Corbin FRBL-6-M Instructions Manual

							How to Swage Bullets Using The
FRBL-6-M, -S, or -H Die Set
Type -H dies fit into the ram of  the Corbin Mega-Mite press (CSP-2), Corbin
Hydro, Jr., (CSP-2H) press, and the Corbin Hydro-Press (CHP-1). The type -M
dies fit either the horizontal Silver Press (CSP-3) or the vertical Series II Press
(CSP-1). The type -S dies fit only the Series II Press (CSP-1). The last letter, -
M, -S, or -H, describes the outside diameter, threads, punch lengths, and which
presses the die set will fit. If a tool fits both the -S and the -M systems and
there would be no difference in it for either of  them (such as punch holders or
draw dies), then the -M designation is used.
The set consists of  a CORE SWAGE (CSW-1), a standard flat base CORE
SEATER (CS-1), a BOAT-TAIL PREFORM (BT-1), a REBATED BOATTAIL
internal punch for the CS-1, a POINT FORM (PF-1) die with both RBT and FB
external punches, and a LEAD TIP FINISHER (LT-1) die, which uses the same
external punches as the PF-1.
An EXTERNAL PUNCH is held in the FLOATING PUNCH HOLDER (FPH-1-
M or FPH-1-H), which comes with the press and screws down into the top
plate of  the press.  For the -M and -S external punches under 3/8-inch caliber,
a threaded bushing and steel ring are removed from the bottom of  the punch
holder, placed over the external punch, and then screwed back into the bot-
tom of the punch holder to secure the punch. The punch holder screws into
the press head, so the punch faces the ram. For -M and -S punches from 3/8-
inch up, the bushing and ring are part of  the punch assembly. For -H external
punches, only a threaded bushing is used, without the steel ring. The external
punch is the TOP punch in these systems.
The die screws into the press ram, with its INTERNAL PUNCH inside the
ram. Some internal punches require the use of  spring powered retraction: for
the PF-1-H die, the internal punch is called an EJECTION PIN punch, and it
will have a quarter inch diameter hole through the head portion, through which
a 1/4-inch diameter retraction pin fits. The pin goes below the large spring
around the press ram, and pushes down on the pin, which then pushes the
punch down when the ram is raised, making it easier to insert material into
the die. For the PF-1-M and PF-1-S dies, a notch is machined into the head of
the internal punch, which matches a removable pin with knurled head pushed
into the front (CSP-1) or top (CSP-3) of  the press. This is the STOP PIN. It
presses on the tail all punches except for the ejection pin punch, to cause
ejection on the down stroke. Because the PF-1 die would form the bullet around
this pin if  the pin were allowed to remain in the die cavity during swaging, the
stop pin must be put into the notch and used to keep the pin retracted from
the cavity during swaging, holding it firmly during the down stroke to cause
ejection of the bullet.
In the -H system, a knock-out or ejection bar goes through a slot in the press
ram, below the spring and also below the retraction pin (if  one is required—
not all punches have a hole through the head). The knock-out bar supports
the head of  the internal punch while the component is being swaged, and
comes to rest on the press mounting plate on the downward stroke. This stops
the movement of  the bar while the ram continues down, making the punch
stop moving while the die goes down with the ram.
1. Core Swage Die - makes lead core. This is
always the first step with any style.
2. BT-1 Die - seats core into jacket, forms
star t of  rebated base on jacket. This step
is skipped with FB bullet styles.
3. Core Seat or BT-2 Die - finishes RBT using
RBT internal punch, or seats core for FB
bullets using FB CS External punch (5).
4. Point Form Die - shapes ogive on bullet,
using either RBT external punch, or FB
external punch (6) to match bullet.
5. Lead Tip Finishing Die - shapes lead tip or
pushes open tip closer together.
6. RBT Internal punch for CS-1 die, used only
when you want to make RBT bullets.
1           2 34
5
6
Stop Pin
(CSP-1 or
CSP-3 press)
fits the slot in
the ejection
pin punch
head.
Internal
ejection
pin
punch,
PF PF-1
Point
Fo r m
Die
External RBT
PF Punch, is
used ONLY to
push the RBT
bullet into the
PF die. Any
other use may
destroy it.
The RBT deflects
muzzle gas so it does
not focus in front of
the bullet, as with the
standard boattail.
External
Punches are
held in the
press HEAD
using the
Floating Punch
Holder.* used only for RBT bullet, not flat base 
						

							Never try to swage a component that will not go into
the die by hand. The swaging operation depends on each
component being slightly smaller than the die bore, and
increases the bullet diameter a little with every step. The
core seating die and point forming die are matched to each
other for a given jacket and core material to within 0.0005
to .0010 inches with the core seater being smaller.
The first die is the CORE SWAGE (CSW-1). It is
used to form a piece of  lead to precise diameter, length and
weight. There are three bleed holes through the sides of  the
die, and its punches are very close fits to the die bore. They
are the smallest punches in the set and only fit this die prop-
erly. Always make sure the punch fits the die by hand be-
fore applying pressure to it with the press!
