Swaging solid copper?

[tjeffords]

Can it be done?

[talon]

Solid copper bullets can be swaged from rod using powered presses.  Usually the rod is just under the desired end diameter, and what is to be the nose is drilled to allow for easier compression of the copper. The operation is done using one die most of the time.

[Reed1911]

It can be done but it can be easier and less expensive on the lathe. It takes several tons to properly get the copper to flow, it needs pre-heat, and the hit needs to be fast. Dies, not a chance at least not in the normal sense of the word as it comes to re-loaders and bullet makers, think very, very large to handle the pressure and heat.

What are you trying to swage solid? All my experience came with the .14 cal and of course as you go larger cal it gets tougher.

[Frank46]

There was a picture one time showing Randy Brooks swaging bullets using a very large arbor press, hand operated. But that may have been jacketed bullets with a lead core. Hydraulic presses (aka bottle jacks or hydraulic jacks) come to mind. Other than that the only other thing I can think of is impact swaging. Lots of force very quickly. Your bullet swage dies would have to be extremely large and strong to contain these forces and to allow ejection of the swaged bullets. A lathe or screw making machine would be lots cheaper for small batches. Hope this helps. Frank

[BBF]

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.......................... A lathe or screw making machine would be lots cheaper for small batches.

Very similar to the original Nosler PT bullets.