Ring Around The Collar

[sw282]

l have an annoying problem with a 44 cal mold. lts Lyman 429215 gc. l am using the correct top punch #421. Sizing puts a small ring around bullet nose. lts very unsightly scars the bullet. What can l do to eliminate this unsightly ring??

[Shuz]

In my experience, these small blemishes in the nose of cast bullets that arise from using ill fitting top punches doesn't mean anything when it comes to accuracy. It's all strictly cosmetic.

However, you could make yourself a "universal" top punch by getting a piece of 17/64" aluminum or steel rod and cut it to about 1" length.

[GP100man]

Top punch 495 won`t put ring-a-round the collar on alot of 44 &357 boolits .

& a plain flat punch comes in mitey handy also !

[EDK]

What brand of sizer are you using? LYMAN and RCBS brand top punches work in either brand. Check the LYMAN book that you have the correct top punch. My books are 1400 miles away, but IIRC most LYMAN semi wadcutters use the #429 top punch.

If the marks are on the side of the boolit, you can grind the bottom of the punch so the inner flat contacts the nose of the boolit. Or look up the stickies on using JB-WELD or other products to custom contour a punch.

I sure miss having the lathe, milling machine, surface grinder, and other machines to do things like this at lunch time at work. A DREMEL tool is a poor substitute for them.

:redneck::guntootsmiley::cbpour:

[StrawHat]

Finding the correct top punch can be a problem for some. Get a punch with a larger profile and use epoxy to fit it to your boolit. Not hard to do if you use a release agent on the boolit nose and don't get crazy with the epoxy.

[sw282]

edk-Lyman Cast Bullet Guide 3rd edition on pg 118 says use punch 421 for mold 429215

thanks
282

[JJC]

You can get a flat top punch from Accurate molds for $2.00

[Hamish]

(God love a bunch'a ocd infested leadheaded goobers what think they're makin' little arts-works)

And I thought I was the only guy that got aggervatid at that!

[Cadillo]

It's the flat edge between the outside edge of the punch and the concave cutout. Take a Dremel tool and remove or round off that edge.

If that doesn't make them pretty enough, get a Star lube sizer, the tool of erstwhile Lyman users like me.