For power presses, set the bottom sensor so the pres-
sure stops (red LED on the sensor goes on) just as the
swaged core is ejected (internal punch even with the top of
the die). Use a knock-out bar that allows the punch to come
just to the die face, if  you have more than one height of  bar
with your press (CSP-2 hand press uses three different
heights of  bars for various punch and die lengths). Make
sure your hand press is in the SHORT STROKE (swaging)
position: the CSP-1 and CSP-2 presses have dual stroke pivot
holes for the ram/toggle linkage and you cannot swage in
the long or reloading stroke (it may break the stop pin to
try).
You can use cut lead wire, or a cast lead core. Apply a
small amount of  Corbin Swage Lube to the cores as you
handle them. Set the floating punch holder so the desired
amount of  lead is left in the die when the press stops mov-
ing up (position of  the top sensor controls top of  stroke on
hydraulic presses, physical end of  ram travel is fixed on hand
press). Always extrude at least 1-2 grains from each core,
or else you will not achieve consistent weight control. But
do not extrude more than about 10 grains, as this only wastes
time and raises the swaging pressure unnecessarily.
After making the desired number of  cores, clean them
in hot water to remove the swage lube, then let them dry
and insert them into bullet jackets (if  jackets are used).
The CS-1 Core Seater is the second die, if  you are
making flat base bullets. Otherwise, it is the  BT-1 Boattail
Preformer. It will accept the jacket  easily but closely, and
has no bleed holes. The CS-1 or BT-2 looks similar, but is
marked with the CS-1 or BT-2 designation. The bore size of
the BT-1 is slightly smaller than that of  the BT-2.  The inter-
nal punch for the BT-1 die is a loose fit in the die; it serves
ONLY to push the bullet out, and plays no part in forming
the base.
Select a diameter of  external punch that fits the jacket
ID at the point where you want the core to be after seating.
Thicker jackets, and lighter cores in tapered jackets, both
require a larger diameter external punch than thinner jack-
ets or heavier bullets with a tapered commercial jacket. (See
Corbin Handbook for discussion of  proper core/jacket/
punch fitting).
 The correct core seating pressure is normally in the
300 to 500 PSI range. This can vary with the particular cali-
ber, jacket thickness, and other features of  the bullet, so
follow any written instructions provided with the die regard-ing the suggested pressure. Always start with the pressure
in a low setting on the hydraulic presses (300 to 500 psi)
and increase slowly until the jacket expands to just under
the diameter you get with a swaged pure lead slug in the
die. Apply a small amount of  swaging lube to the outside of
each jacket as you pick it up to insert in the die; the amount
that you get by rolling a drop between finger and thumb is
sufficient in most cases. Lubricant should not be allowed
inside the jacket.
The third die for RBT bullets is the REBATED
BOATTAIL FINISHER (BT-2), which is the CS-1 Core
Seater with a RBT internal punch.  For FLAT BASE
BULLETS, go from core swage to CS-1, skipping the BT-1
die. The combination of  the BT-1, BT-2, and the external RBT
punch for the PF-1 die is also available as the RBT-2 ADD-ON
SET, for adding the RBT design to existing f lat base die sets.
Use the same external punch (core seating) that you used
with the previous step. Push the bullet base first into the
die, and apply enough pressure so that a shoulder is formed
clearly at the junction of  the boattail and the bullet shank
(full diameter portion). The shoulder formed in this die must
match the cavity of  the external point form punch. If  it is
too long or short, a double shoulder may be created in the
final step.
The fourth die for RBT bullets or third (and fi-
nal) die for f lat base bullets is the POINT FORMER
(PF-1).  It shapes the ogive curve on the bullet and gives
the bullet its final diameter. This die has a bullet-shaped
hole. The diameter of  the point form die itself  is usually
NOT the same as the bullet, and is designed to match the
core seater, the jacket material and thickness, and the lead
hardness. Using materials other than those for which the
set was designed can change the bullet diameter and may
cause the bullet to stick or become hard to eject.
The external punch has a cavity matching the boattail
angle and shoulder depth. Make sure that the bullet is short
enough so that the entire punch tip is well within the die
cavity before any pressure is created. If  the punch walls are
not supported fully by the die, the punch will crack when
pressure is applied. Making too heavy a bullet for the length
of  the PF-1 die cavity may break the external punch.
For Flat Base (FB) bullets, use the flat base punch.
Never use the RBT external punch for any other purpose
than pushing RBT bullets into the PF die or the LT die.
Eject, examine, and re-adjust until the tip is formed to
the desired amount of  closure, but do not try to close it
smaller than the size of  the ejection pin! Never force jacket
material up into the ejection pin hole: doing so will concen-
trate force in such a small area that it can crack the die.
Remember, we are dealing with rifle chamber pressures in
these swaging dies, when the press goes over center.
Leave plenty of  lead extruded from the tip of  the bul-
let in order to finish shaping it in the LT-1 die. Two com-
mon problems in making lead tip bullets are (1) closing the
tip too much when forming the ogive, and (2) not leaving
enough lead to fill the cavity of  the LT internal punch. The
open tip can be gently pushed together more closely, using
the LT die. Avoid pushing hard enough to put a ring in the
ogive from the punch edge.