Question: Can I resize factory jacketed bullets?

[donald150]

I'm not sure if this is in the right place but I was wondering if it will destroy my sizing die if I resize some Hornady factory jacketed bullets? I tried it on 2 of them and it worked without too much trouble, im just wondering if it will mess up my die?

I have MANY Hornady jacketed hollow points, Jacketed flat points that are .458 and I want to size them down to .452 and shoot them in my 460S&W :grin:


Im using a RCBS Lube-A-Matic

[salpal48]

I have Tried That On My star. But going Down .005 " might be risky.
i think and this is only my Opinion. Over Constant use the possibility of die damage is good. also i also feel that it will distort the bullet itself. I used this with also.458 going to .455 for martini Henry. But only did about 50 or so.
. if you think it will work, Some people will say no . but Your doing it
Sal

[dondiego]

Why not trade the Hornady .458 JHP's to someone for some Hornady .452 JHP's?.......................or buy a nice new 45-70 rifle.

[Tatume]

We resize 0.375" bullets to 0.366" in an RCBS Rockchucker press using dies made for that purpose. It is a strain on the Rockchucker, and I'm sure it would destroy an RCBS Lubri-sizer.

[Kraschenbirn]

It can be done but, to do it right, you'll need to have a proper swaging die bored, lapped to size, and heat treated. Many, many years ago, my reloading mentor made up a die to size 7mm milsurp FMJs down to .277 for my .270 WCF. (Harv was pretty fair jackleg machinist and had access to the tool & die shop at the place he worked.) Back then, you could buy Berdan-primed, South American 7x57...much of it cruddy and corroded...for a couple cents a round.

Bill

[mac60]

I size .312" jacketed bullets down to .309" to shoot through my tokarev. I run them through a Lee push through sizer. I lube them with lanolin/alcohol. They go through like butter. They do make a sizer in .452" - I'd get one and give it a try. .005 ought to be do-able. Just make sure to lube 'em before you run 'em through.

[Nickle]

You certainly can, but you need to do them in a heavy enough press. A real deal bullet swaging press is best, if you have one. A good quality, strong reloading press would be next. A Rockchucker or similar could do it. Lee bullet swaging dies should work. Not a whole lot different than a purpose bullet reducing die.

They say the limit is in the area of .008". Making .366 bullets from .375 bullets is slightly over that, but the rule isn't an absolute.

[rockrat]

I have done that (.458 to .452) using a lee .452 size die. Little springback to about .453", but they still shoot well @100yds. maybe a .451" die would work better. Takes a bit of force to do the sizing, use a good swage lube. Would be easier if you go to .454" first, then use the .452 die. IIRC, thats what I ended up doing. You can do it in one step, but takes quite a bit of oomph.

[country gent]

I would be concerned with keeping the jacket to core relationship true and right. lead core is a dead metal while the guilding metals spring back may allow core to loosen slightly. A true forming die may stop this. Friend tried sizing 40 cal rifle bullets down for a double rifle they sized down but never shot as good as they did before.

[Nickle]

Actually, the best approach is a real pain. Reduce them down to under .452, say .450-.451, then swage them up to .452. I know, sounds like I'm talking backwards, but the subject here is jacketed bullet swaging, and making them smaller is reducing, making them larger is swaging. See, the lead doesn't spring back as much as the jacket does, so it loosens. Swage them up, and the same rule is true, but the lead core stays large, the jackets springs back smaller, and they tighten up internally.

I do swage jacketed bullets, and I do understand this. That may be the best approach, but also requires a bullet reducing die, and a point forming die (to swage back to .452). That isn't a cheap way to go, believe me.

[Wayne Smith]

What Nickle said. Your best bet is to trade for what you want. Unless you want to tool up to swage.

[donald150]

Thanks for the replies. Like I said, I have already tried it and it took no more force than sizing a hard cast .458 down to .452

Mine did not "spring" out to .453 after sizing, they stayed .452

I want a 45/70 and will get one but not soon. I just figured I could size some down to shoot in my 460.
I'm also not worried about pin point accuracy, my 460S&W has a 2-3/4" barrel

I was just wondering if it would screw up my sizing die if I did about 100 of them.

[Messy bear]

Yrs back I asked Lee for and oversized 44 die. They sent me one that measured 452". Turned threads out of top so bullet could pass through and made a punch for press. Sized 400 gr .458 speed flat points for use in 454. They hammered deer and antelope. Also sized some 400gr swift a frames in that die. No lube required.

[Echo]

Well - I would surely use lube...
And springback has been reported as a problem. Many years ago I bought some cheap .312 bullets, intending to reduce them to .308, which I did, and shot, and they functioned OK. I don't remember the particulars, and lubing the bullets certainly reduced the effort.

[Nickle]

You can check the swaging area, and see what the predominate lube is. I use various lubes, depending on the task I'm doing. Some things are less critical.

I still suggest the Lee sizer die setup. It's more in line with the proper die.

[youngda9]

Sounds like an excuse for a new gun !

Steel harder than copper and lead, so I think it might work. Best to use a lot of lube.

[groovy mike]

I just bought a 45-70 and need some projectiles to load up for my moose hunt this fall....looking to sell any???? What can I swap you?

[Messy bear]

Well - I would surely use lube...
And springback has been reported as a problem. Many years ago I bought some cheap .312 bullets, intending to reduce them to .308, which I did, and shot, and they functioned OK. I don't remember the particulars, and lubing the bullets certainly reduced the effort.

Sorry guys, forgot to mention it is a carbide die. Thats why I said no lube needed. the bullets just shine when they come out.

[Nickle]

I'd still use lube. This isn't a brass pistol case we're talking here.

And, some calibers still need lube even when sizing brass with carbide dies.

[243winxb]

This -
lead core is a dead metal while the guilding metals spring back may allow core to loosen slightly. A true forming die may stop this. General rule, size down no more than .005"

[Shiloh]

I would think you would need a heavy duty press. A .50 cal press may have the mass to do this.

Shiloh

[Nickle]

Bullet swaging press ought to do it.

A Rockchucker or similar would work, and yes, they have enough strength to load 50 BMG, just aren't tall enough. An RCBS A2 definitely would work.