Making Specific Kinds of Bullets

Any lead bullet with a step or shoulder joining the nose (if any) to the shank, which can include Base Guard, Gas Check, Paper Patch (specify diameter of bullet rather than caliber), but not jacketed bullets, can be made in a single !"C#$ die in a Corbin press, or the Pro#!wage die in a reloading press% &'amples of these kinds of bullets include( airgun pellets, blackpowder rifle bullets, )inie balls, *oster#type shotgun slugs (+B, !"C nose), pistol wadcutters and semi#wadcutters% A lead bullet formed in a single die will ha,e a shoulder between shank and nose, created because this kind of swage die uses a ca,ity shape in a punch to create the nose (and the edge of this punch must be of at least %-$. inch thickness to a,oid breakage)% /ou can also form this kind of bullet in a C!#$ core seat die, which has no bleed holes and thus does not adjust the weight like the !"C#$ die can do% Any set of dies with a core swage and a core seat (C!"# $ and C!#$) included in it can make a lead !"C or "C bullet, with the proper nose and base punch added% 0he combination of the two dies is sold as a 1!"C#2 die set% 1acketed !emi#wadcutters ha,e a shoulder between the end of the jacket and the start of the all#lead nose% 0he nose can be any shape% 0he jacket can be half, 345#length or full length but cannot co,er more than the full diameter portion (cannot cur,e around the nose at all)% 6f this is the style you want to make, you can do it with two dies in any Corbin press (the C!"#$ core swage and the C!#$ core seater)% 7r you can do it in a reloading press with the Pro# !wage die% /ou can select from ,arious standard nose shapes and base shapes, or you can order a custom nose or base shape (custom tooling cost applies)% All of the 1!"C#2 style die sets re8uire that you ha,e a shoulder between nose and shank% 0o eliminate the shoulder, you need the *1*B#3 set (which just adds the P*#$ point form die to the C!"#$ and C!#$ dies that make up the 1"!C#2 set)%

Lead WC or SWC (LSWC-1 die set)

Jacketed Semi-Wadcutter (JSWC-2 die set)

Bullets which ha,e a smooth ogi,e, or cur,e, from shank to base (as in a be,el base)or from shank to nose (as in most jacketed handgun and rifle designs) are able to be made in the 3#die set (C!"#$, C!#$, and P*#$)% 0his set is called a *1*B#3 set because it can make a full jacket flat base bullet, among others% 0he C!"#$ core swage die is optional but almost e,eryone who swages accurate bullets wants one% 0hat is why we include it in the set of three dies as a package% But if you really don:t want one, you can just cut or cast your lead cores as accurately as possible and skip the core swaging step% 6n that case, you would want a C!#$ and P*#$ (two dies)% !ince so few people want to gi,e up the precise weight control possible with the C!"#$ core swage die, we don:t ha,e a separate catalog number for the C!# $4P*#$ combination%%%just order them as two dies% 0he first two dies (C!"#$ core swage and C!#$ core seater) can make semi#wadcutter (!"C) lead or jacketed bullets by using a nose forming punch in the core seating die% *ull metal jacket bullets are made by using the C!"#$ and the P*#$, seating the core backward into the jacket in the point form die and skipping the core seater% 0he *1*B#3 combination or set of three dies is the most popular set since it can make lead, !"C jacketed, or full jacket bullets, soft points or open tips just by using the right techni8ue and proper core seating punch% 6f you want to make almost any flat base, cup base, dish base, or hollow base bullet, this set will do it (but you ha,e to specify the base so we can make the right punch shapes)% 0he ogi,e or nose cur,e can be ordered from our standard 0C, 345#&, ;#! or $#& shapes, or you can order a custom shape (tooling cost applies)% /ou can make a multi#jacket bullet in se,eral styles by putting a smaller jacket inside a larger one% 7ne method is to use the inside jacket as a <partition< with its own core% 6f you do this, you will probably want to get a core swage and core seating die for the inside caliber, as well as a core swage and core seat die for the main caliber (and a point form die as well)% /ou can also put a regular diameter but short core into the main jacket, and then a smaller caliber jacket with its own core on top of this, both jackets

ull !acket S"# $%# or JM ( J B-& die set)

