Reloading EverythingLee PrecisionWidenersTitan Reloading
RotoMetals2MidSouth Shooters SupplyInline FabricationLoad Data
Repackbox
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: can I swage with this press

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    South Dakota
    Posts
    199

    can I swage with this press

    Is this press robust enough to use in swaging bullets? I plan on swaging 44mag and 223 from 22lr. I would really like to break in to this type of bullet construction and have been reading quite a bit about it. I cant afford a nice Corbin press and the sweet set-up so I am trying to get going on some swaging projects with what I have.
    Mike

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    244
    I have used these presses - it is identical to those marketed by Herters years ago. Very solid. I have been with fellow reloaders who did swage half jacket pistol bullets with them. Not sure I ever personally saw rifle jacketed bullets swaged on a C press.

    I am wanting get into making 224 bullets from .22 rf cases. I'm told those will take more leverage and rigidity. The big problem I am finding is simply getting my hands on dies.

    Myself... I do have a Corbin S press, BUT I keep my old Super C Model 3 for regular reloading - more work with less stroke.
    Last edited by BwBrown; 11-16-2010 at 01:11 AM.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master jameslovesjammie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Plentywood
    Posts
    850
    Looks identical to my Grandpa's Herters.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    3,624
    Not the best, an "O" frame is better. I think BT Sniper has busted a few of those.

  5. #5
    Moderator Emeritus


    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Land of 10,000 Lakes
    Posts
    15,832
    First, When using a reloading press for swaging, you are limited to swage dies that are threaded the same as a reloading die. I am not aware of any commercially available for 22LR to .224
    I know many members have made there own.

    regarding the press, I think the Frame is strong enough.
    I've owned 2 Herters and 1 RF Wells presses like yours.
    I think you won't have near enough mechanical advantage with this design for most swagging work...BUT, copper Half jackets with soft lead cores would be no problem.
    Good luck finding economically priced half jackets !

    Another kink you will run into is the ram, those either need a threaded shell holder/base punch or a notched one...Doesn't really matter which yours takes, either way, you will need to have custom made Base punches or you'll need to modify the Ram or replace it with a custom made one.

    If you're a Machinist or an aspiring Machinist with access to equipment, all this is not big deal. But then I'd suspect you could just build a swaging press too and put that "C" press into storage
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  6. #6
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    3,624
    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    First, When using a reloading press for swaging, you are limited to swage dies that are threaded the same as a reloading die. I am not aware of any commercially available for 22LR to .224
    I know many members have made there own.
    Dave Corbin makes 7/8-14'' reloading press dies for the 22LR to 223, I have a set. I believe other die makers like Richard Corbin and Larry Blackmon do also.

  7. #7
    Moderator Emeritus


    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Land of 10,000 Lakes
    Posts
    15,832
    oh...Good to know
    Jon
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  8. #8
    Moderator



    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Oregon Coast
    Posts
    10,248
    I have a Corbin .357 die that is threaded for 7/8x14, plus several C-H dies, all of which are intended to be used on loading presses.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred

  9. #9
    Banned
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    ARIZONA!
    Posts
    587
    Yes, it will. I used one of those for doing 10mm with a BTsniper dieset. Add 6'' to the handle, and go to town.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    148
    I have a Corbin press that uses the 7/8 -14 dies. I used it to swage .577 Enfield Minies. What I found is that while the Corbin press had enough "leverage" to swage the big bullets out of soft lead, the die did not have enough "meat" to survive long term.

    HAVE YOU EVER HAD A DIE CRACK WHEN YOU ARE SWAGING?

    IT SOUNDS LIKE A RIFLE SHOT!

    (Even more FUN-parts of the die fly in miscellaneous directions. One piece of that die that cracked ALMOST punched through the tin roof of my shed!) Fortunately, the shrapnel from that die missed me!

    Needless to say, that die had to be scrapped.

    Regardless, I would recommend AGAINST using a "C" frame press for swaging. It is best to use an "O" frame if for nothing else because a "C" frame press can be "sprung" by the application of too much force (as can happen when you are swaging!)

    Keep in mind when you are swaging lead-that die has some very high pressures built up in it!

  11. #11
    Boolit Master cheese1566's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Black Hills, South Dakota
    Posts
    1,786
    I was wondering the same thing too. I have the same press and was hanging on to it for the same potential.
    Unless a RockChucker comes my way.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check