G/C Shank too small

[Ben]

You'll often times get molds that either have a g/c shank that is too small and the g/cs fit loose on the shank after the bullet and g/c shank have been run through the sizer..............OR ...............the opposite, the g/c shank is too large and it is the " Devil " to get a g/c to slide up on the shank.

I had a mold that has been in the box for about 20 yrs. I have 3 different Lee, 312- 155 2 R molds. This one is a single cav. mold. A joy to cast with, speed isn't my game with this particular bullet. Accuracy is my game with this one. It is a shooter in my hvy. barrel VZ-24 , 308 Win. The fact that it is a single cav. mold just adds to the probability of minimal weight deviation , bullet to bullet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/IMG_1075.jpg

A g/c shank on ANY .30 cal. mold needs to be a minimum of .284 and sometimes .285 or .286 will work even better to guarantee a tight locking fit with a Hornady g/c.

I cast a few today with the new ( 20 yr. old ) mold. I cast about 10 ea. and went to my bench to measure all the critical numbers. Everything looked real good except the dia. of the gas check shank. Way too small !
Miked about .281 "..............I needed another .004 .

I have enlarged g/c shanks before and used this method. If you choose to use this method with your mold. GO SLOW ! Once metal is removed in the g/c shank area, it cannot be replaced.

I take a wooden dowel that is turned to fit the g/c shank area of the mold and slit it down the center. I cut a strip of 220 grit sand paper and fit it into the slot. It may take a little bit of trial and error to get the dowel diameter and the addition of the paper cut the correct length to fit snug in the g/c shank area of the mold. Be certain that you don't enlarge the rear most drive band. All you want is to enlarge is the g/c shank area only.

I turn the dowel by hand , removing about .002 at a time. Stop everything and go the the casting pot and pour 3 bullets. Check the shank dia. with a dependable mic. It may take 5 or 6 of these sessions to reach the dia. that you want. The key again is to do it slow. Once you've taken too much metal out, you're in a world of hurt. The mold is basically ruined.

This technique really helped my mold today. Now when a g/c is placed on the shank , it " clicks". A nice snug fit.

See photos.
Ben


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/VZ%2024%20Flutted/014.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/VZ%2024%20Flutted/015.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/VZ%2024%20Flutted/016.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/VZ%2024%20Flutted/017.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/VZ%2024%20Flutted/020.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/VZ%2024%20Flutted/021.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/VZ%2024%20Flutted/022.jpg

[Lee]

Great photos! Thanks ..... Lee

[white eagle]

another fine example Ben

[JeffinNZ]

And that, gentlemen, is why young Ben has a Golden Boolit.

[Ben]

At 62, I really do like " Young Ben ", keep that kind of thing coming.

Ben

[JeffinNZ]

62! I thought you were 26!

[Ben]

I knew that I was going to really like you Jeff ! ! !

[phaessler]

Great write up Ben...

Pete

[btroj]

Nice idea Ben. The photos make all the difference in the world in getting the idea across.

[Whistler]

Great instruction!
I have two RCBS molds and one Lyman that all cast fine bullets but with shanks too small.
I just started experimenting with removing bevels and shanks on some other molds where the modus operandi is similar. I will have to try opening up my shanks a bit with your method.

[Ben]

Whistler:

Your only danger is getting in too big of a rush. In this game, SLOW is the way to go.

Like my barber has always said. " It is a lot easier to take it off than it is to put it back on. "

[caseyboy]

Hi Ben,

Have you ever entirely removed a GC shank with this method?

Mike

[Ben]

I've removed g/c shanks but NOT with this method.

Ben

[crabo]

I thought about doing this to the Lee 158 rnfp 6 cavity to remove the bevel.

[Ben]

Would probably work just fine.

Ben

[phaessler]

I thought about doing this to the Lee 158 rnfp 6 cavity to remove the bevel.


This crossed my mind too once I read thru it all.