Advice reqired re swaging cartridge to make bullet pen

[bigbob]

Hi after having a bit of a tidy up in the shed I found some spent cartridges in my shed .243 and .270 Winchester magnum. Looking at the .243 I thought it looks the same lenth of the brass tubes from a slimline and remembering a utube video from Woody decides to drill out the primer first with a center drill then a 7mm drill which worked fine. However there was not enough material to drill out the neck end of the cartridge so decided to try and swage it but the only thing I had to do this was a centre punch and a set of transfer punches. I managed to swage enough for the 7mm tube but not wide enough for the diameter of the nib so any advice kindly received should I use heat or what else can I use without spending too much (have no reloading kit) think I can make a pen with the .270 WM I just need longer brass tube and can pack with heatshrink and solder the tube in.

Thanks

Bob

 

[Penpal]

Question is with some cartridges swaging up or swaging down is needed. To assist me I choose new unfired cartridges without a primer, then match the kit to the cartridge.

Also I have found some cartridge makers produce rough swaged product so if you want to make over time a swaging tool would pay dividends.

Peter.

 

[bigbob]

Hi Peter this one needs swaging up to fit the nib. I stopped shooting about 25 years ago when we moved and these old cartridges are what remains I have had a notion to join the local rifle club and thinking of reloading but mainly to shoot old stuff like a sharpes 45/70 but think its too expensive a hobby for my retired income. What put me in mind to try and make bullet pens was a visit to an old friend who asked me to make a couple of pens and as he is a Gamekeeper thought about making a pen from original cartridge. He shoots a 7mm Mauser so will ask him for some spent cartidges and maybe there might be a bit of an opportunity to make some pens for other shooters and hunters that visit the area but I need a technique of swaging to fit the brass tubes and nib tips incase they are too small. While I was at my friends he showed me a beautiful 1873 Winchester very interested to see the mechanism and the cleaning rods in the stock.

 

[Les ELm]

Use the correct size bullet for the nib.

Les

 

[bigbob]

Use the correct size bullet for the nib.

Les

Is that a .308 Les I like it looks like a proper jacketed bullet

 

[Les ELm]

Is that a .308 Les I like it looks like a proper jacketed bullet

Winchester .280 with Berger (.277 Diameter) 130 gr VLD Hunting bullet.

Les

 

[Penpal]

Easy conversion kit to use this magnetic cap kit for a double ender and others fit my collection of large cartridges. I am lucky also to have a friend who is a gunsmith who will swage any size to anything. Another mate recently said he has some huge cartridges waiting for me.All I need is mobility and time, minus 5 this morning but with the prospect of sun for a few hours to 14 degrees. My plants consume my energy just now but Paul has stimulated some ideas I will fulfill in the spring heading our way.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

Bullet diameter .243 is 6.2 mm

Bullet diameter .308 (7.62) is 7.8 mm

As Les said the proper nib for a bullet pen is a projectile.

I tried to expand .30 cal up to .40 cal using heat didn't work.

 

[bigbob]

Thank you all I will see if I can find an avid reloader and see if I can buy projectile with case

 

[flexi]

Hi Bob sorry to be late to the party....i have made a few bullet pens....308 or .303 are the correct size for a slimline kit to fit straight in ( i have loads of those cases) if your doing other calibers its way easier as Les said to buy the heads and drill to fit.....if you PM what you want i can source heads and cases for you....cos i don't think your going to need 100 of each...

 

[Penpal]

Generous offer Mark.

Peter.

 

[Les ELm]

Drilled out a few bullets for nibs.

Les

 

[bigbob]

Package received Mark thank you very much PM sent

 

[wm460]

Drilled out a few bullets for nibs.

Les

Areal production line there Les.

 

[Penpal]

No problem buying full boxes for you Les your turnover must be very high. I regard you as the forerunner in all things cartidge driven, also resident expert.

Peter.