LEE sizing die on jacketed bullets???

[ciphery]

Just wondering if a jacketed bullet could be swaged down in a Lee sizing die.
I'm thinking about sizing 8mm down to .315"

[littlejack]

I have reduced 180 grain .323 jacketed in a Lee .314 sizer, using lanolin for lube. They springback to .315 when sized. The first one was the hardest. After that, they go fairly easy.
I have shot these reduced bullets in my Mosin Nagant.
Jack

[ciphery]

Cool! Good to know! That's exactly what I want.

[Jailer]

You'll get a bit of spring back in a non bonded core bullet. Also, you may get some core separation which will cause accuracy issues of you size down too much. Lead doesn't spring back like the jacket does and causes the separation when sizing jacketed bullets down.

I've had good luck sizing my swaged bullets down down in size .001 to .002

[fredj338]

I've done it in two steps with 0.429/300gr bullets for my 404jeffery. First to 0.427", then down to 0.423" using Lee dies & Imperial sizing wax. They'll shoot under 2" @ 100yds, good enough for cheap plinking.

[Wolftracker]

I haven't tested this, but recommends a maximum reduction of .006". Beyond that, you get core separation and poor accuracy. You might get away with more if the bullet is bonded.

[Junior1942]

I did this with .323" bullets to .315" to better fit my M38 Mosin-Nagant. Lee Case lube worked best of the various lubes/oils I had on hand. Liberally lube both bullet and die. The Rem 185 worked best of all the .323" jacketed bullets I had on hand. The rest split their jackets. You'll need at least one intermediate sizer such as .319" and maybe two such as .320" and .317". You'll need a stout press with an even stouter mount. I used a Lee Classic Cast. Did I mention to lube both bullet and die? With Lee Case Lube?

The Rem 185 gr .323" gave me very good groups, which told me their cores and jackets stayed together downrange. I didn't shoot the other bullets with split jackets. Some of the Rem 185 gr bullets evidenced their lead tips slightly protruding, but they shot just as well as the others.

[Del-Ray]

I use a LEE .510 die to re-round 50 BMG pulls I buy. Works great with Imperial Die Wax.

[nanuk]

Junior, do you think there could be a way of annealing the jacket?

say, cut the nose flush to the jacket, set them on the stove burner and turn on the heat

after the whole thing cools, size them, the jacket shouldn't spring back much at all

if sizing lots, then reheat treat so the core would fit perfect.

one could even "Drain" the lead, flux the jacket inside, and pour them full again.... Bonded core...

wudduhyathink?

[Junior1942]

Junior, do you think there could be a way of annealing the jacket?

say, cut the nose flush to the jacket, set them on the stove burner and turn on the heat

after the whole thing cools, size them, the jacket shouldn't spring back much at all

if sizing lots, then reheat treat so the core would fit perfect.

one could even "Drain" the lead, flux the jacket inside, and pour them full again.... Bonded core...

wudduhyathink?

I think that's WAY too much trouble when the Rem 185 works fine as-is.