OT: Home Swaged Airgun Pellets

[AmBraCol]

I've been looking over at the pellet swaging info over at Corbins:

http://www.corbins.com/pellets.htm

The main problem is - it's a VERY sizable investment in equipment, even for the press mounted swaging dies which is what I'm primarily interested in. And I hate to invest that kind of $$$ only to find out that it was a bad idea. SO I'm wondering if any of y'all have played around with Corbins' pellet swaging dies?

Some of you may be asking, "Why?" - well, a walk through town stopping at the various "sporting goods" stores (99% soccer related, a bit of fishing equipment and a few tins of pellets - perhaps) provided me with Chinese (Norinco?) brand pellets that I originally thought were hollowpoints - turns out they were merely poorly formed. I also found a few Gamo round lead balls, a few Gamo Promagnums and one place actually had some Crosman pellets. And the one thing they all had in common was a HORRIBLY expensive cost. Oh, I also found some national brand pellets - that are even worse than the chinese stuff. And since we're severely limited in shooting opportunities around here I'd like to not have to rely on the iffy pellet supply - plus swaging my own pellets would allow me to play with pellet length, nose shape, skirt thickness, etc.

If anyone has played around with the pellet swaging stuff from Corbins I'd like to hear from you about your experiences. Also, I'd be interested in buying a small sample of pellets to try - if anyone has any they've swaged on these dies.

Thanks!

[Rusty]

What size are you using, .177 or .22? I know you've said it but I forgot... 177, I'm thinking since it's most common overseas.

[AmBraCol]

Right now I've got only 4.5 mm (.177) guns. Maybe next year I'll drag back a 22 pistol to round it out a bit. 22 pellets are even harder to find than the .177's here...

[Old Ironsights]

I don't see why you really need to get all fancy. Wouldn't all you really need be essentially somthing like a 3 piece Paco's Accu'rzr in .177 ID with a bottom section housing the hollow base pin and the top swaging punch to both bump it up to fill the "hourglass" and form the nose.

You could swage them one a time with a hammer.

[Rusty]

Well Paul, answer me this...

If I where to send you some pellets would you have to pay duty on them?

[AmBraCol]

Well Paul, answer me this...

If I where to send you some pellets would you have to pay duty on them?

Rusty, I'm not sure. I've not received anything from the US for a while so don't know if there's been changes. A small sample of swaged pellets should be no problem. If you're thinking of shipping more than just a sample then it's not worth the cost. I'll be in the US next summer, the Lord willing, and will pick up a few at that time - and maybe a swage die if I can ferret out more info than Corbins site has on it. So far I'm not really finding anyone who can tell me what kind of accuracy they've achieved with this type of pellet.

[AmBraCol]

I don't see why you really need to get all fancy. Wouldn't all you really need be essentially somthing like a 3 piece Paco's Accu'rzr in .177 ID with a bottom section housing the hollow base pin and the top swaging punch to both bump it up to fill the "hourglass" and form the nose.

You could swage them one a time with a hammer.

The theory is solid, produce some cast slugs (or find lead wire to cut to size) then stamp them out like reloading with a classic Lee Loading tool like I started loading 38 spl on yea these many years ago. The problem is - haven't found anyone who produces such a critter. And don't have anyone 'round here I feel I could turn loose on the project. If I had a drill press I'd be tempted to try making up something to play with, but I don't. A lathe would be better, of course, but that's even less of a possibility. Shucks, I've even been toying with a design (in my mind at this point) for a multi cavity 4 mm slug mould that would allow me to produce tiny slugs for swaging. But don't have the tools or skills to do it. We'll see what happens. I need to call Corbin and see what they can tell me.

[El Chivo]

I don't have any experience with it, but I was tempted to try it for airgun pellets. Although right now I'm not shooting enough to justify the cost and space for a floor press, it sounds like a great idea.

[Rusty]

If you were going to swag something I wonder if a round lead ball wouldn't be easier?

They also kill pretty good too on household pests.


Can you supply a mailing address?


Now that I think about it I think I have seen a sizing die, not for making a pellet but something for making then more uniform. Similar to Paco's tool. A company that makes something like that might be a good lead on a pellet die.

[Old Ironsights]

Paul, pop over to Cast Boolits and ask over on the Swaging Sub.

Somebody should be able to steer you right.