44magnum too much "neck tension" for oversized cast

[Ronnie Dale]

I have been working through getting a Marlin 1894 and ruger redhawk to shoot my powdercoated Lee 240g TL SWC bullets.

As usual the Marlin has very generous bore measurements. To get it to group I've opened up my .430 push through sizer to nearly .432" and laid the PC on thick with most satisfactory results.

The main issue I have now is my Lee size die takes the case down to .426" making for a very tight seating operation that I'm concerned may be swaging my bullets down.

Can you guys recommend a sizer or expander that will either size the case down less or expand the internal diameter larger.

[300winmag]

Lyman M-Die Part#M7340820 this should help you out.
300

[Cowboy_Dan]

I'm currently using expander that came with my Lee set to load .459 boolits in .45 Colt. I just set the die lower and it worked fine, the loaded rounds have a reverse bottleneck, but that is to be expected with such oversize boolits.

[btroj]

Shoot some. If the accuracy is acceptable then don't sweat it.

Why solve problems that may well not exist?

[Ronnie Dale]

Shoot some. If the accuracy is acceptable then don't sweat it.

Why solve problems that may well not exist?

I certainly understand that but it's just hard to overlook bullets squealing in protest as they're seated

[RoyEllis]

Simple solution....Lee universal expander die+NOE's new expander buttons=you can fit almost anything into almost everything.

[mdi]

I believe most expanders and M type dies just work on the mouth of the case (even though they are called straight sided, there is some taper to the cases). You successfully opened up the bullet sizing die, why not try that on the case resizing/decapping die (I would, but I've not had that problem with my over bore .44 Puma). A Lee sizing/decapping die is inexpensive if you screw one up...

[Ronnie Dale]

It's a thought but I doubt you'd ever abrade the carbide ring in a Lee pistol die.

[mdi]

It's a thought but I doubt you'd ever abrade the carbide ring in a Lee pistol die.

Yep, typin' prior to thinkin'...

But it can be done.

[DougGuy]

I certainly understand that but it's just hard to overlook bullets squealing in protest as they're seated

The only way you will deform or resize a boolit by seating it, is if the boolit is REALLY soft. Once it gets where it is hard to scratch with a thumbnail and harder, there is no issues with the case sizing the boooit. Cannot be done.

[MtGun44]

They squeal because PC is a terrible lubricant.

[bhn22]

Remove the guts from your factory crimp die and use the empty die as a sizing only die. You'll need to decap in a separate step. Or, simply don't resize your brass if the bullet fits tightly enough, and the resulting cartridge will chamber freely in all of your 44s

[Ronnie Dale]

I don't have a factory crimp die but you're not the first to suggest that I need one.

[EDG]

Find one of the very common orphan steel sizers with an open top made by RCBS or others in the earlier years.

The open top dies are easier to look into and polish.

If you have a lathe polish it out until it works.

If you don't have a lathe get someone to make you a mandrel that threads into the die top with a round shank to fit an electric drill. Then spin the die in the drill. Start polishing with maybe 180 grit silicon carbide paper used wet with WD-40 or equivalent.
When you get close to size finish the die with a little 320 and then switch to 400 or 500 for a final polish.

[mdi]

The only way you will deform or resize a boolit by seating it, is if the boolit is REALLY soft. Once it gets where it is hard to scratch with a thumbnail and harder, there is no issues with the case sizing the boooit. Cannot be done.

I disagree. But, I would suggest the OP find out for himself; load a lead bullet in the "undersized" case then remove it. Micrometers will tell...

But it's a moot point, as he's using PCed bullets.

[DougGuy]

I disagree. But, I would suggest the OP find out for himself; load a lead bullet in the "undersized" case then remove it. Micrometers will tell...

But it's a moot point, as he's using PCed bullets.

Okay then go ahead and try it and let us know what you find. Hardcast will size the case to fit, not the other way around.

[Ronnie Dale]

The bullets are cast from fairly soft alloy. Pretty much straight up range scrap.

I may get bored and pull one but even if it's not getting squeezed I would still seek out to tools to load these properly without forcing things as is the case now.

[DougGuy]

Ronnie Dale what are you sizing to .432? What expander are you using, a Lee for .44 magnum? I could make a custom expander plug for the Lee die that would expand the case a little more. Can you mic your expander plug and give me a measurement? Also is the straight part of the expander long enough, meaning does it expand the case far enough down that the bottom of the boolit is not forcing itself into un-expanded case when seated?

I use some soft alloy myself, 50/50+2% that I can scratch with a thumbnail, but I am using the C430-300-RF boolit with a copper gas check so the check more or less stiffens up the bottom of the boolit and it seats much lower in the case than the expander actually reaches down to.

[Ronnie Dale]

I am sizing the Lee tumble lube 240 grain semi wadcutter to a dia of .4320"

My cases are sizing to an internal diameter of .4262"

My expander plug which only sizes about half of the bullet length in the case is only opens the case up to .427" just below the flare and I'm sure even less deeper in the case where my inside mic won't reach.

Here's a picture which shows more

[DougGuy]

I can make a new expander plug that is .002" larger and another .120" longer and see how well that works? Send me a PM and we will come up with a plan.