facing the same direction% 0his design launches a small caliber within a larger one% =epending on how long the inside jacket is, you can ha,e the jacket e'tending past the larger outside jacket, to make a faster e'panding long bullet with a ,isible line between the two jackets, or you can ha,e the inside jacket completely hidden inside the outer one, which reinforces the nose area for delayed e'pansion% A second way to make a multi#jacket bullet is to encapsulate a single core between two same si>e jackets, so the edges just meet with a gi,en weight (length) of core% 0his makes a bullet that tends to e'pand in the middle rather than at the end% 9o special e8uipment is needed, just the regular *1*B#3 die set% A third multi#jacket design is to trap a core between a large (main) jacket and a smaller internal jacket% 0he core has to fit the smaller jacket, of course% /ou may want a core swage die for the smaller caliber only, but a core seat die for the larger caliber, as well as a point form die for the larger (main) caliber% 0his would be a special case of the *1*B#3 set, with a core swage for the inside caliber, but the core seat and point form dies for the main caliber, so there is no specific catalog number( just order the indi,idual dies and let us know what you plan to do with them, so we can make sure the diameters are correct% 0wo special tools you may need to accomplish these tasks are( ($) 1?=#$ jacket reducing die, to draw down an e'isting jacket so it fits inside a standard caliber easily, and (2) a core seating punch designed to fit within the smaller jacket, in cases where the lead core needs to be seated into the inner jacket% 6n some cases you may need a second, smaller core swage die and lead wire to fit it, and possibly a second core seating die to pre#seat the little core into the smaller jacket (although this is normally done in one operation, as the larger jacket and assembled core4jacket stack is swaged together)% 0he ?B0 or ?ebated Boattail base is an ad,anced form of the standard boattail% 0he rebate or step helps break up the flow of mu>>le gas o,er the base and adds about $-#$.@ to the total accuracy (or decrease in dispersion, to be more precise) compared to a con,entional boattail design%

Multi-Jacket Bullets

0elescoping standard or drawn#down jackets within each other pro,ides another tool in the bullet#maker:s arsenal%

'e(ated Boattails ('B%- die sets)

0he ad,antages of the ?B0 o,er con,entional B0 bases are great enough that Corbin builds con,entional B0 dies only on special order% 0he standard low drag base design for all Corbin dies is the ?B0% /ou can add the ?B0 to any flat base die set by ordering the ?B0#2 add#on die set, or you can order full set of dies to make ?B0 with or without the flat base core seater% *or details about the ?B0 base and its ad,antages o,er con,entional boattails and flat bases, click here%

&lliptical ogi,es include the true round nose (a special case of elliptical ogi,e where the length is e8ual to the caliber radius, or $42#&) and those shapes usually called <round nose< which, in fact, are half a prolate spheroid% (7blate spheroids are doughnut#shaped objects, and prolate spheroids are more football shaped)% 0he elliptical ogi,e has a constantly changing radius, so the cur,e radius cannot be used to describe it% 6nstead, the shape is described by two measurements% 7ne is the caliber, which is fi'ed for a gi,en diameter of bullet, and identifies the minor a'is of the spheroid% 0he other is the length, which is actually half the major a'is of the complete spheroid% "e only use half the spheroid for the nose, and replace the other half with a cylinder (the bullet shank)% elliptical ogi)es An elliptical ogi,e with a length of $42 of the caliber is called a -%.#& ogi,e (or a $42#& ogi,e)% 6f the length is $42 of the caliber, then the length is the same as the radius of the caliber, and we ha,e a perfectly round ball nose% Any shorter length would not make a complete cur,e, so there is no such thing as a -%2.#& ogi,e, for e'ample% 0he most practical pistol length is the 345#& ogi,e (-%A.#&)% 0he nose length, along the center a'is, is e'actly -%A. times the caliber% 0his describes the typical %5. ACP military <ball< shape% 0he most

