Swaged Bullet Output?

[cmort666]

Can anyone who's swaged lead pistol bullets give me an idea of what your average output is?

I need information on the individual hobbyist type setups as well as the powered machines.

Thanks.

 

[Reloader Fred]

I've only hand swaged bullets in .38/.357 caliber, but it's slow and labor intensive. It's also not cheap, if you're going to swage jacketed bullets, since the jackets cost almost as much as cast bullets, and in some cases, more.

I've kept my swaging dies for changing the shape of cast bullets and to be able to use cast bullets that would normally be thrown back in the pot due to wrinkles, etc. I go ahead and size and lube them, then swage to another shape, which takes care of the wrinkles.

If you're considering getting into swaging handgun bullets, the dies are expensive and you need a good, stout press. A swaging press will normally run about $300+ for a single stage, and dies are around $130+ for a two die setup from C-H, which is the bare minimum you could do. Dies and presses from Corbon or RCE (Richard Corbon), will cost almost $1,000 in setup.

Unless you need a specific bullet that can't be acquired on the open market, then it's not cost affective to start swaging bullets for volume use, but then that's just my opinion.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[cmort666]

I've only hand swaged bullets in .38/.357 caliber, but it's slow and labor intensive. It's also not cheap, if you're going to swage jacketed bullets, since the jackets cost almost as much as cast bullets, and in some cases, more.

I've kept my swaging dies for changing the shape of cast bullets and to be able to use cast bullets that would normally be thrown back in the pot due to wrinkles, etc. I go ahead and size and lube them, then swage to another shape, which takes care of the wrinkles.

If you're considering getting into swaging handgun bullets, the dies are expensive and you need a good, stout press. A swaging press will normally run about $300+ for a single stage, and dies are around $130+ for a two die setup from C-H, which is the bare minimum you could do. Dies and presses from Corbon or RCE (Richard Corbon), will cost almost $1,000 in setup.

Unless you need a specific bullet that can't be acquired on the open market, then it's not cost affective to start swaging bullets for volume use, but then that's just my opinion.

Hope this helps.

Fred

No, I have no interest in jacketed bullets, just LSWCs.

This would be a commercial venture using one or more of the Corbin powered machines.

 

[Reloader Fred]

In that case, after swaging the bullet, you will need a way to lubricate it. That can either be tumble lube or rolling a cannelure into it and lubing the old fashion way, in a lubri-sizer. Even with tumble lube, the bullet bearing surfaces should be able to retain the lube as it travels down the barrel, which means either a cannelure, or serrating, similar to the Hornady swaged bullets.

For that simple of a bullet, it's much cheaper to cast them.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[primersp]

i have try to swage for 9mm & 357 with the corbin set that i have herited
it"s slow and the cost of the die is very hight
better result with cast
regards
ANDRE