Did you know you can make your own pellets? This is not something that the average airgun shooter would think about, given the tremendous variety of pellets on the market and the typical low cost of pellets, but shooters of big-bore (.38, .45 and larger) air rifles have a very limited selection available to them. It turns out that Corbin, a long time maker of bullet swaging equipment for firearms, also makes swaging kits for airgun projectiles. Besides the standard .177, .20, .22 and .25 calibers, they stock kits in 9mm, .45, and even tiny .14 and .12 caliber. If that’s not enough, they can supply a kit in any caliber you choose.
The basic process is simple: You cut off a length of pure lead wire, insert in in a die held in a swaging press, and pull the handle. Release the handle, and out pops your perfectly formed pellet. That’s it.
So how much does it cost to get started swaging pellets? A stock die set will cost you $189, and a core cutter, $70. If you’ve got a good, solid single stage reloading press, you can use that. Simple. If you’re interested on getting into production of really large bullets and jacketed bullets, you may want Corbin’s basic mechanical press at $598 or one of their hydraulic presses, but you can make many pellets using only a standard single-station reloading press, something a lot of shooters already have.
The owners of .500 and .600 caliber pneumatic guns will probably want to spring for the $598 S-Press. Given what they typically have invested in their guns, it’s not an unreasonable expenditure.
Post a Comment