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  1. #1
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    Default .22 derimming die

    I've been playing around with the idea of swaging my own .223 bullets for a while now, and I found plans for a nice swaging press the other day, so I thought that I would make the dies first as without them the press is a bit useless...

    First up is the derimmig die that turns the .22lr case into a jacket.













    Next up is the swaging press as I can feel that my little lee single stage isn't really built for this king of work...

  2. #2
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    Default Re: .22 derimming die

    Pretty cool grim. Mind sharing where you got the plans from?

  3. #3
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    Default Re: .22 derimming die

    No prob :)

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-a-Swage-press

    There is a ton of info in the swaging section of castboolits...

  4. #4

    Default Re: .22 derimming die

    Very nice ! I'll keep an eye on this thread.

  5. #5

    Default Re: .22 derimming die

    I'm also building one of those presses, but seeing as I won't ever use the commercial dies I'll use a different attachment and adjustment method. I made my derimming die with a press fit hardened steel insert, kind of like the carbide ring in a carbide die. I mass anneal the cases before hand by filling a old (empty!) powder tin with cases and putting it in the lapa's fireplace for about 2 hours. After that it goes into the rotary tumbler before processing. I also made a core seating and point forming die but can't find those after my move, so tried to make another set the other day. Of course I was in a hurry and ended snapping the point of the point forming reamer in the die. Reamers' been re - ground but haven't had the motivation to make another die yet.. BTW for the 22 case project I use a old Lee Challenger, but made steel links with different dowel pin positions to increase the leverage.
    Funnily enough I spent most of today machining .452 forming dies (ended up making 2, one SWC and one TC), it gets 'interesting' when you get to the final cut using a single point cutter after something like 4 hours machining per die (using a reamer would have been a couple of minutes, but making the reamer would be a solid day's work). The first I made tested out at .451, I honestly don't know what happened but I recut it a furthur 0.02mm (not even a full 'thou) and ended up with .453. Wasn't very happy with that. Still need to machine base and nose punches for those. Maybe I must learn to post pics, I suspect this might be a interesting project.
    BTW @ Grim after I cut the .223 point forming die and verified the sizes you are welcome to use the reamer if you want.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: .22 derimming die

    Quote Originally Posted by Chops View Post
    I'm also building one of those presses, but seeing as I won't ever use the commercial dies I'll use a different attachment and adjustment method. I made my derimming die with a press fit hardened steel insert, kind of like the carbide ring in a carbide die. I mass anneal the cases before hand by filling a old (empty!) powder tin with cases and putting it in the lapa's fireplace for about 2 hours. After that it goes into the rotary tumbler before processing. I also made a core seating and point forming die but can't find those after my move, so tried to make another set the other day. Of course I was in a hurry and ended snapping the point of the point forming reamer in the die. Reamers' been re - ground but haven't had the motivation to make another die yet.. BTW for the 22 case project I use a old Lee Challenger, but made steel links with different dowel pin positions to increase the leverage.
    Funnily enough I spent most of today machining .452 forming dies (ended up making 2, one SWC and one TC), it gets 'interesting' when you get to the final cut using a single point cutter after something like 4 hours machining per die (using a reamer would have been a couple of minutes, but making the reamer would be a solid day's work). The first I made tested out at .451, I honestly don't know what happened but I recut it a furthur 0.02mm (not even a full 'thou) and ended up with .453. Wasn't very happy with that. Still need to machine base and nose punches for those. Maybe I must learn to post pics, I suspect this might be a interesting project.
    BTW @ Grim after I cut the .223 point forming die and verified the sizes you are welcome to use the reamer if you want.
    Very interesting... Just one thing: Carefull with that Challenger press, the frame is easily cracked.

  7. #7

    Default Re: .22 derimming die

    Yes A-R, it's definately not a heavy duty press, but I've used it in this way for close on 8 years. It's my 'dirty girl' that I don't mind experimenting on if I don't want to risk any of my other presses.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: .22 derimming die

    I also have the lee challenger - tried 2 or 3 cases in it and could feel it taking strain, so did the other test cases in my hydraulic press. no strain on that one :)

    Chops:

    It would be really good to see some of your stuff - I'm basically just starting out & eyeballing stuff as I go along. Do you make a D reamer for your point forming die, and do you need to polish / lap the inside of the die?

  9. #9

    Default Re: .22 derimming die

    Grim my first reamer was a multiflute made from pre hardened HSS, when the point snapped off I re-ground the remainder to a D reamer. I got away without having to lap the die, my first die (which the elves stole) came out with good surface finish and on size.
    I can't see from the pics, but are you lubing the cases? If yes what lube, as this makes a huge difference in the force required.

  10. #10
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    Default Re: .22 derimming die

    Watching with interest

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