boolit sizing with rcbs lubrimatic

[mebe007]

OK so these are some lee 358-158rf. First time I've run my rcbs lubrimatic. I'm using a Lyman .359 die. Some are coming out nice others are looking like the crimp groove is gone others have funky looking lube grooves. Is the boolit too large or something?

Normal


Funky



Thanks in advance guys

[mebe007]

Yeah all same session. So just set those ones aside to be melted back down?

[mebe007]

Also how far should the get pushed down. Right now its set almost as shallow as it goes and fills the lube groove

[mebe007]

OK cool. Thanks for letting me know. Just kind of winging it here lol. Bought her used rough and put up wet. Refinished and full of new bac till it runs out then tac and off we go lol

[Maven]

Also, how far should the get pushed down? Right now its set almost as shallow as it goes and fills the lube groove

mebe, I sometimes have that problem with my Lub-A-Matic II as well. I.e., the depth adjustment isn't as "user friendly" as the one on the Lyman #450. What I did, and what you may wish to try, is to get an old ball point pen body (the lower half) that's ~ the same diameter as your CB, cut off maybe a 1/4" or 3/8" pc. and install it in the sizing die, thus raising the CBs to be sized. Btw, mine came from a Hi Tech Reloading pen that was included in a powder order, but lots of other things will work too, brass tubing for example.

[mebe007]

Mind of confused by what u mean Maven?

[w30wcf]

Looks like some are being sized off center if the back of those bullets look ok.
If so, a flat faced seating punch should take care of it.

w30wcf

[mebe007]

Where do I get one?

[runfiverun]

try a 1/4" bolt.

[Maven]

mebe, along with the flat [sizing] punch, you essentially put something in the sizing die to prevent the bullet from going in too far, thus avoiding lube where you don't want it.

[tomme boy]

What I did to my sizer to get more adjustment was to unscrew the adjustment screw on the bottom and remove the locking collar. It gives you about 1/8" more adjustment.

[44man]

Molds are almost always larger at the parting line and the hotter a mold gets, the smaller it will be 90* from the parting line.
Those boolits are larger in the wrong place indicating the mold is not closed tight. Same thing as when guys use tape to enlarge the boolit.

[EMC45]

What I did to my sizer to get more adjustment was to unscrew the adjustment screw on the bottom and remove the locking collar It gives you about 1/8" more adjustment.

Did the same thing to my 4500. My lee 158gr. RF does the same thing too. They still shoot good as long as they are not too bad.

[gwpercle]

Make sure they go in straight, if cocked just a little , they do not straighten them selves out and come out "funky". The nose punch profile may not be exact which makes getting them in staight a chore. Try the flat nose punch and make sure there is no lube under the base to make it tilted.
Do the funky ones in your photo look the same on both sides or just one side? If just one side , I guessing the boolit is not going in straight.
Gary

[captaint]

And just in case you're using a 6 cav Lee mold - be sure to keep your hands off the sprue plate handle after you get the mold halves together for the next pour. That will make them fat every time. Mike

[Mohavedog]

My first impression is a problem with the top punch. The punch must fit the nose profile of the boolit accurately (imo a flat nosed punch won't be consistent centering the boolit). If the boolit starts into the sizer crooked a flat punch can't bring it back to center. Make, or have somebody make a punch that fits the boolit nose exactly. Mold makers usually have a nose punch available that fits correctly.
At issue is also the probability that some of your boolits are cast oversiz

[detox]

I first size my boolits nose first in the Lee sizer then i lube in the Lubrimatic using same size sizer This helps size the boolit more accurate with less force. I use modified flat nose punch in the Lubrimatic.

Looks like your mould is just starting to cast out-of-round boolits. Common problem with the new Lee moulds...alignment pins starting to receed...it will only get worse with use. Welcome to the challenging world of Lee moulds.

Buy a good mould

[mebe007]

Thanks for the tips guys. I have other molds. Noe, Lyman, mihec etc this is just one I got for fast production .357 mag for my 1894 for pepper poppers

[Buzz64]

Looks to me like it is just dropping over-sized boolits. Reasons could range from incomplete mold closure to the alloy. If you get correct size boolits from a different mold then it is the mold that is the problem. Lots of things could be causing the mold not to close completely and most common were mentioned above. Alignment pins usually but very small spots of lead on the face can do it. You are usually going to have the problems shown above if you try to size down too much (more than about .0025 or so). What is the diameter of the 'as cast' boolits?