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Thread: Sizing PC bullets

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy elginrunner's Avatar
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    Sizing PC bullets

    I have a lyman lubrisizer, and several lee push throughs (purchased before the lyman). I find that the lees do a better and faster job of not shaving powder off. Am I doing something wrong with the lubrisizer? I take pains to line it up, and size slowly as not to “chop” off the edges.

    I would get all lee but most are out of stock, and dont come in the sizes i would like....

  2. #2
    Boolit Master


    Burnt Fingers's Avatar
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    Take a look at the NOE sizing system.

    You'll need the die body, bushings, and a push rod.
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  3. #3
    Boolit Man
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    I have a Lyman L/S and recently purchased the Lee push-through dies in the sizes I need. Following the directions shown by Fortunecookie45LC I lube my PC coated bullets with spray case lube and size them. It is much faster than the Lyman. I don't lose and PC and no damage due to the lube.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    DHDeal's Avatar
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    There's a couple ways to get the sizes you need. Just starting out, I'd go with the NOE set up as it is a good way to keep everything in an all in one package. If you're already heavily invested in Lee dies like me and don't like the size you see, open one up to the size you want. Finally, you can always order a custom sized Lee.

    All the above would be easy if these were normal times. I understand that just about all of the above suggestions are out of stock.

    My experience using a lubesizer with PC hasn't been bad at all, though I rarely use my LAM's for that purpose. My guess is the die is dry and while PC is slick and relatively hard (in comparison to the bullets) they still size easier with some sort of lubrication. Try spraying some OneShot or other case lube on some bullets and try that. No guarantees if you're stuffing a .005" oversized bullet in a normal diameter hole

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy elginrunner's Avatar
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    I will try some lube, if that fails then I will try the NOE route... right now the main die body is not in stock...

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    Well, dumb question. You ain't got the old style sizing dies that shave lead do ya? They got a defined step inside rather than a tapered lead. Easy enough to remedy if you do, even if you ain't got a lathe.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy GasGuzzler's Avatar
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    I used the bullet sizing conversion and push through dies from Lee on my APP for these Ranch Dog .30-30s. This was my first time PCing or sizing PC bullets.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    +1 for the NOE dies. They work great. They even have nose sizing dies for bore riders.
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  9. #9
    Boolit Master


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    I use a single stage press mounted upside down and the Lee push through sizers

    made a chute for the bullets to drop into the die and this does a great job in a small amount of time
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  10. #10
    Boolit Master

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    My Lee sizers purchased about 10 years back required some polishing to remove the sharp transition from the entrance cone into the sizing section. A smooth transition doesn't scrape off the powder.

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy elginrunner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bazoo View Post
    Well, dumb question. You ain't got the old style sizing dies that shave lead do ya? They got a defined step inside rather than a tapered lead. Easy enough to remedy if you do, even if you ain't got a lathe.
    I dont think so, if i understand correctly, that is a old style. Ive bought all my stuff in the last ten years from vendors...

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Guess I am lucky. I have 12 different Lee sizing dies. Never had to tweak any one of then. They never have scraped PC off!

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy wolfwing's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Walter Laich View Post
    I use a single stage press mounted upside down and the Lee push through sizers
    That's kinda ingenious!!

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    No worries on my idea then. I run into one in .430. Took a minute to figure out why my bullets weren't sizing concentricly. The original ideal sizers up through today all use the same size and style dies.
    Last edited by Bazoo; 01-31-2021 at 06:14 AM.

  15. #15
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    I've always only used the Lee bullet sizing dies for all of my calibers, and I have never had a problem with stripping of powder coat or lead. I just sized some 9mm today and it all went great. Not putting down any brand, as I've had no experience with any others.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy elginrunner's Avatar
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    While giving this a long think, and reading many, many threads, part of my problem may have been using bullets that were cast in years past. Theye were WW that were water quenched. Im casting and baking today. I plan on trying to resize before the final hardness sets up...

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
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    Like people, they got wider and harder as they got older? Girl (or guy) got to big to go through the door...

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy elginrunner's Avatar
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    I cast several today, WW alloy, and as soon as they were dry from the water quench, I powder coated and baked them. Water quenched out of the oven, and dry again. I then sized on my lubrisizer... easy peasy!! like night and day difference... very little force used, and no scraping the powder off the sides like it did previously.... I plan on letting them sit for a few days before I load them...

    of course all of this is after I ordered a NOE sizing set ....

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy GasGuzzler's Avatar
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    The bullets I mentioned above were cast a couple years ago. I powder coated them one day and sized/checked them the next, all without issue. A few days later I cast some .358s and powder coated them as soon as they were cool enough to pick up. I saw no difference.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    I haven't PCed any rifle boolits yet. My boolits are for mid-range loads (the hardest are straight COWWs), not water quenched out of the mold or after PCing, I size them the same day (within hours of PCing) and no problems using the 450 lubesizer. Glad you got them working for you. With all the hardneing, they must be for rifles I will guess....I will get there someday!
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