?ound nose bullets from -%. to $%.#& are the practical range, with 345#& best for pistol and $#& best for most rifle calibers% 0hese bullets were formed in the 0*B#5#! lead tip four die set with ,arious point forming dies and internal lead tip punches for the ogi,e shapes% 0he same core swage and core seating dies were used% 0he same lead tip die was used, with a different tip shaping punch%

practical rifle length is the $#& ogi,e ($#&) in which the length of the ogi,e is the same as the caliber% 0his is identical to nearly all of the $B.-#$C-blackpowder bullet noses, such as the !harpes, "inchester, Ballard, and others, and is also used in modern round nose rifle bullets% 0he $%.#& ogi,e (length is $%. times the caliber) becomes almost too nose#hea,y for good balance in many guns, but is found in a few early British 9itro e'press calibers, notably 1effery and &ly% !ometimes the 345#& is used for ,ery large bore blackpowder rifle bullets, like the $#inch Gatling% elliptical cur,es are often used in the !"C style (either a !"C#$#! single die for lead bullets, or a 1!"C#2#! 2#die set for jacketed semi#wadcutters)% !"C means semi#wadcutter, but does not refer to a specific shape% ?ather, it refers to the shoulder or step between the ogi,e and the shank% 0his step is caused by the edge of the punch which forms the lead nose on the bullet, and is una,oidable in making a bullet by using a ca,ity in the end of a punch (as opposed to forming the ogi,e in a die ca,ity, which has no punch edge and can make a smooth cur,e from shank into the ogi,e)% "hen calculating e'act length of a !"C elliptical ogi,e, use the caliber less the shoulder width times two% 0he formula is & D Cal # (2 ' w) where w is the shoulder width and & is the elliptical ogi,e caliber% A %5.B rifle with a $#& ogi,e normally would ha,e a nose of %5.B inch length, but in a !"C style with % -$. shoulder, the adjusted or effecti,e caliber & would be %5.B # %-3- D %52B and this would be the adjusted correct ogi,e length% !ecant ogi,es can be a bit decepti,e, in regard to ogi,e cur,e ,ersus the actual bullet shape or length, because, unlike a tangent ogi,e spit>er cur,e, the secant cur,e radius is only one of two specifications re8uired to identify the shape% 0he second specification tells where the bullet shank intersects the nose cur,e% 6n a tangent ogi,e (standard spit>er), the ogi,e always joins or <intersects< the shank at precisely $B-#degrees% 0hat is, there is no offset from the smooth nose cur,e to the straight part of the bullet% 0he start of the nose arc begins where the shank ends% But this is not true for a secant ogi,e% A standard spit>er, or tangent ogi,e, is a special case

*L+ Secant

An *1*B#3 die set can be used to make a secant ogi,e bullet, but usually this shape is combined with a rebated boattail base, and often is finished with a lead tip forming die with a chilled or plated shot in the tip, shaped to a hard sharp point, to further ma'imi>e the BC% 0he combination of core swage, rebated boattail base, $5#caliber E %-$5#offset secant ogi,e point form die, and lead tip forming die, can be ordered as the ?B0 #. die set with F = shape, a proprietary Corbin term for this particular secant ogi,e4?B0 base bullet%

of the secant ogi,e where the angle of intersection is $B-#degrees, or the offset from tangent is >ero% All other possible intersections are secants% !o the term <tangent< identifies a specific shape when combined with a radius for the nose cur,e, because the offset (or angle of intersection) is known and always fi'ed at >ero or $B-#degrees% But a secant ogi,e can be offset any amount from tangent, so specifying the ogi,e (such as $5#! or $B#s) does not tell us the bullet shape or length by itself% A $5#! spit>er is almost impossibly long in the nose, but a $5#s secant can be any length right up to the spit>er length (but is always shorter, since the secant ogi,e is <slid back< toward the base of the bullet by some amount, intersecting the cur,e at some angle other than $B-# degrees)% "e ha,e to specify the angle, or the amount of linear offset, in order to get the complete picture% 0he reason for secant ogi,es is to try to pull a fast one on )other 9ature, by making the nose angle a little sharper without making the bullet too long for stability, and yet not creating such a sharp junction that a secondary shock wa,e is created% 0he junction between the smooth ogi,e cur,e of the nose and the straight shank will create a shock wa,e if the bullet tra,els fast enough, the air is dense enough, and the angle is sharp enough% 0his can create a situation where the secant ogi,e gi,es you better BC than the same o,er#all length of a tangent ogi,e (which would ha,e a longer radius), but it might drop suddenly if the weather changes, you tra,el to a lower ele,ation, or you load to a higher ,elocity% !ecant ogi,es therefore carry their own risks if pushed ,ery far, so you seldom see consistent results from secants o,er $5#$B calibers of radius and angles of intersection o,er fi,e degrees% *or instance, a $5#! E %-$5#inch offset defines Corbin:s standard Fltra ow =rag bullet shape in any caliber, and it seems to wring the ma'imum BC out of most calibers without the shifting atmospheric4,elocity secondary shock wa,e problem% But a longer radius usually re8uires a sharper junction to keep the o,er# all bullet length reasonable, and the sharper junction begins to generate the higher drag secondary shock wa,e with changes in atmospheric pressure or loading ,elocity%

