Steve Johnson

Founder and Dictator-In-Chief of TFB. A passionate gun owner, a shooting enthusiast and totally tacti-uncool. Favorite first date location: any gun range. Steve can be contacted here.

More In: Ammunition, Rifles

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  • GrosVentreGeorge

    When I was in high school during the 90′s I had a friend whose family business was making 5.56 bullets out of .22 LR brass. I believe they did it for around 15 years until they had enough of the regulations concerning employees handling lead. At least that’s what I remember, I’ll ask him the next time I talk to him.

  • Witt Sullivan

    Corbin sells a kit that include the swaging dies and other things required to make .224″ bullets out of .22 casings. I thought about it, but for the price of the equipment, you can buy thousands of bulk bullets.

    It’s neat, though.

    • Chase

      Although it’d really be good if you’re anticipating a major ammo shortage caused by a complete breakdown of society. (I’m not.) But yeah, it’s also neat.

    • http://rockinaseaofchaos.blogspot.com That Guy

      Yeah, I was going to mention that Corbins setup:
      http://www.corbins.com/kit-224.htm

      I always thought that would be pretty cool to have on hand.

    • http://www.predatorwild.com Heath

      Wow! Did you see the prices on some of that stuff? A press was $1600.

      • Witt Sullivan

        You don’t have to buy Corbin’s press, a Classic Cast Iron press from Lee or a heavy duty presse from any of the other reloading companies could handle it.
        Corbin’s presses are the most rugged and over-engineered reloading presses, but they were designed for heavy duty swaging, including making jackets for .50 BMG out of half inch copper pipe, so they’re tough.

  • Nathaniel

    “I almost wonder if they’re doing a football effect.”

    One would hope they are spin-stabilizing, yes.

  • Andrew Racek

    Kaboom. I’m calling it.

  • Komrad

    I believe Hornady got started doing this.

  • Al T.

    Old news is new again. Neat though. :)

  • RocketScientist

    They’ve had this technique available for decades. In the era before cheap, decent-quality electro-plated copper-clad bullets, was a viable option for handloaders.

  • Jeff

    Can you say Rock Chuck Bullet Swage?

    Who was this, Fred Huntington shortly after WW2?

    His legacy is somewhat successful.

  • Simon_the_Brit

    Sisk.

    “In order to improve the quality of bullets and to save a few $ Sisk decided to make his own bullets. In 1928 he made a set of dies that would convert fired 22 rimfire cases to jackets.”

  • Ken Millard

    22 shells into bullets? Maybe not a new idea, but love seeing it happen.
    Among the arguments above; please raise your hand if you took up shooting to SAVE money?
    This guy is a tinkerer, and doing a great job! It didn’t look like he went out and bought all his equipment at Cabela’s ready setup for this. His costs were lower, his ingenuity was higher.

  • http://suburbansdomain.blogspot.com/ Suburban

    I swear that the prices have gone up tremendously since I looked a few years ago. $180, just for one die seems ridiculous, when you can buy. . . 4 carbine Lee 4-die reloading sets with change left over for that kind of money.

    I’ve been collecting a stash of rimfire shells, but I guess I’ll stick with buy bullets in bulk.

    • http://suburbansdomain.blogspot.com/ Suburban

      1. I was trying to reply to Witt Sullivan’s post about the price of Corbin’s stuff. Don’t know what happened.

      2. Typo – I’ll stick with buying bullets in bulk.