Turning reloading bullets from solid brass?

eastsidechap · Mar 17, 2013

If you had an accurate cnc lathe could you produce a useable reloading bullet from copper barstock?

ridnjon · Mar 17, 2013

Yes if you have the geometry correct, super accurate bullets are turned.

P7M13 · Mar 18, 2013

Wouldn't have to be CNC either.

eastsidechap · Mar 18, 2013

Has anyone done this?

Eludnu · Mar 18, 2013

You may want to do a simple google search. Elite Ammunition (I'll keep my opinion on the owners to myself) Barnes, solid brass bullets, and the ATF would be a good search to start with.

deadshot2 · Mar 19, 2013

More than one person has turned their own. Make sure it's soft copper. Brass is a No-No. Considered by the ATF to be AP.

The big issue for a non-cnc lathe will be repeating the profile of the bullet. Slight differences will end up causing large errors in accuracy.

If you can set up a manual lathe with a cam type control, such as used on Screw Machines. you could get pretty good accuracy.

If you want to have some fun, turn your bullets out of hard polyethelene and add a gas check. Super light bullet, super fast.