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Thread: Where to get a die enlarged

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Where to get a die enlarged

    I have a Lyman lube sizing die that measures .401". I need to have it opened to .403".

    I read somewhere that a poster on this site named Buckshot does that. Any suggestions?

  2. #2
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    DougGuy's Avatar
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    I don't know about member named Buckshot, haven't heard of him as far as dies go. Lathesmith makes dies and punches for the Lyman I think, you might contact him and find out you'd be better off getting a .403" die and punch made. It isn't expensive and those things are a BEAR to try and hone, as they are pretty hard afaik, and difficult to keep one round while enlarging it. I use a Sunnen precision automotive hone in doing cylinders, and it's a slow process even with the right stones, timewise I couldn't hone a Lyman style sizing die for the price of having a new one made. A difference of .002" doesn't sound like much on paper but turning one out nice and parallel and round is a different animal.
    Got a .22 .30 .32 .357 .38 .40 .41 .44 .45 .480 or .500 S&W cylinder that needs throats honed? 9mm, 10mm/40S&W, 45 ACP pistol barrel that won't "plunk" your handloads? 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh cylinder that needs the "step" reamed to 6° 30min chamfer? Click here to send me a PM You can also find me on Facebook Click Here.

  3. #3
    Boolit Mold
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    Thanks. That's what I have been thinking.

  4. #4
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    Plus, I forgot to mention that I don't know what Lyman and RCBS specify as the ID of their sizers, but if it's anything like Lee, they run about half a thou under to compensate for springback. You would need a Z minus .4025" pin as a go gauge so that once honed, it would drop boolits at .403" considering springback will grow them just a tad.
    Got a .22 .30 .32 .357 .38 .40 .41 .44 .45 .480 or .500 S&W cylinder that needs throats honed? 9mm, 10mm/40S&W, 45 ACP pistol barrel that won't "plunk" your handloads? 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh cylinder that needs the "step" reamed to 6° 30min chamfer? Click here to send me a PM You can also find me on Facebook Click Here.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master dh2's Avatar
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  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy

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    Buckshot has retired, but Lathesmith makes some fantastic dies.
    And he gets them done fast, very reasonably priced.
    Blkpwdrbuff
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty or Safety. "
    Benjamin Franklin
    "Time to take Brandon to the train station"
    "The right of citizens to bear arms is just one guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against the tyranny which now appears remote in America, but which historically has proved to be always possible." ~ Hubert H. Humphrey

  7. #7
    Boolit Man
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    Perhaps check with Lyman. I had an issue with a Lee die, sent it to them and they opened it up for no charge.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master

    Beagle333's Avatar
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    Buckshot has retired. Wonderful machinist, he was. But only 2 thou? Do it yourself. Easy peazy. Done it dozens of times.


    How to hone a size die
    by Buckshot
    Oft times we find ourselves needing a bit more girth in a bullet to please a particular firearm. And, as
    sometimes happens the size we need isn't available or we don't want to pay for the custom manufacture of
    one. You can do this yourself and accomplish very accurate results for just a few cents worth of materials
    (not counting the size die) and a bit of time.
    What you will need:
    1) A size die that is as close as possible to what you want
    2) A length of steel rod that is close to 3/4 of the diameter of the existing die, and long enough to
    protrude at least 2" beyond both ends of the die.
    3) Wet or dry emery paper of 320, 400, and 600 grit. If you do need to remove more than a couple of
    thousandths you should also include 220 grit. Actually the 400 will finish the inside well enough, but
    hitting it with a bit of 600 sure slicks it up.
    4) Oil. Most any oil will do.
    What you do:
    The paper should be cut long enough to extend out either end of the die, almost as long as the steel rod.
    Wrap your starting coarsest grit paper around the steel rod a couple times and apply some oil to the paper.
    Insert the covered rod through the size die. With just your thumb and a couple fingers on each end of the
    rod, roll it up and down your thigh (while sitting) applying only mild pressure. The reason for using a rod
    as large as possible, is to keep from tapering the inside of the die, by having a slender rod bend under
    pressure.
    This will get your pants leg fairly well oiled up, so use old pants. Or you can staple a bit of cloth to a
    length of wood. Most any surface that the die can turn on is fine. I use a piece of mud flap screwed to a bit
    of 2x4, and clamp it in the vise, and it's a good working height.
    Roll the steel rod occasionally as only a small portion of the paper is in contact with the interior of the
    die. You should also swap the die end for end every now and then to make sure the metal removal is as
    even as possible. Remember the throat of the die is tapered to admit the bullet and we're only wanting to
    open up the actual sizing portion of the die.
    When you check your work you don't need to put the die back in the press. Just drill a hole in a board
    bigger than the bullet and place the die over it. Place a bullet in the die and tap it through. Remember to
    leave a bit of metal to remove for your polishing down to final size with the finer grit paper. The first
    time I did this I just took it down to where I wanted it without thinking of the finish. It works, but you do
    need a bit more effort to get the bullet in and out, and it just isn't the right way to do it!
    Your existing plunger will still be fine in the honed out size die, unless you opened it up several
    thousandths. Even then it may still work fine, but you'll need to pay more attention to the lube consistency
    and the amount of pressure you exert on the lube reservoir.
    KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Blkpwdrbuff View Post
    Buckshot has retired, but Lathesmith makes some fantastic dies.
    And he gets them done fast, very reasonably priced.
    Blkpwdrbuff
    latersmith is great

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    I have enlarged one before, not too hard to do. The issue is with the push rod. It will be undersized after you hone the inside of the cylinder. When I did this, lube leaked past the rod. I would either find another section of rod at the hardware store that was a more appropriate size or have Lathesmith make you an a die. I do have Star dies from him and they are top notch.

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