .38 caliber bullets same way it is formed in flat nosed bullet then point formed in .223 die. I have also ran these bullets into sizer to make them .351" for use in the old .351 Winchester Self Load with good results .

***** Note to use 9mm cases in .357 Magnum you must size the cases down I found it takes two steps to get it done on my RCBS rockchucker press *****

[Lead pot]

I thought Richard Corbin retired and closed his doors.

[wilecoyote]

I thought it would be easy to just find the articles on cast boolits about this but not so ? Or maybe my eyes and mind are not connected yet at 5 am!..............................*****

Firefly1957, I'm probably much more disconnected, and not just at 5am,
therefore thanks for the huge amount of info !!!

[Dark Vaj]

I thought Richard Corbin retired and closed his doors.

He in fact did, but he said retirement was boring, so he opted to do some making and selling dies out of boredom, he won't however make custom dies.

[rolltide999]

I heard Richard's his brother Dave Corbin has just retired and sold off his business, Corbin Swaging. They may or may not stay in business very long. We will see. The take home message is that if you want Corbin swaging dies of any kind (Dave or Richard) you better get them now. When those 2 are gone, there will not be a lot of options left for swaging dies. BT Sniper makes good dies, but swaging on reloading presses is awkward at best, and his prices have gone through the roof. Really nobody else left. The Corbins have really carried the industry for decades.

[Dark Vaj]

I heard Richard's his brother Dave Corbin has just retired and sold off his business, Corbin Swaging. They may or may not stay in business very long. We will see. The take home message is that if you want Corbin swaging dies of any kind (Dave or Richard) you better get them now. When those 2 are gone, there will not be a lot of options left for swaging dies. BT Sniper makes good dies, but swaging on reloading presses is awkward at best, and his prices have gone through the roof. Really nobody else left. The Corbins have really carried the industry for decades.

Not too mention they’re getting old as well…though I heard of Larry Blackmon of Bullet Swaging Supply. I haven’t personally buy any from him. But I heard he’s just as good.

[rolltide999]

Blackmon's press is much smaller, but the linkage goes all the way to the top of the press, like RCE press. This is a superior design to all others. I forgot to mention Larry. Like Dark Vaj, I have never ordered from him, but he seems to make good stuff.

Firefly1957, thanks for the great info.

Just an update, Richard Corbin at rceco.com has more 44 mag lead bullet dies (430) back in stock. Get'm while they're hot. He also has 308, 312 (32acp), 357, 361 (38 S&W), 452 (45acp), 458 (45-70), 500, and 510 lead bullet die sets in stock, along with several other sets for jacketed bullets in various calibers.

[rbuck351]

I have an old swag-o-matic and made a set of dies for my 7.62 x 25 using 50 cal primer cups as a half jacket and a Lyman 258420 as a core. They come out as an 85gr swc. They work well in my tok and a CZ52.

[rolltide999]

RCE has 44 dies back in stock. It is .430 with 4 different bullet profiles both solid and HP. it is a pretty nice set for $295. I bought the previous set but bought this new one to get the extra point profiles. I will probably just sell the old SWC, RN set at some point in time since I have 2 44 sets now.

Anyway, if you want a nice 44 set, they are in stock now (.430). He also has sets in stock for 32acp (.312), 38/357 (.357), 45acp (.452) and 500 S&W (.500) all with 4 point profiles both solid and HP, except the .452 which only has 2 point profiles (SWC and RN). These dies make bullets consistent to within 1/2 grain or less bullet to bullet (much more consistent than casting), and with powder coating they won't lead the barrel. They can all be made with gas checks, half jackets, 3/4 jackets, or with an extra step and extra sizing die - full jacket.

[Meatpuppet]

If you are swaging up lead bullets, I have had a lot of success powdercoating the projectiles first and then swaging them to final size and shape.

For instance, a 200gr - .401 mold intended for 10MM swages up nicely for 44 magnum. A 250gr - 430 mold for 44 Mag swages up to 45 Long Colt. The powdercoating is suprisingly strong and has no problem with the swaging. I can get away with using some really soft lead using powdercoat.

At first I was using traditional molds with lube grooves and they worked just fine. I am slowly replacing them with smooth cavity molds by Accurate Molds that are intended for powdercoating (Gotta order them when the wife is not looking). By using molds for smaller calibers and then bumping them up, I figure I can recoup some of the investment by selling the molds if I ever get tired of doing it.

I went down this route because my casting skills are pretty lame and I did not want to deal with lubing projectiles.