0angent ogi,es, or <spit>er< noses, are formed by drawing an arc (segment of a circle) with a specific radius, normally stated in <calibers<% 0hus, a %3-B caliber spit>er bullet with a $-#! ogi,e would ha,e % 3-B times $- or 3%-B- inch radius ogi,e cur,e% 0he spit>er shape is a true mathematical form without arbitrary cur,e changes, but the ,ery tip may be modified into a round lead end, which is called a <semi#spit>er< shape% 0his is to help pre,ent damage to fragile, pointed lead tips% Any die set that has a P*#$ point forming die can be specified for spit>er shapes% 0he spit>er ogi,e is the most popular rifle ogi,e shape for general purpose high ,elocity shooting, followed by the $#& round nose% 0he most popular radius is ; calibers, since this generally gi,es the best ratio of weight range to o,er#all length% Corbin offers spit>er shapes in 2, 5, ;, B, $-, and $2#! ogi,es% 0hose in between are so insignificantly different as to make them redundant% !pit>er ogi,es smaller than 2 approach the round nose or truncated conical in performance, and of course it is impossible to make a spiter ogi,e smaller than -%., since $42#! describes the same cur,e as a $42#& round nose and any radius less than half the caliber would not meet to form a bullet nose% 0he ;#! is standard for calibers below %5.B, the $#& and 5#! are standard for %5.B% 0he .- B)G is a special case where ;#! to B#! bullets are commonly used% !pit>er bullets for %5.B and larger ci,ilian arms typically become too long for the chamber, maga>ine, or rifling twist in ;#! or longer radius, so they are usually made in 2#! or 5#! spit>er shapes, or in $#& round nose% 0he longer the radius, the less the weight can be ,aried for a gi,en bullet caliber% 0his is because of length and stability limitations% 0he nose length is fi'ed by the ogi,e radius and the tip diameter, whereas the shank can ,ary from a minimum of about one caliber to as long as will fit in the gun and be stable with the rifling twist% 0he shorter the ogi,e radius, the greater can be the range of weights on both ends (,ery light bullets still ha,e enough shank to balance a short nose, and ,ery hea,y bullet are still short enough to fit the gun with a shorter nose)% G ead tip bullets with a broad tip or large radius

%angent $gi)es

0angent or spit>er ogi,es are a special case of secants, where the ogi,e cur,e intersects the shank at e'actly $B- degrees% 0herefore, only the radius of the cur,e, in calibers, is needed to describe the shape% 0he most common tangent ogi,e is ;#!% !hown abo,e are spit>ers from 2#! to $2#!%

(round nose) can be made in a normal 3#die set (*1*B#3), but the ejection pin tends to deform a soft point bullet tip as it becomes closer to a sharp rifle caliber shape% 0herefore, to make a better 8uality lead tip, you can add a 0#$ die (lead tip finishing die) to the set% Any set of dies that has the letter < < included in the catalog number means that one of the dies is a ead 0ip former% *or instance, the 0*B#5 set has four dies, which include the C!"#$ core swage, the C!# $ core seater, the P*#$ point former, and the 0#$ lead tip finisher% Lead %ip Jacketed Bullets (L% B-, +ie Set)
A Lead TIP: ead tip dies can be used to nudge the opening of an open tip bullet more nearly closed% 0hat is, if your point form die has a % -B$ ejection pin (typical for %3- caliber) then %-B$ is the smallest <meplat< or flat end you can form on a gi,en bullet, pro,ided the jacket wall thickness permits it% But if you bump this open tip bullet gently within the lead tip die, and the die has a punch with a cur,ed ca,ity with a somewhat more blunt ogi,e shape, the edge of the bullet jacket will be pushed together more tightly for a smaller tip%

