How big is too big?

[toddn84]

I have just started shooting pc boolits. After pcing they measure .401-.403. My sig p226 .40 barrel was slugged at .400. Occasionally I see one that measures up to .406. Is that going to cause a great increase in pressure? My .401 lee sizing die actually sizes to .400 and I have had boolits hit the paper broad side sized down that low. I assume shooting .406 is that big of a deal but how big is too big?

[Yodogsandman]

Size your boolits after PC'ing to the size you want. A Lee sizer can be polished out to a larger size with an electric drill, split wooden dowel and sandpaper pretty quickly.

[blikseme300]

Too big can cause chambering issues. I had the same problem with key-holing when I stared out with the 40S&W using a Lee sizer die marked .401" that was sizing to .400". Opening it up to size at .401" cured that problem.

[tazman]

As mentioned before, the extra size can cause chambering problems. It will not cause over pressure issues. It takes very little pressure to swage a boolit down a couple of thousandths. Your gun won't even notice assuming it will chamber at the larger size.

[toddn84]

Thanks for all the help. Never thought about opening up the sizing die. It is now .402 and everything works great

[tazman]

I love it when a plan comes together.

[rsrocket1]

You can open up your sizer with a wooden dowel, wet/dry sandpaper and a little oil. I opened up my Lee push through .314" sizing die to 0.315" for my 91/30 pretty easily this way. Do a search on this site for instructions.

[toddn84]

That is exactly what I did

[Ricochet]

Yep, being able to freely chamber and extract the unfired cartridges is what's important. As long as you can do that you're golden.

[mdi]

Jes a FWIW post (and not meant to be a hijack. My mind jes went to bullet size and pressure and thought of this). Folks are talking about lead bullet size and over pressure. I saw an extensive article on a rimfire rifle chambered in 22 lr but with a barrel, in .17 cal. (it would prolly take me 10 days to find it, if I looked). The bullet was swaged down the .005" and the cases extracted/ejected normally. The elongated bullets actually penetrated much better than "normal" 22 ammo and there was a velocity increase...

[EMC45]

I started loading .40 cal. for my KelTec Sub2K and I went straight for the .401 Lyman dies and cast and sized a pile of them.......Turns out they were keyholing and leading badly (too small). I then cast a bunch more and just tumble lube Aloxed them and shot them "as cast". They shoot straight and they also are quite accurate with just a slight lead wash that wipes right out. I want to try to PC them and then size them back to .401 and see if that will make a difference. My theory echoes the ones above.....If it fits big try to shoot it. My .40 cal. ammo passes the "plunk test", but some are a little tight going in. They shoot great though.

[Jim..47]

What does PC or PCing mean. I got no clue

[David2011]

When I first saw the title, "How big is too big?" I just thought, "HUH?"

PC=Powder coating.

David

('cause Politically Correct is fightin' words here.)

[mdi]

PC - Powder Coating. A good application of poly on cast boolits that prevents leading. Good.
PC - Political Correctness (or Public Cowardice). Keeping yer mouth shut for fear of "offending" someone. Load of *#!@$#@!!!

[Jim..47]

Thanks guys

[philzilla]

Power coating is the best