"Swagging" (draw) pistol brass

[Camba]

I would like to know if pistol cases can be made with a swagging press (i.e. .357 mag, 9mm-P, or 44 mag cases) and what would be the easiest.  If not, then what other equipment can do that?

Other question I have is:  With how much of a minimum investment (using hand press type-not hydraulic) do I need to swagg .357 Mag, 158gr, Soft Point jacketted bullets?  Thanks for the info.

Camba

[Swageall]

xxx

[talon]

On the 1st question: cartridge cases are made with swaging presses in almost the same way jackets are made. I'm not sure how the head is swaged or milled except for the simple rim type, like a .38 Special... it is swaged fabricating the  rim, primer cup and hole, and alpha-numerics, probably in a single operation. For all practical purposes this swaging is done on high speed multi-stage automatically operated powered presses. For more complicated heads, such as rebated or belted, perhaps a lathe is needed to finish the case off.

  Other items that will add costs to a simple manual swaging operation:
-lead wire and wire cutter or core mold and lead pot, or purchaced cores.
-calipers
-scales
-lubercating material ( for swaging the bullet as well as greasing any all lead bullets)
-jackets
-books on the bullet Swaging art/science.
  (( the price level and range on the above is large, especially if you don't already reload.))

[iiranger]

#1). I read you asking about making "pistol brass" as in cases? At home? Maybe but... This is a many step process. One of the load manuals had the steps outline with pictures. You start with a sheet of high quality brass about 1/2 inch thick and punch out coins.

If you are talking about a hand operated press, my guess is NO. Not enough power. Hydraullic? What is your home like? A work shop?

Look, there is a man who makes and sells the equipment of this sort. On his web site there are books he has written you can read/download free (no pictures). And he takes questions by email. I would start there. [corbins.com or swage.com or bulletswage.com --all his; Mr. Dave Corbin.]

#2). bullets! No problem. YES!. In fact, it is possible to use fired cases as bullet jackets. Or just squeeze the bullet out of lead alone. This is done all the time around the world by hand, except the largest bullets (African game or .50 Browning). The hydraullic press mentioned above would permit this easily and for long periods of production.

Again, I refer you to Mr. Corbin's books and price list. Well made goods at a fair price and they do the work.

If you have a heavy reloading press, CH [ch4d.com] makes a set of dies for the simple, short, pistol style .358 solid nose or hollow poiint for around $120 plus shipping. They also make dies for pure lead bullets. And often have the supplies in stock too. Lead wire. Etc. You will need to see what your needs dictate and budget permits. But pistol cases? I doubt. Sorry. luck PS Often this kind of tooling is available on Ebay for reasonable prices.

Mr. Corbin has a brother in the business too. Rceco.com (Richard). Never hurts to look there too.

[Camba]

I am basically checking what do I need to do to prepare for when I am ready for retirement.  I would like to have a very small bullet business to support my shooting sport mainly and ocasionally to sell some to interested parties.  Of course, I would like to start now to be "in-training" until retirement.  I was hoping that there was a press and dies for 9mmP brass or for 357 mag brass. (this is for a place where ammunition is not readily available and reloading components are rare).  I have already started by casting bullets but your velocity is limited without jacketed bullets.  Let's say I would like to start with the 357 mag bullet swaging.  What would be a good starting kit to swag jacketed bullets and make the core, the jacket with the same press plus dies.  What will I need to start with that?

Camba

[talon]

You can cast and/or swage bullets to use yourself, or to GIVE to friends, but you will need a Type 6 FFL to sell any bullets.
   In your situation, forget about making cartridge cases.
   If you will settle for a bullet with 1/2 or 2/3rds jacket, get a CH bullet die set for about $100 ( see CH/4D web page). A bullet die set to make FMJ, or Open Tip bullets, the cost will be about 4 times CH's price. Cast your cores using a Corbins 4-cell mold ( See D R Corbin web page). For other details see earlier parts of this thread.

[WILDCATT]

while it is possible to make pistol brass on small scale do you think you could compete with the big companies?you need special brass.you need lab to check that the brass is right.you need costly machines.you need costly insurance.and finaly what would the benifit be?could you justify $100,000 or more??you can make cartridge cases on a lath,but its slow process and you would have to charge much money.Corbin makes presses to swage lead bullets not cartridge cases.a no of the big bullet  makers started in by making bullets for friends and branched out.