Lee .452 bullet sizer

[gefiltephish]

Received the Lee .452 sizer from Midway on Friday. Everything I put through it comes out .453. It has .452 stamped on the side. Am I wrong to assume I should be getting .452's? Is it likely this is mis-marked? Lee lists their next size up as .454 though.

[Dale53]

The size of the bullet from the sizing die (ANY sizing die) depends, in part, on the bullet alloy. Pure lead will give you the ACTUAL size of the hole without springback. High antimony alloys will give you springback - the sizing die will size it down and then upon exit it will "spring back" to a somewhat larger size depending on the alloy.

Try the bullets in your gun. They may work just fine.

Dale53

[yondering]

It also depends on the die you get too, some Lee tools seem to have quite a bit of variation in size. My .452" sizer left boolits at .450". Since it was smaller, I honed it out to the right size. If it's too big, send it back to Lee.

[cajun shooter]

I have used them to see what they will do and find that some work at almost the next level. 452 comes in at 452.5

[Bret4207]

There is also the possibility that your mic is off by a thou. Check it against a standard, a mic being off by 1 or 2 thousandths isn't unusual.

[mikenbarb]

Lee will exchange it if its the wrong size and you just have to contact them for a return. Just make sure your caliper is accurate.

[Russ in WY]

Agree with Dale53, try shooting it, you may like it just fine. Russ.

[gefiltephish]

Thanks for all the replies. I just grabbed my old mic from the barn and sure enough, the bullets measure .452. I'd love to try them in my gun but....I've been waiting 4 months now for my fid....I can't pick up my new RIA 1911 until then. Yeah, I live in one of those damned police states.