Lee Liquid Alox/sizer

[1Shirt]

Howdy, Had never tried Lee Alox Lube, and sizer, but decided to order out a .457 and try it on 340 Lees, and 405 OHAS in my #1, 45-70. Was pleasently supprised. Other than the mess and drying time, was impressed with the process. I compaired these lubed with Alox with same bullets sized and lubed in Lyman Sizer and Orange Lube. Got just under 3" groups at 50 yds. with the Lyman Sized and Orange lube over 26 gr. of 2400. With the same load and the Lee Alox and sized groups went down to just under 2 1/2 inches, with a couple of the 340 groups cloverleafing the first three shots. Was needless to say impressed with this enough to order out Lee sizers in 310, 314, and 225 just to see if they will reduce groups compaired with stick lubes. Will try this Lee Liquid on 310 lees for my 444 Next. However as Lee doesn't make a 431, will seat gas checks only on my Lyman, and try lubing with liquid as cast. My mold throws between 431, and 43150 fairly consistantly. If that doesn't work, will size on Lyman, but lube with Alox Liquid as a test. Half the fun of shooting cast bullets in my less than humble opinion is testing different things, and occaisionally getting something that really works well in one of my rifles.
1shirt

[Leftoverdj]

1Shirt, the Lee dies are easily lapped out for odd sizes a thou or two bigger than the stock sizes. I think there is a sticky around on how to do it. Many of us are very happy with both the Lee sizers and Liquid Alox.

[1Shirt]

Would be interested in the lapping out process if anyone can point me in the right direction. That said, would have to find someone to do it for me, as I am about as handy with tools and machinery as a hog is on ice.
1Shirt

[Scrounger]

Would be interested in the lapping out process if anyone can point me in the right direction. That said, would have to find someone to do it for me, as I am about as handy with tools and machinery as a hog is on ice.
1Shirt

Wish Granted:

http://www.castpics.net/RandD/hone_a_die/hone_a_die.htm

You can also order a Lee Sizer from the factory in whatever diameter you want. Last time I did it, it was $25, complete sizing kit in custom diameter and shipping included. As a suggestion, I'd go for the following sizing diameters: .460; .434; .360; .311. Just my experience, your guns may be different.

[utk]

Articles from Leftoverdj and Buckshot respectively:


There's a easy way with the Lee push throughs. Just coat some cull bullets with fine valve grinding compound and shuck them through. I start with 320 grit and four or five bullets. When one comes out the top, I run it through again and repeat until the bullets are going through very easily. This usually opens about .0015. If you want less, stop earlier, clean the die, size and measure. When I have it close, I clean up, coat some more bullets with 600 grit and shuck them through to polish. The 600 grit removes very little metal.

Mark the finish size on the lock ring. I don't have any marking means that will touch the die itself, but a stamp or an electric engraver works nicely on the ring.
Leftoverdj



Oft times we find ourselves needing a bit more girth in a bullet to please a particular firearm. And, as sometimes happens the size we need isn't available or we don't want to pay for the custom manufacture of one. You can do this yourself and accomplish very accurate results for just a few cents worth of materials (not counting the size die) and a bit of time.
What you will need:
1) A size die that is as close as possible to what you want
2) A length of steel rod that is close to 3/4 of the diameter of the existing die, and long enough to protrude at least 2" beyond both ends of the die.
3) Wet or dry emery paper of 320, 400, and 600 grit. If you do need to remove more than a couple of thousandths you should also include 220 grit. Actually the 400 will finish the inside well enough, but hitting it with a bit of 600 sure slicks it up.
4) Oil. Most any oil will do.

What you do:
The paper should be cut long enough to extend out either end of the die, almost as long as the steel rod. Wrap your starting coursest grit paper around the steel rod a couple times and apply some oil to the paper. Insert the covered rod through the size die. With just your thumb and a couple fingers on each end of the rod, roll it up and down your thigh (while sitting) applying only mild pressure. The reason for using a rod as large as possible, is to keep from tapering the inside of the die, by having a slender rod bend under pressure.

This will get your pants leg fairly well oiled up, so use old pants. Or you can staple a bit of cloth to a length of wood. Most any surface that the die can turn on is fine. I use a piece of mud flap screwed to a bit of 2x4, and clamp it in the vise, and it's a good working height.

Roll the steel rod occasionally as only a small portion of the paper is in contact with the interior of the die. You should also swap the die end for end every now and then to make sure the metal removal is as even as possible. Remember the throat of the die is tapered to admit the bullet and we're only wanting to open up the actual sizing portion of the die.

When you check your work you don't need to put the die back in the press. Just drill a hole in a board bigger than the bullet and place the die over it. Place a bullet in the die and tap it through. Remember to leave a bit of metal to remove for your polishing down to final size with the finer grit paper. The first time I did this I just took it down to where I wanted it without thinking of the finish. It works, but you do need a bit more effort to get the bullet in and out, and it just isn't the right way to do it!

Your existing plunger will still be fine in the honed out size die, unless you opened it up several thousandths. Even then it may still work fine, but you'll need to pay more attention to the lube consistancy and the amount of pressure you exert on the lube reservoir.
Buckshot

[drinks]

I have made several sizer dies from scratch, using 1 1/4" long pieces of 7/8-14 bolt, I finish them with a wood dowel, split down the end, with 180 and 320 grit wet or dry sandpaper.
I run the dowel in a cordless drill motor, use a drop or 2 of oil on the paper and check the results regularly, to get an odd size, just buy the closest one that is smaller and hone away
Don.