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Thread: how far can I size a boolit ?

  1. #1
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    how far can I size a boolit ?

    Just wondering how far down I can size a boolit. I cast mostly from wheel weights for a few 45 Colts.
    Is it okay for me to use one .454 mold and then size it down to various sizes to fit each of my guns.
    in other words, can I squeeze the .454 down to .451 with no problems.
    Only been casting a couple of years and still learning.

  2. #2
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    Three thousandths should be no problem.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    Just to be clear, you are referring to the 45 Colt and not the 45 ACP.
    Dusty

  4. #4
    Boolit Master RU shooter's Avatar
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    Agree with dusty . I gust sized down some 35 cal bullets from .363 to .358 without any problems in a Lee push through sizer just have a little lube of some sort on them first
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  5. #5
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    If I'm downsizing more than 4 thou I like to do it in stages.

  6. #6
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    I had a bit of a problem sizing down the #454190. From as cast .455 of #2 down to .452, lubed with WLL 50/50.

    Using a Lyman 450 with a RCBS .452 sizing die after about 60 odd bullets I noticed lead shavings in the lube.

    I pulled the sizing die out of the press and cleaned shavings out of the big Lube Groove that goes all around the inside of the die body, where the lube holes are.

    Once the die was cleaned of lead shavings, there were no more lead shavings in the bullets lube groove.

    I think the lead shavings came from a previous bullet sizing session from A Lee .45 Colt bullet that had a bit of base flash problems.
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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Conditor22 View Post
    If I'm downsizing more than 4 thou I like to do it in stages.
    ^^^^^^^ THIS. I've got an oversized 45-70 mold (on purpose oversized..) so I can size down to fit various barrels -- broke some toggle links before I had custom sizer dies made..

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  8. #8
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    Thanks all
    answered my question perfectly.

  9. #9
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    I tried to down size three thou with NOE sizer in a Rockchucker. I couldn’t do it. I thought my alloy was maybe too hard. I then cast some boolits in pure lead. Still couldn’t do it.

    NOE doesn’t sell in between the three thou I have to go.

    Are Lee resizing dies better for this?

  10. #10
    Boolit Master RU shooter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GregLaROCHE View Post
    I tried to down size three thou with NOE sizer in a Rockchucker. I couldn’t do it. I thought my alloy was maybe too hard. I then cast some boolits in pure lead. Still couldn’t do it.

    NOE doesn’t sell in between the three thou I have to go.

    Are Lee resizing dies better for this?
    I've never used the NOE sizer but with the lees in my RC I can size down ALOT . 323 to .312is no problem long as it ain't like pure Lino alloy . If you have a good finish on the innards of the Lee sizers they work very well
    If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

  11. #11
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    I've gone as much as .005" in one pass. Kinda hard but I was using an old C-H cast iron "mega-strong" press. But remember, no lead is removed, it's just displaced somewhere else and in my case it flowed into the lube grooves and off the base. Not recommended though as I read somewhere (Brennan?) that sizing any more than .002"-.003" will reduce accuracy of that bullet. But that was in the Schutzen shooting/accuracy section. I can't see any difference in my old guy's shooting...
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  12. #12
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    You probably don’t want .451 for 45 Colt. .452 or .453 will probably work better.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by reddog81 View Post
    You probably don’t want .451 for 45 Colt. .452 or .453 will probably work better.
    I’m working with .45-70 405 gr boolits. They are a lot longer than 45 colts. I am trying to size them down for paper patching.

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy
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    First pass Thur a brand new sizing die helps if you lube first bullet. After that they are good. Not sure if it was new die

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Adam20 View Post
    First pass Thur a brand new sizing die helps if you lube first bullet. After that they are good. Not sure if it was new die
    It was a new die and I lubed with lanolin.

  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I try to keep it to .003 or less. Its just easier on the machine. Lots of guys size a lot more. I use a Lyman 450 and a Star and .003 is not too hard to do.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master 44Blam's Avatar
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    I try to size in a few thousandths increments. I had an issue where I tried to size from .314-.315 to .309 in a push through sizer in one go and I got a little lead trailing off of the base.

  18. #18
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    I found the problem today. .450 is considered a handgun caliber. The punch I have is for rifles. It’s too big for .450. It was jamming in the die keeping me from pushing the boolit through. Live and learn.

  19. #19
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    I routinely resize lubed .411 41 mag bullets to .403 for my 401 Powermag. The lube and crimp grooves come out a little smaller but they shoot well and I am able to crimp in the smaller crimp groove with no trouble.
    Only left handed guns are interesting!

  20. #20
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    I've sized .008 thousands before, in 2 stages. Probably dont make the most accurate bullet though because if it sizes the bullet a little more on one side than the other, it'll be out of balance. Probably not enough to notice unless you're shooting rifle though.

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