resize 379 to 358?

[boise outlaw]

just picked up a m77 in 350 rem mag and am looking for a 250 grain bullet mold, which appear to be hard to come by without spending good money. However I did find an inexpensive 38-55 mold on midway http://www.midwayusa.com/product/476137/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-379-250-rf-375-winchester-38-55-wcf-379-diameter-250-grain-flat-nose

Wondering if i can pass this through a lee 358 bullet sizer? I'm going to be paper patching these so it wont matter if it doesnt have lube grooves as an end result.

[youngda9]

If you want good results you're going to have to spend good money. I don't think you'll have good results sizing down 20 thousandths, if you can. Go to accuratemolds and pick out a design, or have exactly what you need made.

[Cherokee]

Don't think that will work for you even if you could get it through the 358 sizer.

[williamwaco]

I have that mold.

let me see if I can find some bullets and I will try it for you.
I aqree with Cherokee, I don't think it will be possible with normal equipment.

[wmitty]

boise

it can be done by sizing to .367" or so; then to .359, but it does seem to cause some unbalancing due to lube grooves closing various amounts. Might be easier to go with the lube grooves filled with grease to keep them from collapsing and then use a solvent to remove it after sizing. I have taken the Lyman 378674 from .379 to .367 to allow using as p.p. boolet with good results. Just dawned on me you will need to size even smaller than groove diameter for use in the .350 Mag; I'm guessing .349/.351 range. Well, I have not tried swaging a cast boolet down .030", so I am just gonna shut up.

[Kraschenbirn]

I haven't personally attempted to size anything down the .020+ that you're looking for but did have a go at taking some of my .41 Mag SWCs down from .414 (as cast) to .40l for a buddy's .38-40 levergun. Ran into two problems: (1) even with generous lubrication and the correct nose punch, I got considerable distortion of the boolit nose...expansion between the bottom of the top punch and the SWC shoulder and (2) taking the bearing surface down that far left very shallow lube grooves.

Bill

[williamwaco]

You cannot size directly to .358.

The Loading press cannot force it into the die.

In fact, when pressure is applied to force the bullet into the Lee die, the bullet is bumped up in size. The diameter of the bullet expands to fill the tapered lead in to the die.

[captaint]

For my money, that's going too far. Boolit's gonna get distorted. Get yourself a cheaper 2 cav Lee mold, like around 200 gr 35 cal and go have fun. Also, the RCBS 200 gr flat nose gets good reviews. Think I'm going to have to get myself one of those one day. Mike

[Beerd]

I don't think your idea will work very well. It's going to be hard on the bullet and your equipment.
Unfortunately Lee doesn't make a 35 caliber rifle mould. You are going to have to look to one of the other manufacturers and invest a little more money.

And Welcome To The Forum!
..

[Garyshome]

Not going to work. Get a different mold!

[Shiloh]

I see severe distortion of the boolit.

Shiloh

[starmac]

It sounds like throwing good money after bad. I would save a little and buy something that would work for you.

[boise outlaw]

Thanks for all of the responses, it was just a pipe dream I guess. Like I said I've never sized bullets before. I'm going to try and locate a Lyman 358009 die or something similar.

[35Whelen]

Here you go Boise.......a 358009 for $79 brand spanking new in a double cavity mold by NOE. There are some left over from our group buy a couple of months ago. Can't beat the price.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=428

Let us know how it works out.
Paul

[boise outlaw]

I had already called on that one, he's sold out and wont be making any more til next year [smilie=b:

I may end up buying a 4 cavity from them if I cant locate something else. Old West Bullet Moulds also has a 2 cavity for $95. Looks like I jumped on the 35 bandwagon just a little too late, but I will probably play around with some 158 grain SWC loads for wolf this winter.

[35Whelen]

Sorry for the bum lead Boise....I assumed that as they were on his site, they were still available. Didn't see they were sold out until you add one to your cart.

[rsterne]

Accurate Molds, bottom of page 5 & top of page 6.... http://accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=5

Bob

[Hamish]

On the other hand,,,,,,,,,,,,

I have sized freshly cast Lee 8mm Maximums down to .314 through a Lee sizer after one coat of JPW/LLA. They flew fine, just don't wait too long to size them,,,,,,,