Can you size .459 boolits down to .452 &.454 diameter?

[wildchild2010]

I was wondering if you can take 45-70 cast bullets and also jacketed bullets and size them down to .454 and .452 for shooting out of the 45 Colt and also the 454 Casull? If so would I be able to use the same GC or what I have to replace it.

[mpmarty]

Not recommended. But anything can be done if you're committed enough.

[rhead]

I have done it for the purpose of paper patching. when going to .452 I use the .454 first. one extra step to take it easy on my arm.
I have no experience on using the reduced capacity lube grooves.

[6bg6ga]

You could size down in steps. I do fear accuracy will be poor.

I guess I needed to read the post again. I didn't read about jacketed bullets. I would suggest that you do not try to size jacketed bullets at all.

[DLCTEX]

Sizing down jacketed bullets will result in loose jackets unless the jackets are bonded and may then. This is due to copper having more spring back than the lead core. In swaging bullets you want to swage larger in finishing the bullet.
Sizing a boolit down .005-7 is doable, but you may get lead fins or sheared particles. If I were to size that far I would first lube in a full size die,or slightly smaller, then resize in the smaller die so the lube will support the bands to reduce distortion. The lead being displaced has to go somewhere, usually into the lube grooves and onto the nose. You will lose the crimp groove if any. That assumes base first sizing in the second sizing. Nose first sizing probably would work better as the flat pusher will not distort the boolit as much as pushing on the nose. You will be best served casting close to correct size.

[user55645]

Yes, you can. It will depend on the profile whether it comes out good, ie. a boolit with micro lube rings might not be great.

Dont try to size all at once. You might need 2 steps because of the large gap in sizes. Boolit hardness will also be a determining factor in final outcome.

I have a 303 (.312) mould that was given to me. I size them down to .308 and have no issues. A little pile of lead on the bench afterwards, though.

[Humbo]

I've sized down lots of boolits from .462 down to .452 without any trouble. I first lube and size them in my Star with a .459 die, and then size them down to .452 on a single stage press with a Lee push-through die. Works beautifully, and I can't see that accuracy suffers too much either.

[243winxb]

also jacketed bullets No. Results, poor accuracy. No more than .003" IMO.

[mdi]

FWIW: I have been experimenting with sizing jacketed bullets down about .005". I just got a Lee size die in .318" and some Speer 8mm (.323") jacketed spire points. I lubed them with STP and ran them through the die. Some were pretty difficult but after a few tries I got the process right (finger lube w/STP, start the bullet, drop the ram then raise it again and force the bullet through. Bullets show sizing marks on the side but no undue distortion. Mic'ed several bullets and they remained round to less than .0005". Every bullet sized came out at .3185" and another pass through the die brought them down just under another .0005". I'll section some to make sure jackets did not separate and I'm waiting on dies for my .303...

[wildchild2010]

I really appreciate all the replies on this. I'm thinking of kicking a 45-70 to the Curb and going with the 454 or the 45 Long Colt lever action and single action revolver.

[44MAG#1]

Yes, you can just be sure you don't force the bullets out of alignment with their center of axis.

[6bg6ga]

Answers depend on that thread you open and on which forum.

[zuke]

I size all my 45-70 boolit's from 458 down to 452 with LEE dies in one pass using Dawn Dishwashing liquid as a lube.Easy to clean off with hot water and carries away all the dirt with it.

[rexherring]

Not sure about .459 but I do that with my Lee 340 gr .457 mold bullets and shoot them in my .45 Colt at .452. I just run them through my RCBS Lube Sizer .452 die. No problems, lubed and sized at the same time. Jacketed may need a swaging set up and several steps.

[243winxb]

Answers depend on that thread you open and on which forum True. Check the Lyman FAQ -
Q: What is the maximum amount a cast bullet can be sized?
A: We do not recommend sizing down more than .002" to .003" as this will cause severe deformity to the bullet, causing decreased accuracy.

Check the Corbin website- .005" maximum. More and the lead core may fail to spin with the jacket when rifling is engaged . Your results may vary Found it.
When you draw down an existing bullet to smaller size, you can only reduce it about .005 inches before the spring-back defeats you by attempting to go the other direction (larger) when pressure is released. This releases the grip on the core and lets the core fail to spin with the jacket when rifling is engaged, resulting in poor stabilization and poor accuracy. Swaging, which works by expanding the diameter, tightens the grip of core and jacket. Drawing down makes the jacket loose if it exceeds the elasticity of the jacket (.005-inches is a good approximation for most jackets).
http://www.corbins.com/answers.htm

[BD]

Short answer is yes. I have sized several hundred .458 boolits, and several hundred .458 jacketed bullets down to .452 in two steps using Lee push through sizer dies. All kinds of .450 Bushmaster owners have been doing this for years for "heavy" bullet loads. I use Imperial sizing wax and I've never had a jacket separate, and the accuracy was basically on a par with other .452 projectiles. I never found the magic boolit/bullet load this way, so I no longer bother. As it turns out boolit weights around 300 grains and the 250 grain FTX will pretty much do anything that needs done in the .450B without the bother.
BD

[rockrat]

I have done the Remington 300gr 45-70 jacketed down to .452" with three steps with Lee size dies. Accuracy just a bit less than unsized bullets, maybe 25% larger. Boolits seem to size better and not collapse the lube grooves if you lube them first.

[nighthunter]

It can be done and it is done by many shooters. I personally size Mihec's .460 Hollow Point which I first powder coat or use Hi-Tek copper coating thru a .457 die then through a .452 die. I use Imperial Sizing Lube on each bullet to prevent sticking in the die. The use of a good lube is very important. These 375 grain hollow points are used in a 454 Casull with very good accuracy. Don't let people that haven't done it tell you it can't be done. I consider them to be armchair casters.

Nighhunter

[oldfart1956]

Downsized some .458's for a fellow shooter here to .452 and it worked but thought I was gonna break something. Cast boolits, 18bhn and over 300gr. if memory serves. Either pre-lube (so you don't destroy the lube grooves) or have deep grooves. Don't know about jacketed but that sounds scary. Audie..the Oldfart..