.452 swaged down to .429?

[vader]

All right guys, This may be a noob question, but i can't find the answer.
I have a .452 MP hollow point mold (BEST MOLD EVER) for my 1911 45 and i was wondering if i could swage that bullet down to a .429 size and use it in my dads 44-40? Will it work? What problems will I have? Thanks in advance

Vader

[fecmech]

I've done it in the past going to .433 for my big throated Super BH. I don't think you want to do it with bullets that are very hard and I would size and lube them first with you .452 die. That way you have some lube and the lube groove won't get closed up.

[runfiverun]

they'll probably lose wait they don't have a crimp grove.
they will get long though.

[rintinglen]

You probably can, but don't try it on a Lube sizer, you're way too likely to break something. Instead, try doing what I Did. I made some 230 grain 45 Hardball into 230 grain .429 boolits. It worked, but was way too hard on the machinery and my back. I used a Lee push through sizer and TL'd the bullets before smashing them through on my RCBS O press. They were definitely elongated and cup based.

[fredj338]

I think it's too far, you'll certainly distort the bullet a bit, lose some lube grooves, etc. I've sized down 0.458" to 0.452" w/o much of an issue & 0.430" to 0.424" but I think you are asking quite a bit.

[ku4hx]

That's an enormous amount of re-sizing. I've sized Lee TL .460" boolits down to .451" and even then the lube grooves were pretty much obliterated. Less of an effect for a traditional lube groove I'm sure.

But why do it? Proper molds are not that expensive.

[gray wolf]

Not having 44 bullets and not having a mold for 44 forced me out of desperation
to try some .452 45 ACP bullets, SWC, Flat nose and HP.
All were .453 perhaps my metal was soft ? They went right through the .431 die in the 450 sizer, they had been sized and lubed.
But ! they did get longer and only the bottom band was .431 the metal seem to migrate to the upper half of the bullet and the best I could get was .432
The top band was a .001 bigger. I did not proceed.
Still looking for a decent mold.

[WaywardSon]

I did exactly this by mistake last week. Using a Lee sizing die and a Rockchucker press. You will need a stout bench...and arm:-) I ran my through dry (don't ask...it was late:-)...there was no lube groove left and the base of the bullet had a "flange" of excess lead that would need to be trimmed before loading. My advice would be to buy the correct mold.

Best...........John

[harvester]

Buy a mold.

[Hang Fire]

Just speaking from my experience. Try running boolits through one or two intermediate sizing dies before desired diameter die, not so much distortion that way.

[Ithaca1937]

All right guys, This may be a noob question, but i can't find the answer.
I have a .452 MP hollow point mold (BEST MOLD EVER) for my 1911 45 and i was wondering if i could swage that bullet down to a .429 size and use it in my dads 44-40? Will it work? What problems will I have? Thanks in advance

Vader

Have you seen WaywardSon's thread showing how he accidentally run his 45acp boolits through a .429 Lee sizer: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=152607

[Castlead]

WAY WAY TOO MUCH. Even though you can do this you will not be on center and the bullet will be out of balance. If at all possible buy a mold of the correct size and do this drastic amount of sizing only out of desperation.

[WaywardSon]

Have you seen WaywardSon's thread showing how he accidentally run his 45acp boolits through a .429 Lee sizer: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=152607

Gee thanks Ithaca...I was hoping that one would die a quiet death[smilie=1:

[Potsy]

I've run .460 Ranch Dogs down to .452 through a Lee sizer and a Rock Chucker. It's nothing you'll do on a light duty press C-clamped to a Wal-Mart coffee table that's for sure and certain.

I'm guessing (I'm sure there are those here with actual experience, not just guessing) you'll need at least 2 intermediate sized dies to prevent shaving, flanges, tremendous distortion, etc. I'm guessing (again) about .445 and .437 or thereabouts.

The last Lee sizer I bought (probably 4-5 years ago) was $15. 2 of them will run you $30. About the same money as a 2 cavity Lee mold.

[vader]

Just an update guys, Worked like a champ. . . . My old man is getting what he thinks is "custom ammo" in a hollow point for hunting.

Thanks again guys :)

Vader

[bfuller14]

Vader,
Could you tell us the method used too get your results?

[MtGun44]

If you fill the lube groove first, the groove will size down proportionally.

Bill

[vader]

Just ran them through the .429 sizer on a real sturdy bench. It made them just a touch longer, and i had to relube them, but for as much as my dad hunts, the extra work saved me from buying a mold that i would rarely use