Plugging the holes in a 450 die

[Marlin Junky]

Is there a good way to plug the holes in a 450 die so the paper patch doesn't get nicked during sizing? I've got a 450 die that fits the throat of my 35W pretty close but I only want to plug the holes temporarily so I'd like to fill them with something that is soluble in thinners or acetone.

Thanks,
MJ

[rockrat]

Could you drive a piece of lead shot in the hole and flatten it against the ejector rod? When you are done, just drive them out.

[pdawg_shooter]

Or get a .351 Lee push through sizer. In my experience, most Lee dies ate a bit undersize anyway.

[Marlin Junky]

Or get a .351 Lee push through sizer. In my experience, most Lee dies ate a bit undersize anyway.

Yes, the best way to handle the sizing operation(s) is with an assortment of Lee PT dies, but at 30 bucks a pop (.351" would be a custom die) I want to start shooting some decent groups before ordering a bunch of dies in .30 and .35 calibers.

MJ

[docone31]

I am not certain that your sizer will affect the patch.
If it has not caused an issue with your lead casting being sized, then paper should bypass the hole. Paper will not compress into holes by the metal being sized. If there is an over hang yeah but it should be in line with the rest of the die.

[pdawg_shooter]

My bad...I dont type so good. Ment to say .451 not .351! .451 is a standard size and less then 20 bucks.

[Marlin Junky]

I am not certain that your sizer will affect the patch.
If it has not caused an issue with your lead casting being sized, then paper should bypass the hole. Paper will not compress into holes by the metal being sized. If there is an over hang yeah but it should be in line with the rest of the die.

docone31,

The last time I used the sizer we're talking about here (.360" 450 die) I nicked enough patches with it to go ahead and re-wrap the whole batch of 30 bullets. When I 'miked' the unwrapped bullets the all measured .355"... which is a PT die I should own if I continue to use .002" tracing paper in the .35W.

MJ

[Marlin Junky]

My bad...I dont type so good. Ment to say .451 not .351! .451 is a standard size and less then 20 bucks.

pdawg,

I know, I need a .45 cal rifle!

MJ

[oso]

docone31,

The last time I used the sizer we're talking about here (.360" 450 die) I nicked enough patches with it to go ahead and re-wrap the whole batch of 30 bullets. When I 'miked' the unwrapped bullets the all measured .355"... which is a PT die I should own if I continue to use .002" tracing paper in the .35W.

MJ

When the paper got nicked were the die's holes full of pressurized lube? I patch a grooved boolit and I like rings of lube on the patch where it has shrunk into the grooves.
Or is there a rough spot in your die?

[Marlin Junky]

When the paper got nicked were the die's holes full of pressurized lube? I patch a grooved boolit and I like rings of lube on the patch where it has shrunk into the grooves.

Do you ever puncture patches in the groove area by applying too much pressure to the lube?


is there a rough spot in your die?

Nah, I always polish my 450 dies before using them. The die in question is a .360 die but it actually sizes WW metal to .3605" because I've polished the heck out of it. The paper just got hung up on the sharp edges of the lube holes at the end of the wrap. I'm cutting my patches at a 50 degree angle.

MJ

[oso]

Nah, MJ, guess I never used too much pressure.

[Marlin Junky]

I filled my 450 die full of LBT Soft Blue and sized 35 patched bullets last night with not a single snag from the die or rip in the groove area from too much lube pressure and it looks like the patches remained tight; i.e., success! I coated the bullets with JPW before sizing them from about .3625"-.3630" to .361" (the chamber diameter) and there are just spots of LBT Soft Blue where the die ports contacted the bullets while sizing; I didn't want to risk breaking the paper again (I'm using .002" tracing paper with no cotton content).

Shooting through the .35 Whelen will take place next week and targets will be posted. I'm thinking about 50 grains of AA-2520.

MJ

[docone31]

Way to go.
Lookin forward to seeing results.