Pure Lead Bullets

[sealer]

Just made some Lyman DEWC's out of pure lead. Apparently the bullets are so soft that I can't size them properly. I am trying to swage them down .0015 - .002. I have tried running them through an RCBS lubri-sizer and a Pitzer lube sizer.
Any ideas ?
Thanks, Dennis

[Hickory]

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[runfiverun]

load them and use a LEE fcd that will swage them down for you.

[w30wcf]

Dennis,
I have made pure lead bullets and have used my RCBS lubrisizer to size them with no issues.

What is happening when you try sizing them?

w30wcf

[sealer]

w30wcf (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/member.php?444-w30wcf)

The driving bands are smearing partially closed.

And on another note:
I have a 30 wcf cartridge exactly like the one under your name complete with the "W" primer.
Thanks, Dennis

[Wayne Smith]

Only reason to swage or size lead boolits is if they don't fit in the brass. Otherwise your forcing cone does the best job.

[bangerjim]

Add COWW's or Sb. I never ever shoot pure lead in any gun. Except BP and I do not do those at all.

You need to be 9-12Bhn at lease for decent sizing and performance.

Even with PC, I do not use pure soft Pb and stay in that 9-12 window.

Spend a little $$ for Sb and you will be happy.

banger

[Calamity Jake]

Only reason to swage or size lead boolits is if they don't fit in the brass. Otherwise your forcing cone does the best job.

^^^^^^^^This, tumble lubem and shootem!!!!

[reddog81]

What size are they now?
Are you specifically trying to use pure lead or is that just what you had on hand?
The easiest option is to forego sizing assuming they will load and chamber without issue.

[MT Chambers]

Most if not all of the factory made swaged bullets are pure lead and work fine for low vel. target loads, I wouldn't size them unless absolutely necessary, use oversize die (.001") in your lube sizer lubing.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I've had good luck with pure lead. Most of the time I powder coat and size with a lee push through sizer. Very accurate in .38 spl with no leading.

[sealer]

I am shooting these WC's in S&W 52. They are very picky about what they will chamber and shoot
Thanks, Dennis

[w30wcf]

w30wcf (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/member.php?444-w30wcf)

The driving bands are smearing partially closed.

And on another note:
I have a 30 wcf cartridge exactly like the one under your name complete with the "W" primer.
Thanks, Dennis

Dennis,
Hmmmm. Sizing them down just .002" wouldn't seem to be enough to noticeably reduce the lube groove width. Is the boolit being sized a bit off center where there would be more pronounced smearing on one side vs the other?

Your .30 W.C.F. cartridge with the 5W primer (small primer in a cup) was made sometime between 1895 and 1920. Winchester changed to a standard large rifle primer thereafter. Nice find.

w30wcf

[mdi]

When sizing down a soft metal, the excess metal has to go somewhere, and in your case its being moved into the lube grooves. I would think there's a bit more than .002" being reduced, but I'm not there to see/measure. Measure them with a micrometer and slug the barrel, and in a Model 52, perhaps a chamber cast (or just experiment with bullet diameters to find one that is bigger than the groove diameter but still chamber).

[sealer]

The smearing is limited to one side.
Thanks, Dennis

[runfiverun]

mm something is wrong then.
measure the boolits to see if they are coming form the mold that way.
or if the sizer is doing it.
I know the older H&I die sets had a step in them and they would smear boolits if you didn't hold your mouth just right.

[w30wcf]

If the bullet is round with no stepped parting line, a flat nosed top punch might help. You could also try running the bullet in nose first with no lube pressure, then lube normally. If the lubrisizer is out of line, a flat nosed top punch may be the only option unless you tumble lube and get a Lee push through sizing die as has been suggested.

w30wcf

[fastdadio]

Possible that the boolits are too far out of round.

[scattershot]

I had that problem, and a new sizing die fixed it.

[sealer]

I am using a flat nosed punch. I have slowed down my rhythm and changed to a softer lube. It seems to help a little.
Dennis