Slug Guns and Muzzleloaders

[Slugun45]

Mike, the rod with the steps in it is used to drive the bullet into the swedge. Be cAreful you don't booger the edge on the rod or any of the edges in the swedge. Set the swedge on something very stable and very dead like a three foot long piece of 4x6 or a telephone pole. Use a 3 pound hamer.
Oil the bullet lightly with very thin oil, like sperm oil, and drop the bullet nose first in the swedge. Inser the rod and tap it lightly with the hammer until the bullet is seated in the swedge. Them hit the pin three good raps with the hammer. The swedge should have a floating pin it it which is how you dislodge the bullet from the swedge. You tap the pin on your rest and it should easily dislodge the bullet. I cast a round 10 piece of scrap lead to sit the swedge on. Drill a hole in it to accept the pin on the swedge and set it on the 3 foot post. I'll take a picture of my set up and it will be easy to see how it it all goes. Be carefully with the sledging rod or you be making another one. The edges on it have to be sharp or the base of the bullet will not be formed properly. Jim