Before Richard retired, I had asked him to make a 50bmg set at some point in the future. He never promised to do it or anything, but I was hoping he would eventually make them. When he retired, I figured that was not going to happen. To my surprise and very great pleasure, he recently contacted me to let me know he had a set ready that exceeded my fondest expectations. He actually started them a few years ago, but never told me. These dies are for his hydraulic presses or the Corbins hydraulic press because they are too tall for the WH press. This die set will make copper tubing jackets 1.5", 1.75" or 1.875" long for the 50bmg. It will make flat base or BT .510 bullets 10S ogive. He even included a jacket reducing die to make .500 jackets the same length
Annealed (oxidized) jackets with core seated on left. Cleaned jacket, and bullet on right.
50bmg seated cores.jpg
3 die swage set, with jacket maker dies and punches, and BT1 dies and punches. 700gr flat base bullet, 700gr RBT bullet
50bmg die set.jpg
Richard's work is always like mechanical art. All bearing surfaces are polished like mirrors. All non-bearing surfaces have consistent finish. I am honored beyond words to have this die set since it may be one of the last 50bmg sets he makes. For me personally, this insures that I can make my own 50bmg jackets and bullets and so can my children and grandchildren. I am very happy about that.
Getting 50bmg stuff made is nearly always a custom request because the diameter and length of the dies, punches, presses, and jackets needed are nearly at the limit of what can be done on hand presses, and really gets into the realm of commercial or semi-commercial hydraulic presses, like this die set. I can use a bullet with the RBT made on one end, and put a flat base on the other, and have a broad meplat flat point for other .510 big bores like the 500 A-Square, 500 Jeffery, or the 500 nitro express African hunting cartridges.
Thanks Richard
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