Swaging Dies in 375 HH for an RCBS Reoading Press

[carpediem]

:-D Greetings from the GReat White north:

I would like to try swaging some bullets for my 375HH bolt action rifle.  Ideally I would like to create a jacketed round but would settle for the copper cup with the dimple.

Does anyone make a set of swaging dies that would work on an RCBS type reloading press?

Kindest regards,

[Donna]

Hello,

Yes, both Dave Corbin at http://www.corbins.com/ and Richard Corbin at http://www.rceco.com/ make bullet dies for the stronger reloading presses like the RCBS Rock Chucker. If you are thinking about a swaging press, before you do make a decision on the S-press by Dave Corbin, look hard at the Walnut Hill Press by Richard Corbin. The Walnut Hill press is the one I would go with now, but if you want a large hand swaging press than go with the CSP-2 Mega-Mite by Dave Corbin. Yes, they are brothers and in the same line of work but they both have their own shop. If you’re interested in going Hydraulics look at both carefully and pick the one that will suite your needs the best.

Donna :wink:

[talon]

Notice that Donna didn't mention any "Reloading" presses. That's because even the strongest RCBS presses can't adequately handle the pressures needed to swage jacketed bullets over about 30 caliber. For pure lead only bullets, in some designs, you can get by with a common "reloading", but using wheelweights or alloy #2 you'll have problems with the cavity filling out in the .40cal+ catigory. Thought this should be mentioned to someone new thinking about swaging. The presses Donna did mention will double as single stage reloading presses, but are somewhat stronger than even the RCBS Big Max.

[carpediem]

:-D Thanks for the info folks:

I will check out the web sites and see what the brothers have to offer.

I was reading another topic further down the list that suggested one can use 380 brass for the jacket of a 375 HH round.  Can one use pistol brass for the jacket of a bullet? What about accuracy and trajectory?

What would happen if you filled the 380 case with sand, (to take the place of the powder), and seated a 9MM bullet down hard on the sand?

Since 9mm brass is almost identical, (except for the length), to 380 brass, can one use 9mm brass as a jacket for the 375 HH?

Kindest regards,

[talon]

There have been  several writtings about using .380 auto pistol cases for .375 rifle bullet jackets, and no negitive comments about accuracy was noted. They will make slightly less heavy bullets though, especially in closed tip design, and the cases have to be annealed.  the 9mm parabellum is a few thousands to large in diameter to fit a .375 core seating die, and would therefore have to be sent thru a reducer die. Sand: this is a bane to swagers... it CUTS the interior surface of your dies. Get a grain or two on a core or jacket before swaging it and you are asking for serious extraction problems and high repare costs. But to the question: a sand loaded .380 case with a seated bullet being used as a .375 bullet itself. I suppose it's possible, if you like sandy venison. It would work on the range OK, I suppose, but for a plinker load, just fill the case with a lead core and swage a nose on it at whatever reasonable weight you want. I've found that if you swage, the cost difference in making a plinker bullet and one to use on game (or self protection) is the same, especially if your time is worth anything.