Swaging press

[kri5h]

Thank you for all your helpful replies gentlemen. Much obliged indeed.

John G, I did speak with Rommel and struck gold party2 . He can supply me with a Wamadet ‘Portar’ (sp) press. No dies though. But atleast that’s half my problems solved until I get the dies. So I am a happy chap indeed.

Hopefully, I’ll find a machinist who can make me the dies.

Dromia and John 25. Thank you. Can you tell me more about the Wamadet press and how it works please? Is this a purpose built swaging press like the Nalan? I have googled for information but haven’t come with much that sheds light on its working.

Kind Regards,
Krish

[dodgyrog]

I've got some Wamadet bits and pieces - I'll sort them out and let you know what's available

[dromia]

The Wamadet was sold as a reloading press as I recall but it did have some swaging abilities.

Mines part of my reloading set up in Scoptland or I'd post you some photographs.

A Rockchuker with a handle extension should do, after all RCBS does stand for Rock Chuck Bullet Swage.

[johngarnett]

Thank you for all your helpful replies gentlemen. Much obliged indeed.

John G, I did speak with Rommel and struck gold . He can supply me with a Wamadet ‘Portar’ (sp) press. No dies though. But atleast that’s half my problems solved until I get the dies. So I am a happy chap indeed.

Hopefully, I’ll find a machinist who can make me the dies.

Dromia and John 25. Thank you. Can you tell me more about the Wamadet press and how it works please? Is this a purpose built swaging press like the Nalan? I have googled for information but haven’t come with much that sheds light on its working.

Kind Regards,
Krish

Krish
Glad you got lucky!
The Wamadet press is a table top press on a board which you could use on any flat surface. (I do clamp mine with a 'C' clamp, but not on the dining room table!!!!!). It takes standard reloading dies and shell holders. The spent primers go down into the shell holder pillar which has to emptied every so often. As I said, I used it to try to swage 45acp bullets from lead bar in the old practical pistols days(a tear or two!!). I found it good but the amount I was shooting meant I was working my shooting arm to bits! I now use it for 308 reloading. After probably 35 yrs or so it is still tight on the pillar.
I think I may still have the dies for the swaging and lubsizing .45swc.
Good luck with your quest
JohnG :cornwall:

[John25]

Sorry, forgot to say. I used the Wamadet to very good effect for swaging.

125gn 9mm swaged out very well into .38 HBWC, I also used lead wire from the plumbers merchant.

I still have some NDFS swaging dies and a lead cutter somewhere. Ah pistols

[kri5h]

Thanks again. Ok, what I am going to ask may sound silly, but bear with me as I am a layman who has never swaged anything before.

On the Nalan press, to swage a bullet, one had to cut the required length of lead wire, usually to approximate bullet length and then the press would churn out a nice looking shiny bullet. It all looked so efficient and wonderful. Hence, my deposit to buy the said apparatus 2 year ago until I realized that pigs had a better chance of flying than me getting the press delivered.

Does the RCBS and Wadamet work in similar fashion? Most importantly, can these machine churn out 500+ grain bullets?

And to all the gents who want to part with relevant accessories, please keep me in mind

[dromia]

I think the Wamadet might struggle bit for the size of boolit you want.

The RCBS should manage it but it will need a longer handle "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world".

I would speak with CH-4D.

The process is the same, press, die, lead, lubricant. Its the leverage on the press, its strength and linkage strength that is important. The press needs to generate enough pressure to make the lead flow and be strong enough to handle that pressure. As you will be using near enough pure lead and not jacketing then some of the single station presses could do the job, it will also depend on how many boolits you are wanting to swage.

I cast all my paper patch boolits, the capital investment is much cheaper and the dies are cheaper and the result is as good.

Swaging tool investment is only worth it if you intend to shoot a lot of boolits or want to make jacketed.

[kri5h]

Dromia,
I too cast at present and through about 100 rounds easily every month. I have tried a few moulds and for the last 2 years have struck with the design that really works with a 550grain bullet wrapped to .448 inch with very good results upto 1000yds. However, due to the limitations of time and floor space involved in casting, I have always wanted to go the swaging route, which I think I should be able to manage indoors in my study.

Do you think it would be better for me to look for a RCBS press rather than the Wadamet? I may swage as and when time permits. The advantage is that I can do the work whenever I have time and am looking atleast 100 bullets a month.

I look forward to your opinions on this.

[ovenpaa]

Krish, if you sort the press out and struggle with sourcing dies let me know as it may be something I can build.

[dodgyrog]

As somebody who has been into building swagers (albeit by a friendly hobby machinist) I have to tell you only hardened and ground tool steel will be up to taking the pressures involved. I have several die bodies that could be adapted but punches will be needed.