Let's Talk About Swaging. Who Is Swaging Their Own Slugs?

[Ezana4CE]

I'd like to learn more about swaging. Who is swaging their own airgun slugs or pellets? I'm not interested in opinions on cost effectiveness of swaging versus buying projectiles. I am interesting in learning more about swaging. I have been reading some fascinating things on the topic and wish to communicate with members experienced in the activity. If you are currently active or used to be, please tell us a few things:

a) Tell us a little about your set-up (e.g. what sort of press and dies used).
b) Let us know if you are a competition shooter, hunter, commercial producer, etc.
c) What prompted you to get into swaging? How long have you been doing it?
d) How was the learning curve? What are things that you think that new comers to swaging need to know?
e) If you no longer participate in the activity, why did you stop?

 

[Soren Drost]

I used to swage my own .177 slugs some 4 years ago before they got commercially available

I used die sets from GMI Engineering for 13 gn and 16 gn slugs and a 2 Ton Arbor Press

I used JSB pellets in 13.43 gn and 16.20 gn as the lead source

 

[Franklink]

I used to swage my own .177 slugs some 4 years ago before they got commercially available

I used die sets from GMI Engineering for 13 gn and 16 gn slugs and a 2 Ton Arbor Press

I used JSB pellets in 13.43 gn and 16.20 gn as the lead source

View attachment 4087

View attachment 4088

Did the home-swaged slugs shoot as well/better/worse than the now commercially available options?

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Soren Drost I looked up GMI Engineering and saw that the domain name is up for sale. Using pellets to swage slugs is clever. Why did you stop swaging? Was it just more convenient to buy .177 slugs when they hit the market in large quantities?

 

[Spinach]

GMI are on Facebook, alternatively try Engg.ken or something similar on agn. Ken is GMI.

Late last year I obtained a set of GMI swage dies, 3 different .22 diameters etc.

I'm using a 1 ton arbour press and some 5mm wire.

Early days, learning as I go along. Not a cost exercise for me, I'm simply looking for consistency. Time, no problem I'm retired.
Lube and warmth help a lot.

Enjoying it so far.

Like Soren, I've recently started recycling cheap Turkish slugs. Spoton brand.

Recycling the slugs isn't much more expensive plus saves cutting wire etc. Especially in this cold weather.

It's becoming a hobby in itself.

Good luck .

 

[Ezana4CE]

I've seen videos of the Arbor Press used with the GMI dies. It seems like somewhat of a slow process to swage with these dies. Anyone ever break a GMI die? I"ll look Ken up. Thanks @Spinach

 

[Spinach]

I chose the Arbor press method simply as a first step. Minimal outlay.

When I put my mind to it I can knock out enough slugs in one hour to last me all weekend.

Other than buying some different weight dies I'm probably sticking with the press.

It's therapeutic.

 

[Soren Drost]

Did the home-swaged slugs shoot as well/better/worse than the now commercially available options?

They shot just as well

 

[Soren Drost]

@Soren Drost I looked up GMI Engineering and saw that the domain name is up for sale. Using pellets to swage slugs is clever. Why did you stop swaging? Was it just more convenient to buy .177 slugs when they hit the market in large quantities?

Just more convenient with the commercial available slugs

 

[Soren Drost]

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[Ezana4CE]

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@Soren Drost I saw this video last night. I’m all for swaging. I’m wondering if GMI makes dies that fit reloading presses like RCBS, Lee, or Corbin presses.

 

[Soren Drost]

@Soren Drost I saw this video last night. I’m all for swaging. I’m wondering if GMI makes dies that fit reloading presses like RCBS, Lee, or Corbin presses.

I don't believe that they do

 

[Ezana4CE]

How do you all store your swaging dies?

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Soren Drost I looked up GMI Engineering and saw that the domain name is up for sale. Using pellets to swage slugs is clever. Why did you stop swaging? Was it just more convenient to buy .177 slugs when they hit the market in large quantities?

I communicated with the owner of GMI and was told that they’re working on a new website and some new offerings, but they’re still in business. They also make dies for presses other than the Arbor Press. However, they do not make dies for Lee and RCBS styled reloading presses. Be on the lookout for some new things from GMI.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I’d asked a few folks a while back about the minimum wire or core diameter that one can use in a swaging die. I read this over the weekend and it satisfies my question.



Does anyone have any contrary information?

 

[Ezana4CE]

I found this thread on a pellet swagging setup to be pretty interesting. The poster states that he uses his with an Arbor press.

My homemade pellet swage tools

I'll need to describe all of this process in a couple of different entry's, but I'll keep them all under this post. Let me apologize in advance for bouncing around a bit on this post, didn't give myself much time to gather my thoughts. I built 4 different calibers of tooling, .177, .20, .22...

www.hobby-machinist.com

 

[Woogie_man]

The individual I shoot with swages his own slugs and makes them for me as well using the Corbin set. Typically you are going to want to use the diameter wire of the caliber you are going to make. This will help keep the weights far more consistent as well as ensuring you don't have any cavities or anything in the finished slugs. A roll of lead is fairly cheap when you consider how many slugs you are going to get out of the spool. Then consider you can make a custom weight, say a 35.6gr slug in 22 caliber. Any weight you find that shoots great out of your gun you will be able to make time and time again.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I found that Corbin Manufacturing makes adapters to use a Corbin S press like an arbor press.

S-Press Hardened Arbor Anvil Set CSP-1A | Corbin

Durable hardened arbor anvil set for S-Press. Designed for long-lasting performance. Enhance your reloading setup now at Corbin!

www.corbins.com

About Corbin Arbor Press Adapters

www.corbins.com

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Soren Drost I saw this video last night. I’m all for swaging. I’m wondering if GMI makes dies that fit reloading presses like RCBS, Lee, or Corbin presses.

I don't believe that they do

@Soren Drost I was told by the owner of GMI that they do make dies for presses made by the Corbin brothers. To me this says they makes dies for the Corbin S press and the Walnut Hill press, but I need to ask for clarification to be sure. He said that they are called “Freedom die” sets. The dies used with the Arbor press are called the the “SOC (smooth ogive curve)” dies. Additionally, Corbin Manufacturing makes adapters that allow the Corbin S press to work with GMI SOC dies as seen in post #18 in this thread.

 

[Soren Drost]

@Soren Drost I was told by the owner of GMI that they do make dies for presses made by the Corbin brothers. To me this says they makes dies for the Corbin S press and the Walnut Hill press, but I need to ask for clarification to be sure. He said that they are called “Freedom die” sets. The dies used with the Arbor press are called the the “SOC (smooth ogive curve)” dies. Additionally, Corbin Manufacturing makes adapters that allow the Corbin S press to work with GMI SOC dies as seen in post #18 in this thread.

That is pretty cool Thanks a lot for sharing