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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
Making bullets
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<blockquote data-quote="Bullet bumper" data-source="post: 602788" data-attributes="member: 17844"><p>I make a lot of my own bullets mainly hunting and BR type bullets. However my 308 6 caliber ogive flat base hunting bullets shoot quite well at long range also.</p><p>You can make an accurate bullet at home the benchrest crowd do it all the time. Can you make a better bullet for long range than Sierra or Berger ? Well maybe not better but just as good is possible with the right gear and knowledge. Don't forget that the 1000 yard group record was broken with flat base bullets . So boat tails are not the be all and end all of accuracy . They may well shoot flatter but not always tighter . </p><p>You can save money making normal flat base bullets if you are smart and learn the bullet business . I bought 4000 short 6.5 mm pistol jackets for almost nothing as the were surplus from a friend of mine . I drew down those jackets to 6mmm 243 . Made an 81 grain Protected Point flat base bullet for my 243W. The only real cost was the lead cores which I molded from electrical cable scrap lead which is near pure lead and very soft in a Corbin gang mold. </p><p>In the end the 4000 bullets will cost about $50 and the first test groups are running well under 1 MOA . However the amount of physical work to make them is substantial in thousands of press pulls . </p><p>This is an example of what you can do when you have all the gear but the gear costs . However you can start small with some commercial jackets and core wire and just one press and a die set. </p><p>Generally when I use core wire and commercial jackets I can make an accurate flat base PP bullet for about half of what they cost to buy BR bullets but the saving is reduced when compared to cheap and second bullets but mine will be generally more accurate than seconds or very cheap bullets.</p><p>Also it is dead simple to make your own core bonded bullets that will perform exactly like a Woodleigh and even better than A Rem Core Lokt . </p><p>It does take some training and study to get the process right it took me a few years to work out how to do it but now I can knock up a batch of bullets without even thinking too much. I never had anyone to advise me as the internet was not around back then but I did have some good books to get me started. I think it is worth doing if you have more time than money . </p><p>I gave some of my 144 grain 308 bullets made on a CH jacket to a friend at the range who shoots silhouette , worst mistake I ever made , every time I see him he begs me for more and wants to pay top dollar. They must be just right for his gun . They shoot very well in mine also. However I am not interested in making them for others to shoot. </p><p>The best starting place is Corbins. Don't let the salesmen tell you that you can't make accurate bullets with tool steel dies that is just pure garbage. </p><p>A lot of potential swagers are scared off before they start because people say you need carbide dies worth thousands to start , pure BS .</p><p>Here is a picture of two 308 bullets I make they are just as precision as any factory bullet but have a lower BC due to larger meplat but that is good for expansion on soft skin game , the close up photo makes the meplat look bigger than it really is in comparison to the bullet itself , however they still shoot quite well.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bullet bumper, post: 602788, member: 17844"] I make a lot of my own bullets mainly hunting and BR type bullets. However my 308 6 caliber ogive flat base hunting bullets shoot quite well at long range also. You can make an accurate bullet at home the benchrest crowd do it all the time. Can you make a better bullet for long range than Sierra or Berger ? Well maybe not better but just as good is possible with the right gear and knowledge. Don't forget that the 1000 yard group record was broken with flat base bullets . So boat tails are not the be all and end all of accuracy . They may well shoot flatter but not always tighter . You can save money making normal flat base bullets if you are smart and learn the bullet business . I bought 4000 short 6.5 mm pistol jackets for almost nothing as the were surplus from a friend of mine . I drew down those jackets to 6mmm 243 . Made an 81 grain Protected Point flat base bullet for my 243W. The only real cost was the lead cores which I molded from electrical cable scrap lead which is near pure lead and very soft in a Corbin gang mold. In the end the 4000 bullets will cost about $50 and the first test groups are running well under 1 MOA . However the amount of physical work to make them is substantial in thousands of press pulls . This is an example of what you can do when you have all the gear but the gear costs . However you can start small with some commercial jackets and core wire and just one press and a die set. Generally when I use core wire and commercial jackets I can make an accurate flat base PP bullet for about half of what they cost to buy BR bullets but the saving is reduced when compared to cheap and second bullets but mine will be generally more accurate than seconds or very cheap bullets. Also it is dead simple to make your own core bonded bullets that will perform exactly like a Woodleigh and even better than A Rem Core Lokt . It does take some training and study to get the process right it took me a few years to work out how to do it but now I can knock up a batch of bullets without even thinking too much. I never had anyone to advise me as the internet was not around back then but I did have some good books to get me started. I think it is worth doing if you have more time than money . I gave some of my 144 grain 308 bullets made on a CH jacket to a friend at the range who shoots silhouette , worst mistake I ever made , every time I see him he begs me for more and wants to pay top dollar. They must be just right for his gun . They shoot very well in mine also. However I am not interested in making them for others to shoot. The best starting place is Corbins. Don't let the salesmen tell you that you can't make accurate bullets with tool steel dies that is just pure garbage. A lot of potential swagers are scared off before they start because people say you need carbide dies worth thousands to start , pure BS . Here is a picture of two 308 bullets I make they are just as precision as any factory bullet but have a lower BC due to larger meplat but that is good for expansion on soft skin game , the close up photo makes the meplat look bigger than it really is in comparison to the bullet itself , however they still shoot quite well. [/QUOTE]
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