/ou can add the 0#$ die to any set that includes a P*#$% 6t does no good to use a 0#$ die with a set that makes !"C or "C style bullets% /ou can change the internal punch (only) on the 0#$ die to make one caliber of die work with different nose shapes% 6t is fairly common for someone to make both ;#! lead tip spit>er bullets (similar to the photo) and flat tip ;#! lead tip bullets for a %3-#3- or other le,er action rifle, using the same set of dies with one e'tra lead tip punch (usually the flat tip ;#! shape)% 0ypical sets include the 0*B#5, ?B0 #., and *?B #;% 6n fact, it is hard to imagine any other kind of lead tip set besides these threeH 0he 0*B#5 can make open or lead tip bullets% 0he ?B0 #. can make rebated boattail open or lead tips% 0he *?B #; makes flat or rebated base, open or lead tips% 0o order a 0#$ die, you need to specify the caliber, and the tip shape% 0he ogi,e cur,e of the 0 die should either match the point form die that you are using (for instance, $#& or ;#!), or it should be more blunt% 6f it is more sharp than the point form die cur,e, it won:t work because the edges of the internal punch will hit the bullet and press into it long before the rest of the cur,e can affect the lead tip% 6f it has a more blunt shape (for e'ample, a 5#! 0#$ punch and die used with a ;#! P*#$ die), the lead tip will be more sharply angled inward than the rest of the bullet, but at least it will work% !ub#sonic bullets are sometimes used for military special ops applications, where a 8uick strike and e'traction with minimal noise is needed% !ub#sonic bullets are loaded to speeds below )ach 6 so there is

no <sonic crack<, and a silenced rifle (or handgun) will produce nothing more than a <puff< sound% 6n such applications, the bullet is most likely used against enemy personnel at relati,ely close range, to maintain the element of surprise% 6t is not called upon to produce a flat trajectory, or to defeat armour, because the shot can be placed with relati,e precision in an offensi,e action% 0herefore, e'pansion may be more important than penetration% 0o take ad,antage of all the a,ailable energy, the base drag needs to be minimi>ed% At sub#sonic speeds, the ogi,e shape is less important than the base( a rebated boattail shape reduces the base drag compared to a flat base bullet, and a round nose design has nearly the same drag as a spit>er below the speed of sound, while permitting greater e'pansion at the same ,elocity% 0o further enhance e'pansion, a thin jacket wall is used and the jacket may be serrated (cut along its a'is with four to si' thin groo,es) to pro,ide e,enly weakened lines along which the bullet can peel back% 0he lead core may be also ha,e a four point E# shaped hollow ca,ity punched into it during core seating, so that it is pre#fragmented to a certain degree% 0his further adds to the ability of the slow mo,ing bullet to e'pand on impact% 0he combination of a lead tip, E#cut core, serrated jacket, and minimal drag base design makes an ideal sub#sonic bullet% Big#bore bullets for African game, especially the early large bores like the ;-- 9itro &'press, .AA !nyder, 5A. 9itro &'press, 5#Bore (%CCB inch with blackpowder straight case), and similar jacketed or lead bullets can be swaged using the Corbin C!P#2 )ega )ite press, or better yet, the Corbin +ydro 1unior or +ydro Press% 0o make these bullets e,en more effecti,e than the originals, Corbin Core Bond flu' may be used to bond the core to the jacket, so it cannot separate e,en if the jacket is turned inside out% Core bonding was originally pioneered by Bitterroot Bullets, using solder to tin the inside of tubing jackets% But adding solder also affects the bullet weight% Corbin carried this process to the ne't le,el about 3- years ago, by introducing a bonding flu' that lowers the surface

Su(-Sonic Bullets
Tools used: C!P#$ Press ?B0 #.#! .#die set, 3-B cal, 345#& ogi,e !==#$#! jacket serrate4draw die 3-B cal Punch#!C 3-B custom E#shape core seat punch% Corbin PC!#$ core cutter%

Materials: Corbin 1#3-#$2. IB jacket "#$- pure lead wire %25A#diameter Corbin !wage ube C! #2%

