Heavy sizing

[Jack Stanley]

Those of you that have experimented with swagging might have tried this . The question is ; have you ever tried sizing a cast bullet meant for for .451" use down to around .430" . I don't have the push through sizer or I would have already tried it .

Lets say I cast a Lyman 452374 out of very soft lead just so it casts a little small to start with . Then tumble lube in Alox and paste wax mix and let dry . Then push through size to .431" for use in the forty-four magnum or special at velocities of about eight hundred fifty or so .

Is there going to be enough lube groove left to add more lube ? And do you think it would distort the bases to much to use with any kind of accuracy ?

Thanks for the insight .

Jack

[Jim]

Jack,
I've done it, so I know it can be done. Results differ, so I can't say your will be acceptable.

[Jack Stanley]

My basic concern is does that twenty thousanths worth of lead end up making an uneven base . Since I don't expect to drive them fast I think I can make some lube work . Having an ugly base is another matter though .

What happened when you tried it ?

Jack

[sqlbullet]

I have swaged some bullets down large amounts just to try it. I tried a 240 gr Lee .430 SWC run through a Lee .401 size die.

Things I learned:

1. Fill the lube grooves full. Unless there is something in them, they will collapse.
2. Stepping down more than about .010" in a single pass probably won't work. Two issues. First, the base will be ugly. Second, the .452 shoulder of the slug likely won't fit in the throat of the .431 sizing die. It will shear off. I would want a .440" step for sure. Three steps of .007" would be even better.
3. Lead is very malleable. You can reform it to about any shape with the pressure available at the very bottom of the press stroke. I have pushed a that same .430 slug, cast of air cooled isotope lead with a BHN of 11 to start all the way through a 30-06 sizing die. I just had to make small steps: stroke, screw the die down a millimeter, stroke, etc.

Good luck!

[Jim]

That's why I built a hydraulic sizing press. I salvaged hundreds of .323 FMJs from old turk 8MM ammo and sized them to .311 for my .303. I'm still shootin' 'em. I have sized .458X300 gr. .45-70 bullets down to .452 for an old Vaquero I no longer have.

[45-70.gov]

i don't shoot the 45 colt enough to buy a mold for it
don't even currently reload for it...but have a pile of brass,primers. powder

but i do cast 405 grains for my 45-70

was wondering if all i needed was a new sizing die??
RCBS lube-a-matic...is what i have to work with

[Jack Stanley]

Thanks guys I think I learned what I needed . Three dies to reduce the slugs properly and that will cost nearly what another mold would so it's just about a wash as for money layout .

Jack

[NSP64]

I have sized .452 down to .433 in one pass. wdww no less, on a lee light weight press with a lee push through sizer. What I learned is that the base will be mis-shapen if you run them through nose first. I ran them through base first and they came out great.

[Buckshot]

http://www.fototime.com/68E891AD4F08210/standard.jpg

...........The 2 boolits on the right are 45 cal rifle slugs (.458") That were lube-sized to that and then run up through a .452" Lee die and used in my old model Vaquero.

http://www.fototime.com/ADF9F422ACC2AA7/standard.jpg

On the left is a heavy 8mm I had done as a group buy several years ago. It's 236 - 240grs depending on the alloy and will normally drop at about .326". On the right is the same slug sent up through a .314" push through die to use in a M1909 Argentine 7.65x54. It didn't fare too well as it was a bit too heavy for the twist. At 50 yards it was okay but obviously tipping. Did the same downsizing with the lighter Lyman 323470 @ 165grs and it shot VERY well.

Most any sizing down like this will have the lube grooves become shallower and wider the more sizing that's done. You could reach a point where the bottom of the lube grooves could bottom out on the lands. At that point you'll begin to have problems.

..................Buckshot

[fecmech]

I resized some .452 SWC's to .433 (ACWW) in my Lyman 450 with no problems, just make sure lube grooves are full.