New to swaging

I got bored and attempted to build a .452 bullet.

I used my Lee .451 sizing die to size down a 45acp case. I then filled it with molten lead. Next I used a 260 Remington Seating die to form the nose. After that I used my Lee 45acp seating die to finish closing the nose up. The result came out at 344.1 grains and looks like this.

nicely done

Looks good. Grats. You and Hawcer have a lot to talk about he swages bullets like that.

That's cool. Good job.

Better picture

5 for test firing. Does anybody know where I can get an adjustable core mold? I got them within 3 grains of each other but I'd sure like to get closer.

Nice job bud.

Thanks much!! Here they are loaded up along with a BT version I made by trimming the rim and running the case backwards into the 260 seating die. It ended up at 307 grains.

Excellent job!

Nice and heavy for taking down the big stuff

If you anneal the case, especially the base and rim, the rim will crush into the extractor groove and form a nice small BT....trimming of the rim isn't necessary.

Once you have the lead melted into the cases and they are cooled, weigh each one and adjust the weigh by removing or adding before swaging the ogive. It seems to help keep consistent weight, length and look.

Be sure to go back through the bullet sizer to be sure the diameter is uniform and at the desired specs. At least measure them to be on the safe side.

Keep it up....they will only get better

Thanks for the advice hawcer!!

How about a Ballistic tip version? Weighs in at 300 grains which is exactly what I shoot!

Ok...Man that looks great!

You are gonna have to give me the recipe for those...case length, core wt and especially what you used to roll over the nose without smashing the airsoft BB.

earlier you stated you used the the 45acp seating die to close up the nose.....great Idea. I'll have to try that. I have been afraid to use my Lee dies for any "heavy" work since the adjustment stems/shafts are aluminum.

I used a full length 45acp case with a 208 grain core. I first melted the lead in the case then run it through the 260 remington sizing die to get the main taper. Then I put the ait soft BB in the case then used the Lee 45acp seating die to finish it off.

I modded the seating die so it would not crush the BB. My 450 bushmaster dies came with 2 seating plugs. One for seating flat nose and another for seating spire points. It just so happened that the hornady seating plugs will fit in a Lee die. I chucked the flat nose plug in my cordless drill and clamped it in my work bench. I then put my dremel tool in it's little drill press and set it at the angle I wanted and used a conical stone to grind the shape in the plug that I needed. Here is what it looks like.

Cool.....and I have both the Lee 45acp 4 die set and the Hornady 450b Die set. Since I'll prolly never use a flat nosed bullet in the 450, I might just have to mod mine too.

Great job on using the noggin

What bullets have you been shooting in your 450?

250gr Factory FTX,260gr home swaged and 240gr XTP's mostly. I have also tried a few different ones as well. I had good luck with Scorpion HP muzzle loader bullets, I found out later they are only copper plated, but they seemed to work fine and I had no ill effects.

Until I get a new scope for the 450...it will be taking up space in the safe.

So far my favorite bullets are the Hornady 300 grain SST's I killed my deer with them this year at 262 yards. I'm also liking the Parkers I'm shooting now and hoping to kill an elk with them.

What I'm really hoping though is that my swaged bullets will take the place of them all! I like to shoot this gun a lot and 45 bullets are not cheap!!

Nice to see you made it here. Again those do look good.

Thanks Joe!!