-.. /itro 01press

Tools used: C!P#2 Press 0*B#5#+ ;22 $42#& die set C01)#$#+ ;22 tubing jacket maker set Corbin PC!#2 core cutter% Corbin !A"#$ tubing cutter saw% Propane torch Corbin B #J60 ceramic heat treatment block set

tension of molten lead and floats the o'ides and carbonates to the surface, e'posing pure lead to pure copper at momentary high temperature, so that the copper molecular structure is penetrated by the lead atoms, resulting in a difusion bond that adds no metal to the bullet, and thus maintains the weight% 0his process has been used by Corbin clients for decades, and is just now being copied by some of the major mass producers% (6magine what else they ha,e missed along the way, that our clients ha,e been doing all alongH) Bonding is a simple process(
$% 2% 3% 5% .% ;% A% B% C% !wage the core to correct weight Place the core in the jacket by hand% Place 2#3 drops of Core Bond in the jacket% +eat the jacket until the lead melts% et the jacket#core cool% Boil the jacket#core in hot water with a tablespoon of baking soda per 8uart for a few minutes (2 or 3)% et the jacket#core dry from its own heat% !eat the core in the jacket with a hollow point punch% *orm the ogi,e as usual% Bullet is done%

Materials: Corbin C4$;#diam copper tubing "#$- pure lead wire %53-#diameter Corbin !wage ube C! #2% Corbin Core Bond CCB#2%

1acketed big bore bullets normally use copper tubing for jackets% 0ubing can be purchased from Corbin in 5#foot sections, cut to jacket length with the !A"#$ tubing cutter saw, and formed into e'cellent bullet jackets with the C01)#$#+ tubing jacket maker kit (specify caliber)% 0he jackets thus formed ha,e a normal base with either a ,ery small hole or no hole in the center, depending on the processing and pressure used% 0ubing jackets are 970 just sections of tubing%%%they are e'cellent bullet jackets% !ub#caliber bullets are those smaller than the standard %225 diameter, which includes these standard Corbin si>es( %2-5 (.mm or 2- caliber) %$A2 ($A caliber) %$5. ($5 caliber) %$23 ($2 caliber)

0he main difference between sub#calibers and larger calibers is the jacket% Corbin has %$A2 jackets a,ailable, but typically jackets for sub#calibers are drawn from %225 jackets, and trimmed to desired length using a jacket trim die% Su(-cali(er ead wire is a,ailable down to %$A2 caliber si>e,

Bullets
Tools used: C!P#$ Press 0*B#5#! %$A2 ;#! ogi,e 5#die set 1?=#$#! %225 to %$A2 jacket draw die &0#2#! %$A2 jacket trim die Corbin PC!#$ core cutter%

which is %$2. diameter to fit the %$A jacket% *or %$5 and %$2 caliber, you will need a &=#2#! lead wire e'truder to make %$-- and %-C- lead wire% "hile sub#cals can be formed from annealed copper wire, the lower BC of such projectiles tends to make them inferior to drawn jacketed bullets filled with lead% 0o make %$5. caliber bullets, one could use %-3copper strip and the Corbin 1)J#$#! jacket making kit, or simply draw down a %$A2 or a %225 jacket% 0he %$23 caliber bullet would be another draw for the %$5. caliber jacket% ong hea,y %$A2 caliber bullet jackets can be made from either %225 or ;mm jackets (using two draws)% 0he most typical ogi,e shape for sub#cal bullets is ;#!, but e'perimental % $A2:s such as the one pictured ha,e been made with $-#! ogi,es% 0he F = bullet was de,eloped by Corbin during the Iiet 9am era for both long range military sniper operations and later, applied to e'perimental bullets for !ecret !er,ice assignments% !ome of the characteristics of the F = or Fltra ow =rag design were also incorporated in a similar but later de,elopment called the I = or ,ery low drag design% Both designs are e8ui,alent for all practical purposes, e'cept that the full F = specification includes a rebated boattail design instead of the standard boattail (for about $.@ gain in accuracy by reducing mu>>le#blast induced dispersion( the ?B0 step deflects most of the mu>>le blast gas in a ring whereas the con,entional B0 tends to focus it into a ball in front of the emerging bullet, adding about $.@ to the disperson or random buffeting of the projectile)% Fltra ow =rag or F = bullets use both a rebated boattail and a $5#caliber secant with %-$5#inch offset from tangent, to achie,e minimum air resistance for a gi,en weight and caliber% 0heir design re8uires a faster than usual twist rate barrel for accuracy% F = bullets are suited to long ranges where minimum wind resistance and time of flight are desired% 0he secant ogi,e shape is optimi>ed so that changing atmospheric pressure or increases in ,elocity due to temperature or loading ,ariations ha,e less tendancy to push the projectile into a state where a secondary shock wa,e is created at the junction of ogi,e and shank, as might happen with a longer radius and a

