Does anyone know of a source for target (or at least serious experimenting) grade swaged soft lead bullets for a .32-40?   If none are available, can anyone recommend a custom bullet caster?  Thanks,

Richard

Could you tell more about the bump swage, with maybe a sketch so we can see what it does? What kind of press is needed? Will a reloading press work? How much does this kind of item cost?
Thanks;
joe b.

joeb,

  40 Rod has the right idea. Richard Corbin could give you an idea of price, delivery, etc. 

  A picture of the bump die wouldn't really tell you anything because it looks quite similar to a regular loading die with the exception of a spring loaded cam and lever on top to eject the bullet. A cross section blue print is what's really needed.

If you've ever really looked at a cast bullet you will see there is no such thing as a perfect one. Also the longer the bullet is the better the chance that the bullet will be bent as it cools, or dropped from the mould.

  The idea of a bump swage is to true up the sides with the base and as such only just barely squeezes the bullet into the internal shape, which should be an exact copy of your mould. You're not trying to change the form into something else so a lot of pressure isn't needed, and any regular press will work. Mine is set up to work on a Rock Chucker.

  As mentioned the swage die looks similar to a reloading die and can be adjusted up or down like one. Instead of a shell holder a piece similar to one is made that will snap into the ram in it's place. This will have a rod machined into it that will go up into the die. A lubed bullet is inserted into the die and the ram raised into the die to it's full stroke. The die itself is adjusted up or down to apply as little pressure to the bullet as is needed to square things up and put a cutting edge to the base of the bullet. A spring loaded cam lever on top is then turned to eject the bullet. No bleed off hole is drilled, in mine at least, so bullets have to be cast as perfectly as possible and sorted by wgt. before performing the bump.

  Needless to say all tolerances have to be kept to the minimum possible to insure no bleed-by at the base or nose.

  In the .32/40 I have mine made up for it will reduce groups from an average of 7/8" to a tad over 1/2". Possibly using a scope and a little more load development it would do better.

PETE