WELCOME TO OUR NEW WEBSITE! We are adding products everyday, but if you do not see what you are looking for go to our legacy page at bulletswage.com

Make .30 Jackets from Pennies

Using the Corbin JMK-P-H Jacket Maker Kit, you can convert copper pennies into rather good inch-long 308 bullet jackets, assuming you use either the CHP-1 Hydro Press or the CSP-2 Mega Mite press with long handle option.

The JMK-P-H requires copper or 95/5 alloy pennies, not the post-1962 zinc pennies which have a copper plate or wash. Those will not withstand the heat treatment, nor the drawing operation, and will either turn into a silver puddle when you try to anneal them, or will crumble and crack if you try to draw them.

Here are the steps to turn a copper penny into a 30 caliber bullet jacket (which can be redrawn to make smaller jackets such as 284, 277, 264, and 257 caliber -- smaller sizes may or may not be satisfactory unless annealed again to restore the drawing capability)...
  • Anneal the penny. Heat it to a dull red glow and let it cool (or quench to handle it quicker).

  • Lubricate the penny with Corbin Swage Lube.

  • Place the penny in the retainer area of the cupping punch, which is in the press ram.

  • Raise the ram carefully so the penny goes into the cupping die, which is in the press head.

  • Adjust the cupping die so you can press the penny through the die at the top of the stroke.

  • Note that adjustment is critical: too much effort means incorrect setting of the die.

  • After making a pile of penny cups, change to the 1st redraw die.

  • Lubricate the cup again, place lube 1st redraw die punch, and push the cup through the die.

  • Again, note that position of the die is critical to achieve reasonable effort.

  • Redraw again using the next draw die, until you reach the size desired (typically 308).

  • Other sizes can be drawn by adding more draw dies. Trim dies are used to adjust length.

Start writing here...

Sign in to leave a comment