Is this possible?

Boolit Mold Join DateSep 2010Locationwestern ncPosts17

First thing is I have no experience with swaging. Second, If this is a stupid idea, no harm, no foul. I wonder if I could cut steel cores for .224 bullets with a precision micro cut off saw. Steel wire is available in almost unlimited sizes and I think if I were to cut a steel core the right diameter I could actually use it for a de riming punch that stayed in the case. See what I mean? put the steel core in the 22 lr case and push it through a Lee .224 sizer die. The steel core would then be seated and the case de rimmed. Then a fellow could run the jacket/ core through a point former and be done.

A couple of problems I see are "spring back" I know sometimes with copper/ brass etc you have to size a tad smaller because of spring back.

Some are probably wondering why a steel core. Several reasons. first, it would be cheaper and easier. As I say, steel is available in almost infinite wire size. Second, it would get higher velocity, and penetrate better. I wonder if a pellet of lead could be inserted in the nose before forming? Very similar to a Fail Safe then. The nose would expand, and the steel core would penetrate like nobody's business. If good bullets can be made this way it would be much faster and cheaper, skipping several steps. Lastly, it would give the .223 some penetrating ability. I know someone will bring up the "armor piercing " boogey man, but 62 grain green tips have a steel core. No problem buying them. Or at least their wasn't until the latest ammo scare.

I don't know if I would use it in the deriming step. I would add it on the core seating step. Finding a steel core that is just undersize and seating a small piece of lead on top to act as packing around the core and form a tip would be my thought. Even some small lead shot under the core and on top might work. Accurate? Maybe, maybe not but worth a try. Be careful when you try to swage something with steel in it. Dies are expensive. Good luck.

I have tried to open up a 50 cal bullet and inside were a real hard steel core, up front is like a powdered metal and at the base were lead.

I don't know what's your purpose but damaging a PF die is not worth it for me! Maybe you just try the bonded core idea, if it will helps.

Boolit Master Join DateMar 2011LocationWoods Cross UTPosts672

The whole point to bullet making is having it step up in diameter with every step of the process. Spring back is what the copper wants to do and the lead wants to just stay the shape you make it. Sure the steel wants to stay the same as well.

What would you do in the point up process? The steel core is not going to give to the steel die. The first thing that is going to give is the copper or brass jacket. You will more than likely cut through that then ding up the mirror finish in the pointing process creating a spot that will prevent ejection. When you do the pointing process the lead is where the ogive is. Replace that with steel....? How do you now get the steel core to curve with the ogive?

I would assume then the die would split due to its weakness which would be a hole that goes all the way through it.

The whole reason we use lead is because it is the best material to make a core out of. Sure you can use something else but it has to be softer than the dies you are using. Anything will wear on a steel dies if you use it long enough. Run water through one for a year straight and it will shape it.

Why would you want to ruin a die that cost at least 200 dollars to save on material cost?

Boolit Master Join DateJun 2008LocationNorteast Alberta, CanadaPosts254

Let's go for the short answer.

Nope. Not gonna work no way, no how.

Do some reading about swaging and you will rapidly find that lead alloys harder than pure lead are problematic a core materials. Not gonna swage any steel in a point form die that will ever produce a useful bullet a second time!

Cheers
Trev

Nominally how is it used, the steel is coated with enough lead so that lead to keeps the bullet the desired size. There might be plastics the would work instead of the lead.

Or for the M1 carbine AP round a piece of T shot was used in the nose of the bullet for forming the tip/point. And a gliding metal base was used. These were lead free bullets.

Various ways to do it. I don't know if regular swage dies would work the best. But your moving in the correct general direction.

Last edited by perotter; Yesterday at 12:39 PM.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading
Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt"

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