Materials: Corbin 1#22#A-. IB jacket "#$- pure lead wire %$2.#diameter Corbin !wage ube C! #2%

*ltra Lo2 +rag Bullets

Materials:

Corbin 1#;))#$23 IB jacket "#$- pure lead wire %$B.#diameter Corbin !wage ube C! #2%

sharper angle (or greater offset from tangent)% 7ne reason for seemingly random failures of other low drag secant designs has been shown to be the <on the edge< nature of the secondary shock wa,e, which is absent during ideal conditions but appears when the air density increases (lower altitude, high pressure front mo,es in, air temperature drops, etc%) or the ,elocity of the bullet increases slightly from loading or heating of the cartridge% By not pushing the ogi,e radius and intersection angle to unreliable e'tremes, the F = design a,oids de,eloping the sudden change in BC that occurs when a secondary shock wa,e is created% F = bullets may be made with either open or lead tip% Because of the ogi,e length with a normal tip opening, light weight bullets are not practical without using a low density core material or Corbin bullet ball at the rear of the bullet (shifting weight slightly forward to lower the re8uired spin rate and gaining stability)% &'tremely hea,y bullets may become too long because of the lower ,olume of core in the thin pointed nose section, which re8uires both a long nose and a balancing longer than usual shank% 0he most suitable weight range is toward the high side of the medium weights% F = bullets are generally not suitable for <standard< twist rate rifles (such as the typical $ turn in $5 inches to $ turn in $2 inches), and may not be stable at all loadings in a $ turn4$- inch barrel% Attempting to gain BC at all costs means at the cost of accuracy, as well% A high BC does not translate into high accuracy, any more than a ,ery pointed head makes a man a fast swimmerH 0here are other factors to consider, including stability with practical spin rates and practical bullet lengths and weights% 0he <practical< part means both affordable and within the bounds of other limitations imposed by physics% 0he F = is a special purpose design, not a <magic bullet< that fi'es all problems% 6t can deli,ery e'ceptional accuracy at long range, with the proper e8uipment and loading, or it can be ne't to useless if the other factors are ignored% !olid copper or brass bullets can be made by precision drilling a small hole (about -%$BA. diameter) about half way through the length of a rod

that is the desired bullet length, then cutting the rod to desired length (and thus, the desired weight), pushing the rod through a reducing die to obtain e'act diameter, then forming the ogi,e in a point forming die% Iarious shapes of hollow point punches can be run into the drilled hole to create s8uare, he'agon, splined or other shapes of hollow point ca,ities, with the goal of impro,ed e'pansion% 6f this is to be done, then a C!#$#+ core seating die is used to hold the punch in precise alignment with the center of the copper or brass piece% 0he initial diameter of the copper or brass rod should be as close to final bullet diameter as is practical( if the rod can be purchased economically at e'act diameter or slightly below (%---. or less inches under) then this eliminates the need for a reducing die% 7therwise, a draw of up to % --; inches (appro'imate limit) may be taken to insure consistent finish 8uality, e'act diameter, and proper fit to the point forming die% !olid copper or brass bullets typically ha,e lower BC than the same bullet built with a con,entional jacket and lead core% 0his is because the density of the copper or brass is from 345 to 243 that of the effecti,e density of the jacketed lead bullet, and BC is primarily a function of shape factor times mass o,er diameter s8uared% ow density means low mass for a gi,en ,olume% 6f the caliber, shape, and length are the same, a jacketed lead bullet will ha,e from 2.@ to 33@ higher BC than a solid copper or brass bullet% Because of early work with solid copper %$A2 caliber bullets, clients sometimes ask us to make tools to build solid copper sub#calibers, such as %$2, %$5, %$A, %$C or %2- caliber% Generally, you will find that a jacketed, lead or tungsten powder core bullet in these calibers will deli,er far more satisfactory performance% 0he lure of using solid copper seems to be based on the a,ailability of copper wire, which is sometimes <close< to the bullet si>e% 0he small hole means the dies will ha,e considerable strength to handle the swaging pressure, but the tiny punch diameters are the Achilles: +eel of this idea( the long, thin punches re8uired to compress the solid copper wire in the dies are rather delicate, and can be bent or broken easily under the e'tremely high pressure re8uired%

