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.223 bullets from .22 casings????

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10 comments

  • rufe-snow
    It has been done for many years successfully. As long as you know what you're doing and have the correct swaging equipment.

    GOOGLE, Corbin or C & H 4D, swaging equipment, for enlightenment.
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  • dfletcher
    Darn I'm getting old - didn't Hornady start that way?
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  • shooter10
    The .223/5.56 are usually found in 55 grain. There is a Aguila .22 SSS Sniper Subsonic (Midway $5.99, when they have it) that has a 60 grain lead bullet. But yes, that is a .22 and should not be fired even in the AR .22 conversions. More twist is needed.
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by shooter10
    The .223/5.56 are usually found in 55 grain. There is a Aguila .22 SSS Sniper Subsonic (Midway $5.99, when they have it) that has a 60 grain lead bullet. But yes, that is a .22 and should not be fired even in the AR .22 conversions. More twist is needed.


    The OP's question was about a seller on the auction actually making jacketed .22 center fire bullets. Using fired .22 rimfire brass as the jackets.

    This has been done successfully since the W W II era, using a process known as swaging.
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  • richarda
    It was Speer that started out that way, in WWII.
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  • Cheechako
    Many bullet makers got their start using fired 22LR cases as bullet jackets. Speer (Vernon), RCBS (Huntington), Hornady, Sisk, to name just a few. I collect the old bullets. Here's the base of one made by Vernon Speer. You can see the vestige of both the original headstamp and the rimfire firing pin mark.

    Those bullets were, for their day, used by a lot of shooters. They were not the most accurate but shooters didn't have a whole lot of choice back then. As soon as good quality GM jackets became available after WW II, they all switched. I can't imagine why anyone would want to go back to them.

    33o6yog.jpg
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  • Riomouse911
    As the other guys said, these have been around for many a moon. I remember when the swaging dies and lead wire needed to make you own bullets from old .22LR cases were being advertised regularly in the backs of gun mags. I guess the effort and intial cost of these set ups wasn't worth it, as they've faded away. With the ammo/bullet craze going on, I won't be suprised if they start them up again.
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  • Cheechako
    The cost of dies to make your own bullets will offset a big part of any cost savings you may see. One of the biggest obstacles is the availibility of fired 22 LR cases. Most all of today's 22 ammo is brass or nickeled brass. They do not make the best jackets. The old rimfire cases were made of copper which was not much different than GM.

    Guys who think the supply of jacketed bullets will dry up are advised to buy as many as you can right now. Or, buy 10,000 J-4 jackets in the calibers you shoot.
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  • charliemeyer007
    I have a set up 7/8-14 that was made by pacific I think in the late 50's. Knocking off the rim is work, I need to try and flame anneal the cases. LR make a really long jacket, shorts would be more ideal. A multi cavity core mold would be nice, adjustable even better. Proper lead wire is harder to find. Maybe a jig to cut case length before swaging off the rim. Well bolted down "D" or "O" frame cast iron press is good. "C" are too springy without a tie strap.

    Not sure that the bullets are match grade but seem to be ok for minute of varmint work. They seem fine in my really old 222 but failed in the higher end loads in the 225.
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  • bearman49709
    RCBS stands for Rock chucker bullet swagger. This was their first entry into reloading and was built to make .22cal bullets from .22LR brass filled with lead wire.
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