odies dad Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 Went to an auction last weekend and scored a 3 die set of Lachmiller swage dies in 38, 44, and 45 cal.Got a couple each partial boxes of 38 and 45 half jackets also. Also got most of a box of .30" lead wires about a foot long and a cutter.Got a chance to try them out.This is what the swage dies look like. This is the 45 die, but they all look the same except for the punch and the bore diameters.The punch fits on the appropriate shell holderThis is the component and what they turn into.Left side is the 45 and the right is 38.Just cut the lead core to length, set in the half jacket and run in the swage. The half jacket goes in the top and the punch forms the nose. Whack the rod at the top to eject the finished bullet.Makes 150gr 38’s and 200gr 45’s.Lachmiller was bought out by RCBS a while ago. I found an ad for these dies from 1960. They only made these 3 sizes and cost $15 each. I got all three for not much more with the jackets.I made a couple full jacketed 45's using annealed 40 S&W brass and a 40 cast bullet, but I need to refine my technique some for consistancy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeter59 Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 Very nice find.....My dad a set we use for .44mag. He has an adjustable slicer to cut the lead. The bullets preform very nice (better then my handgun skills). I have taken 2 deer with them and they compared well to factory leads. Enjoy your find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 Never swaged my own but recently shot some 45's that were swaged with 40 S&W brass jackets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 That's cool. I would LOVE to swag 223 bullets from 22LR brass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted March 7, 2014 Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 That's cool. I would LOVE to swag 223 bullets from 22LR brass. That's how one of the big bullet makers got started. Vernon Speer I believe it was. Being unable to get ammo during WW2 he started swaging 22 cal soft points using the RF brass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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