Solid Copper Bullets

Materials: eaded copper or brass rod .4$;#diam% Corbin !wage ube C! #2%

Annealing the copper, preparing the ends to be s8uare, and adjusting the length for e'act weight of material, all are far more difficult with solid copper than just swaging a tiny lead core, drawing a tiny copper jacket, and assembling them in the con,entional way% 0he supposed sa,ings of time or work that one imagines will come from using solid copper wire are o,erwhelmed by the amount of work re8uired to get the bits cut to precise shape and weight, and then annealed between steps% "orking the copper makes it 8uite hard, so that e,en a second pass into the same die may fail to work unless the piece is annealed again% Corbin strongly recommends drawing down a trimmed 225 jacket, for a hea,y#walled sub#caliber jacket filled with lead or tungsten powder% 0his is a ,ery 8uick and easy operation, which makes an uncon,entionally hea,y base and shank for the caliber% 0his o,ercomes the last objection, that the ,elocity will be too high for a con,entional jacket% 0he resulting accuracy is normally superior to solid copper bullets, and the BC is always far superior since the lead density is much greater than that of solid copper% "ith such tiny bullets, one needs all the ballistic coefficient a,ailable to a,oid wind or thermal riser deflection on the way to the targetH

=eciphering Bullet 0ip Color Codes and Bullet 0ypes

'ound nose (ullet 2it3 no tip color # Model 1451, this is the original loading for the )osin#9agant% &arly rounds were loaded with black powder% Always found in brass casings%

/ickel (ullet 2it3 no tip color # Check the headstamp, from $C-B until $C3- this was the standard ammunition% Called the type 6L6, it contains a $5A grain bullet with a lead core% 0his bullet type was also used by the *inns from $C2- through $C3B where is was called the type <!<% 0he headstamp will determine the country of origin%

S3ort dark (ullet 2it3 no tip color # &ast German practice ammunition% Probably loaded in &ast Germany with components manufactured in another country% !intered iron $23 grain A%;2'3C bullets are of Bulgarian origin, casings with a 2$ headstamp are +ungarian, code $- headstamp are Bulgarian% 0he bullets ha,e been blackened as a way to designate for practice only%

Copper (ullet 2it3 no tip color # /ou must know the date of manufacture and country of origin to determine the loading of this round% 6f it is ?ussian and made prior to $CA-, this will be a $5A grain lead core < < bullet with copper plating% 6f the date is $CA- or after, the round is loaded with a $5A grain mild steel core < P!< bullet% Fsing a magnet will not discriminate between the two% 0he <tombac< jacket of the type <=< bullet contains steel and will attract a magnet as well as the < P!< bullet% 6f the round is C>ech or +ungarian and made prior to $CB-, then it will be a $A2 grain lead core <=< bullet% After $CB-, steel core < P!<%

7ello2 # $A2 grain lead core type 6+6 bullet% Production was discontinued and out of first line in,entory by $CA-% 0he C>echs refered to this bullet as type <0><%

Sil)er or 8ra9 # 6L"S6 $5A grain mild steel core bullet% 0he C>echs called this the type .C bullet, the Chinese, the type .3%

Sil)er o)er 7ello2 # $B2 grain mild steel core bullet% 0his code is only used by +ungary% +eadstamp will be 2$%

8reen # 0racer

'ed # /ou must check the headstamp for the country of origin% 6f ?ussian, it is the <PK< &'ploding bullet% 6f Chinese, it is an 6ncendiary47bser,ation bullet%

Black o)er 'ed # AP6 Armor#Piercing#6ncendiary

"urple o)er 'ed # AP60 Armor#Piercing#6ncendiary#0racer

Black # /ou must check the headstamp for the country of origin% 6f Chinese, it will be AP6 (Armor#Piercing# 6ncendiary)% 6f ?ussian, it will be Armor#Piercing% Chinese rounds should be dated after $C;A, the year they changed their tip color code from black o,er red to just black% ?ussian rounds should be dated prior to $C5- as the standard Armor#Piercing bullet was dropped in fa,or of the Armor#Piercing#6ncendiary bullet in the late $C3-:s%

W3ite tipped )er9 s3ort (ullet # C>echoslo,ackian plastic core short range practice bullet%

Matc3 8rade (ullet # 0his is the fat profile of the &'tra brand 3-- meter target bullet% 2-- grain weight%

*at Profile with canilure# 0his is the *innish <=#$;;< bullet%