Manual

The external CS punch can also have a projecting cone on the end to make hollow
points. The internal punch can be flat, domed or have a conical projection to form the
mirror image of that shape in the bullet base. An open tip is just a core seated below
the jacket mouth. You can also make an open tip hollow point by having a conical
projection on the punch that fits inside the jacket. A lead tip hollow point is made by
using a HP punch that fits the die, and a core longer than the jacket. You cannot,
however, make an open tip hollow point (contradiction in terms).
Place the clean core into the jacket, and put both into the core seating die with the
jacket mouth (open end) facing out. Move the ram gently forward and align the exter-
nal punch with the jacket mouth, then adjust the external punch so that the core will
just be expanded to the maximum allowed by the die as the press reaches the end of
the stroke. The force should be quite gentle, never enough to crack the die or bend the
punches. If the jacket and core stay together in the die when the ram is moved back,
rather than coming out with the external punch, it means that they have been ex-
panded enough to grip the die walls. If the jacket sticks on the external punch, it may
be removed by holding the pressure for a count of five and then ejecting, or by remov-
ing the punch and tapping on the jacket mouth with a brass hammer while rotating the
punch several times (this expands the jacket and it falls off by itself). Sticking can be
caused by improper fit of punch to jacket, or not enough lube on the punch tip.
The seated core and jacket should be just slightly under finished diameter. For ex-
ample. a .308 bullet should have a seated core and jacket of about .3078 to
.3079 inch diameter. About .0002 inches is a reasonable amount to expand in the final
point forming operation, which is next. For larger lead tip bullets, you may be able to
use the external flat base punch from the point forming die, as a core seating punch: it
should fit the core seat die closely, so that lead cores longer than the jacket would not
bleed around it.
After seating all the cores in the jacket, remove the core seating die and punch, and
install the POINT FORMER (PF-1). This die has the ogive or nose curve shape ma-
chined into the die cavity itself. It does not form the nose using a punch. The internal
punch is in reality only an ejection pin, and is retracted out of the die cavity during
swaging so it plays no part in the shaping of the bullet. The ejection pin has a long head
with a slot across it. The stop pin in the press frame must be removed and then in-
serted into the slot, so it holds the internal punch secure to the frame. Push the seated
core and jacket into the point forming die using an external punch that matches the
base shape. (If you change base shapes in the core seating operation, you will need a
matching external punch for the point former).
Push the jacket and core into the die with the open or lead end first. The die will curve
the jacket and lead into a bullet shape. Push only far enough to make the lead extend
from the tip of the jacket, and put the ogive curve on the bullet, Do not attempt to push
lead up the ejection pin hole or close the tip to a smaller point than the diameter of the
ejection pin. For lead tip bullets you want the "stem" of lead that attaches the top to the
main core to be large enough in diameter so that the tip will not break off in handling
or feeding. Do not try to make too small a tip: this is not effective because the jacket
walls themselves, when pushed together at the tip, will cut into the "stem" diameter
holding the lead tip to the main core. You need enough extruded lead so the cavity of
the LEAD TIP die (LT-1) is filled completely.
Use the LEAD TIP FORMER (LT-1) to gently push the lead tip to perfect shape,
shearing off any extra lead as a little ring against the jacket. The lead should be large
enough so that it can form nicely, without voids or pits. The pressure used is extremely
light: just enough to shape the blob of lead into a nice tip, no more. If you press too
hard, a ring or step will be formed in the ogive of the bullet.
The POINT FORMER
(PF-1) uses an
internal punch
called the "ejection
pin". A slot in the
head of the ejection
pin fits the STOP
PIN on the press
frame.
Core
"stem"
The Lead Tip die
gently reshapes
the deformed lead
which results from
ejection from the
point forming die.
The internal punch
can be changed for
different shapes in
the same diameter.
The external punch
is the same one
used in the Point
Form die (shown
here is a Hollow
Base punch).
The internal LT punch
matches the caliber
(diameter) of the die set,
and is also matched to
the ogive curve of the
point forming die.
However, you can specify
flat tip, sharp tip, or semi-
spitzer (rounded) tip all
with the same ogive.
Instructions for the FJFB-3-S or -M die set, Page 2