How much is it practical to size down?

[Slick Pilot]

Can one size a .311 bullet down to .309 without problems?

How about a .314 to .309?

I would like to size down a .314 light pistol bullet to shoot in my 30 Carbine.

Any suggestions and better ways to go are welcome.

[Bullshop]

Lube first at as cast diameter, then size nose first in steps of not more than about .004". This way you can reduce diameter significantly and retain concentricity and not close the lube grooves. I routienly size down .010" to .012" this way with very good results.
BIC/BS

[Slick Pilot]

Okay, so if I want to size a 311 to 309, can I just do that in one step, or use the two step method?

Thanks.

[Bass Ackward]

Okay, so if I want to size a 311 to 309, can I just do that in one step, or use the two step method?

Thanks.


SP,

Yep. .311 to .309 in one fell swoop. .314 to .309 is better with 2 steps. Dan didn't lie to ya.

[jonk]

.311 to .309 should work fine 1 step.

[357maximum]

I size the .314-120 GB from .3145 to .310 and .311 all in one swell swoop, it works well. These are panlubed first, and rammed through a lee type push through die...the wifes 30/30 single shot actually prefers this system to the lubrisized pills, so that is what I do...

[Slick Pilot]

My thanks to all.

[nelsonted1]

I sized .323 8mm bullets to .315 to shoot in a 303 British. Took some pushing but worked way beyond what I hoped for!

[Jack Stanley]

I tried pushing some of my .318" slugs meant for my Brit. down to .314" for the Russian . Only did ten to see if it would work , when it warms up a bit I may do it some more and find a load that works well .

Jack

[Dale53]

I guess it has been left unsaid that the less sizing we do the better we are. The absolute best is to have a mould giving us a properly sized bullet "AS CAST".

The way we size also has an effect. The best way to size is to use a "push through" sizer such as the Lee and the Star simply because it results in less damage to the bullet. You also get less damage to the bullet if it is lubed before sizing. That can be utilized in a number of ways, pan lubing, spray lubing, or even by having a film of lube in the sizing die.

Dale53

[Char-Gar]

I hold the opinion that "how" you size, is more important thant "how much" you size.

In a tradtional machine like Lyman/RCBS the pressure it takes on the nose to size more than a few thousands can take a toll on the bullet nose. This is one strong reason to size down in steps..it takes much less pressure.

Now if you size with a nose first/base push set up, you can do it in one fell swoop with zero pressure on the nose to distort the bullet.

With a Lee or similiar set up in the top of a loading press, sizing becomes much easier and there is no damage to the bullets with extreme sizing. Even so, some lube makes everything easier.

I have no problems sizing bullets of .316 down to .310 using the above method.

[mozark]

Wondering....has anyone here with a lathe made a Lee type push through size die? The simplicity of the Lee sizers is compelling, but there certainly are voids in the list of available diameters. It seems that a half-reamer would do the trick.

MM

[Scrounger]

Wondering....has anyone here with a lathe made a Lee type push through size die? The simplicity of the Lee sizers is compelling, but there certainly are voids in the list of available diameters. It seems that a half-reamer would do the trick.

MM

Buckshot makes them. And Lee will custom make you one of their kits in any size you want for $25 shipped.

[hunter64]

If you have an under size Lee Push thru and you want it bigger without having to pay the 25 bucks or what ever they charge then there is a simple method to enlarge it. Take a wood dowel about 8" that is just smaller than the diameter of the die and wrap a piece of 240 grit sand paper around it. The sand paper must be in cut narrow and about 8 '' long so the same piece is all the way thru the die. Now simply roll the die on a surface that is flat and will not move, rubber mat, towel taped to a bench, carpet etc. Hold the dowel/sandpaper on each end and let the die roll on its on accord. Do two or three rolls and check the new size, once you get it to 1 thou. of what you want change to 400 grit and continue till desired size is obtained. I did my .429 to .432 in about 15 minutes and it was easy.