This section is for reloading and ammunition only, all loads found in here are used strictly at your own risk, if in doubt ask again.
All handloading data posted on Full-Bore UK from 23/2/2021 must reference the published pressure tested data it was sourced from, posts without such verification will be removed.
Any existing data without such a reference should treated as suspect and not used.
Forum rules
All handloading data posted on Full-Bore UK from 23/2/2021 must reference the published pressure tested data it was sourced from, posts without such verification will be removed.
Any existing data without such a reference should be treated as suspect and not used.
Use reloading information posted here at your own risk. This forum (http://www.full-bore.co.uk) is not responsible for any property damage or personal injury as a consequence of using reloading data posted here, the information is individual members findings and observations only. Always verify the load data and be absolutely sure your firearm can handle the load, especially older ones. If in doubt start low and work your way up.
Been looking for a supplier for a few years, though not actively as I did not have all the kit assembled to swage.
Found a firm that can supply lead wire, in diameters from 0.4mm to 100mm!
The wire is supplied as small drums, ranging between 15kg to 20kg.
Price is £6 per kg.
They can supply you with the exact dia. you require...and orders take approx. 7 days to manufacture.
Swaging set up costs are very expensive, worth the trouble if you are needing lots of bullets of the same type, dies are expensive and they don't require lube or crimp grooves. Also it only really works with soft lead bullets so if you need a little harness then not a good route.
It is the best way to make jacketed bullets at home but again the costs are high.
There are myths out there that swaging makes better bullets than casting, not so casting can produce just as high quality soft lead bullets as swaging and in both cases the quality control is in your hands.
I have Wamadet swaging kit for Martini paper patch bullets and never use it as casting is easier and faster. I also have had various Nalan kit over the years, excellent quality but sold them on as I never used them.
Still an interesting exercise but in my opinion not really worth it unless you have a requirement for lots of the one bullet soft lead or jacketed.
I use soft lead wire for making chamber impact casts, but I only need 2' lengths of multiple diameters so the minimum order requirements here make it not viable for my needs, shame as pure lead wire is hard to get in small quantities.
Come on Bambi get some
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Hello this is my first post here,I swage my own jacketed 308s and had the same trouble sourcing lead wire ,my first solution was to convert a blank 6 core Lee mould and it worked ok but I couldn't get heavy enough cores so I ended up making a hydraulic press and an extruding die to make 6mm wire ,here is a link to the video showing it in action https://youtu.be/9FuToaWVLW8
I have a NDFS kit for swaging 357 and 314 hollow based wad cutters. It saw a lot of use in the pistol shooting days, but not now. It is interesting that the ASSRA--the ultimate 200yd accuracy gang with lead bullets---use cast bullets as they appear to be superior to swaged ones. They use slightly tapered bullets which are mechanically seated into the rifling before the charged case is added behind.
Fred
