How many times can you size a cast bullet?

[ryan richards]

Dear: Cast Bullet Oracles (CBO).

How many times can you size a cast bullet?

If I have the Lee bullet C358-105-SWC for the 38 Special sized to .358 and I want to use it in a 380 ACP with a .356 bore, can I size it down by .002?

If so, how do I do it?

Do I need a .357 and a .356 sizer to do the job?

Sincerely,

Ryan

[Junior1942]

>Do I need a .357 and a .356 sizer to do the job?

Nahhhh, a Lee .356 sizer will work just fine. Do they make one?

[docone31]

I have had no issues with going from .314-.308. The sizing produced a smooth, straight, nice looking bullet.
Gotta use lube though, it leads the sizing die if you do not. Kinda sheds another light on leading in the barrel.
I use Lee Lube for the cases, it washes off with hot water. You would use either your own lube, or LLA if you use the Lee Sizers. They do have one in .356. I use it for my 9mm.

[Salmon-boy]

Lee makes .358, .357, and .356 sizing dies. A good thing too. .358 won't chamber in my Browning and .356 is small enough that boolits tumble.

Should not have any issue with going from .358 down to .356. DEFINITELY lube though. LLA will trap the little flakes of lead that come off and keep them out of your lungs.

Oh, and I'm not a CBO, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night..

[DLCTEX]

If sizing more than a thou. or two it helps to have the grooves full of lube supporting the lands of the boolit. I have sized from 457 to 452 this way. DALE

[GabbyM]

Also : Lead work softens as opposed to work hardening. Backwards to most other metal.
Therefore working it a couple of times with the swag die is not hardening the bullet.
So the answer to your question would be as often as you like.

[runfiverun]

i like to do like dale and size and lube first step then size again
keeps the lube grooves from collapsing

[Junior1942]

PS: just make sure the .358" bullet is wet with Lee Liquid Alox before you run it through the .356" die.

With a .319" die Lee made me (for $25) and a .3155" die I reamed from a .314" die, I swage down .323" jacketed bullets to .3155" in order to fit an overbore Mosin-Nagant. To do that, I use Lee case lube in the dies and on the bullets and use a sturdy Lee Classic Cast press.

[Cloudpeak]

I think, sizing down just .002", spraying a very light coat of Hornady "One Shot" case lube on the bullets before sizing would work very well. At least it does for me. I then lube with LLA. Saves tumble lubing twice and is less messy.

Cloudpeak

[NSP64]

Ryan, Have you tried to load the boolit in a case & chamber it? If it fits just lube and shoot. You may want to only size to .357 anyway.