Need help sizing with PC/Hy-Tek - 9mm

[Engieman]

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! Question in regard to sizing powder coat and/or Hy-Tek bullets. Must be doing something wrong....previous to this used a RCBS lubri-sizer with no issues or effort (Randy's Lube). At the very front end of starting to PC and Hy-tek the same bullets as before (range lead...point is same hardness, same mold). Bought a new NOE push-thru sizing die for Xmas. My 9mm bullets drop at .356, with PC (Smoke's) or Hy-Tek (Bayou) running around .357. Sizing back to .356, but for the life of me I can't push 'em through! Ton of resistance....have used some lube (Hornady spray), cleaned/polished the interior surface of the die...still much tougher than it should be. Ideas, suggestions? Both coatings are coming out beautifully, passing all the 'tests,' cooking at the 390-400 degree range. At a bit of a loss, probably something simple I'm missing. Nothing like I see on the youtube videos! Any help please...

[RP]

my first guess is the new die and how much are you sizing down ?

[Engieman]

Bullet dropping at .356, plus coating (PC or Hy-Tek) equals .357....sizing back down to .356. Seems to be a friction type issue (?) Reduction is minuscule, that's why I'm baffled. Hardness does not seem to be the issue, I least I don't think so. Bullits work fine in Lubrisizer, only difference is coating plus cooking. Could the cooking be making them 'super hard?' Regular temp at 380-400... do not have a hardness tester.

[farmerjim]

I do PC and Hi-Tek. Some as hard as 18 BHN. No trouble at all with a Lee push thru. I was scraping the coating on some of the Hi-Tek so I sprayed some Hornady one shot on them and they glided right through.
Does the insert for the push through have a sharp edge or a gradual taper? I had to add a little taper to one of my NOE nose sizer inserts to keep it from shaving lead.

[Yodogsandman]

You might need to adjust the die up higher to take better advantage of the presses mechanical fulcrum. Do you have a caliper to check the actual sizes?

[wlkjr]

Your die may need polishing. I have no problems sizing down .002 while using Aqualube 5000 in my Lee dies.

[Hi-Performance Bullet Coatings]

Your die may need polishing. I have no problems sizing down .002 while using Aqualube 5000 in my Lee dies.

Aqualube really works to reduce sizing loads. Some taper as the bullet enters the die is a big help as well.

[pcarpenter]

Ive only used the Lee push through dies for both PC and hi-tek coated bullets. Most of my dies were enlarged so they got polished internally in the process. The thing that has made the most difference was some cheap silicone spray lube. Dont spray anywhere near anything you will ever want to finish....it creates fisheyes in paint, varnish, etc. i figured out that the solvent carrier in the silicone spray tended to soften the coatings just a bit. So, simple solution was to spray a little dab in an empty plastic container, let it off-gas maybe a minute and then drop the bullets in and roll them around. It makes them extra slippery. Only a very little film in the bottom of the container does a big handful of bullets. I was a little worried that it might affect neck tension, but a loaded round passed the push test with no problems. It dramatically reduced the force going through the dies and no sticky residue.
Paul

[ChrisP]

I also just received the noe push through sizer for 452 and 430 and am also sizing hi-tek coated bullets. Just ww lead and 2 coats of hi-tek. I am only sizing them down 1-1.5 thou and they do not size easily. Takes way more effort then I think it should. Have used the same bullets as cast without sizing as they dropped the right size from the molds. This is my first experience having to size so I can't compare to another type of sizing. The coating passes the rub and smash tests.

I will have to try polishing the inserts and maybe some one shot or other lube on the bullets?

[Ausglock]

G'day All.
Sizing a HITEK coated bullet does take considerable effort, without lube. With lube, is is finger tip easy.
DO NOT use Silicone products. Silicone migrates like a virus and will get on everything and WILL prevent your coating from sticking to the bullets, No matter how careful you are with your housekeeping. Silicone is a pox on the bullet coating world.

Bullet lube for HITEK coated bullets is Aqualube 500. I have a Lee press that I broke the alloy handle on. I had a 2 ft pipe on the handle trying to size a .430 down to .427 for 44-40 loads. New handle and Aqualube, the bulets sailed through the die with 2 fingers.
Trust me... I have done 10's of thousands on this little lee press..

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got a few sizing dies for the star in the past that were a bit hard to push bullets through when new. What I do anymore is take some gas checked bullets and push a few through using my arbor press to break them in. I lube them with lanolin or something like imperial sizing lube. Usually after a couple bullets they push through easily without lube.

[ioon44]

The quality and finish of the sizing die makes all the difference, I size on a Star with dies from Lathesmith and use the Aqualube 500.

[ChrisP]

Ausglock, thanks. I'll be ordering some aqualube 500

[Sgtonory]

Had the same issue with NOE sizeing die's. I had to send them back. I use lee dies with zero issue. I tryed to polish the die with no improvement.

[ChrisP]

Sgtonory I hope I do t need to send my noe sizing dies back. I really like the system. I just ordered the aqualube 5000 and it shipped today so I will try that as well as polishing up the noe inserts. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[Smk SHoe]

I have the same problem with the NOE system. I have a 9mm and a .308 bullet stuck in two right now. Lee push thru sizing die is finger easy but the NOE sizer can't get one thru. When I all but had to stand on the press arm and still wouldn't budge. Now they are just sitting in a box. Thought it was a good idea but if the lee's work, not gonna waste a lot of time on the NOE system.

[runfiverun]

if you guy's are having issues with a NOE product give AL a call.
he can talk you through the process or will more than likely have you send him the parts back.
I have seen him buy his own molds from the S&S section here because of a perceived issue.

he has built a business based on customer service and word of mouth.
call him.

[emorris]

How long ago did you cast the boolits and what alloy? I use wheel weight alloy and if I wait a few weeks from casting to sizing it takes a lot more force than freshly casted boolits. My powder coat get sized before and after coating and lubed with imperal wax before the second sizing. I bought some hi tek a couple months ago but haven't had time to try it.

[Engieman]

Great feedback, nice to know I am not alone. Have been using the lubrisizor for 30 years, was a bit stunned when I was having to muscle it, stuck bollits....thought my next step was to reinforce my reloading bench and eat my Spinach. Guess the aqualube is next, tried hornady one-shot, Redding case lube, miltec lube and kroil all in an effort to push 'me thru. Got the NOE because I have read the Lee dies can be 'off' in regards to accurate sizing, not sure that is valid.

[ChrisP]

I am waiting for the aqualube to show up and see how the bullets size then. The other bullets I already sized were 2 days old and cast from w/w. If the aqualube doesn't help me I will call al at noe.

Sorry to attach myself to this thread, my issues are just the same as the op's