Bullet making help

[Captain Midnigh]

I want to make small runs of custom sized solid bullets. What machines would do that well. I'm looking for an inexpesive way to get started. Could a Swiss Screw machine be converted to CNC, or is that just crazy? I don't see any old beat up machines for sale on the cheap.
Thanks for help

[jhowelb]

Bullets need to be soft enough to take the riffling in th barrel and not run pressures so high as to explode the gun. No way to compete with a good 6 to 10 cavity mould and wheel weights for lead.

The equipment is quickly amortized and the the cost per slug is only the electricity to melt the lead.

[panaceabea]

I think he is refering to the turned copper and bronze bullets like barnes and other makers sell for high velocity rifles versus low velocity cast bullets . Citezen (sp)swiss macines are what one of the large makers uses, I know the high end precision turned match bullets are spun at high speed to check balance. I like the barnes bronze solids, very deep penetration. There used to be some really neat 50 cl bullets turned from orlite or one of the oil impregnated bronze bushing materials that would leave a really vivd smoke trail all the way to the target

[jhowelb]

My favorite is the Spears 150 grain Sierra H P boat tail match grade in .30 but would never want to make them.

You can take pure lead wire and cut to weight pellets, put them in the gilding jackets then swage to size and shape. LOTS of work.

Never heard of spinning them let alone cutting them on a lathe.

Wow! Too much work for no return.

[Captain Midnigh]

I found a used one for $35,000, but how can I set something up for about $3500? I already know how to make bullets. What I need is a low cost swiss type machine. Somebody must know where old screw machines go to die.

[Captain Midnigh]

You guys know what a Swiss srew machine is, right?

[Mike Stevenson]

yes, it's a mechanical lathe that uses cams to control the motion of the slides to create the same part over and over. Try ebay.

[Swisstype]

Originally Posted by Captain Midnigh I found a used one for $35,000, but how can I set something up for about $3500? I already know how to make bullets. What I need is a low cost swiss type machine. Somebody must know where old screw machines go to die.

The first answer to your question is YES. You can run bullets on a Swiss. I used to work for a builder and I had an install where we made a .308 solid bullet on teh machine. It was a proprietary material, but it came out really good, so you can absolutely do this. WE also used a single point diamond burnisher to "harden" the OD of teh part after the turn. It too worked great.

The second answer is that you will ahve a tough time finding a machine at that price. If you find a cam auto swiss, at taht price, it is probably not very accurate or usable. I woudl try to find somebody with time open on a mahcine and get in on it.