Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Bullet Swaging

I realize that this is a casting forum, but was wondering if anyone here has had any experience with Corbin swaging equipment, and if it is difficult to do?

I was looking at a couple of their sets, specifically the one that can be used on a regular single stage reloading press to make .22 bullets out of .22 RF cases, and the one that will make LSWC's with a copper disc on the bottom for handgun bullets, also using a regular reloading press. Thanks.

I can offer no help Mike. There's no one near me who swags.

Sorry, me either. I know no one who swages.

Swaging equipment used to be prohibitively expensive when compared to casting. Never did it.

Try the cast bullit forum. [ castboolits. com]

Thanks guys. I saw that it was expensive, but being able to make .224 40-60 gr bullets from used .22 LR cases looks like it would pay for itself if you shoot enough. That, and you could be your own bullet manufacturer as long as you had lead and .22 cases.

I'll try the castboolits website.

How much does a swaging die cost these days? What if the shape of bullet you chose doesn't shoot? How much are you out for the die?

The one's at which I was looking were relatively expensive compared to molds and lead pots, but I was looking to use old .22 cases and cast the lead wire in molds that they sell. Here's the site where I was looking:

http://www.corbins.com

Check out http://www.ch4d.com/catalog/bullet there bullet forming dies are a bit cheaper and can be used in reloading presses like the RCBS Rock Chucker. Unfortunately I think they only do pistol calibers so it may not be much help.

Lots of bullet swaging how to video can be found here http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUFNu3E85j9MKRUv7RjJB1XA&feature=plcp

When I figured I'd have to dish out close to $1000, and put some value on my own labor I quickly lost interest in swaging.

To me swaging only makes economic sense if you are loading for an odball caliber or a big bore where bullets are $1 ea or more.

Let's say it's $1000 to get set up with equipment and materials, and for that same money you could buy 10,000 varmint nightmare bullets from midsouth. How many hours will it take you to crank out those 10,000 bullets, and will they even shoot as well as the cheapest bulk varmint bullets?

I know the $1000 I quoted is for their press, not using a reloading press, but a reloading press is really only suitable for 22 cal bullets. Going to larger dia bullets will require a more powerful press.

Thanks res45, I'll look into it.

I looked into this 30 or more years ago and it didn't make economic sense back then. Too much initial investment, too much extra work, you had to find jackets or make them, make your wire, cut it properly, etc. etc. and if you were really careful your finished product might be as good as the bulk bullets already on the market.

Casting cost you a cheap Lee pot or a really expensive $100 RCBS pot, a mold, any old scrap lead you could find and you were in business.

Back when Rock Chuck Bullet Swage* first got started and you couldn't find jacketed varmint bullets for love or money making them out of spent .22 cases was a viable alternative, but today we are sitting too pretty to do that unless someone wants to do it just to do it.




*and now the newbies know how RCBS got its name.

Swaging equipment for sale. Not cheap but you will not have to wait 18 months or longer .