mrsnuffleuppagus24
03-28-2013, 11:57 AM
Hello this is my first post on this forum. I just want to thank everyone for the wealth of knowledge I obtained from this forum.
I recently obtained a 4" s&w 500 magnum. I know casting and reloading is a must for this firearm. I recently got all my casting and reloading gear for this firearm and i am having a few problems now.
I purchased the Lee 501-440 mold and the Lee push thru sizer. I went and cast up about 50 slugs with the mold and everything went great. I was using straight wheel weight alloy. Now here is where my problem started. Down to the loading bench to lube and size my new bullets. Tumble lubed them and slipped the gas check on the shank. Send them up thru the push thru die. No resistance at all and it isn't crimping the gas check on. Now I measure the cast bullet. Measures at .4995-.5000. The push thru die is a .501. Took the die out of the press and my unsized bullet falls right thru the push thru die.
Now I have read that you don't need to be a .001 over sized for his cartridge. I see bullets sold at both .500 and .501. . I have also read about pushing the bullet thru the chamber throat. I did infact do this and like I read the bullet pushed thru the chamber throat. It took some force pushing the bullet thru the chamber throat with a sharpie marker. I read another post on another forum that some tried a .501 bullet thru the cylinder throats and had to hammer it thru. He was suggested that he size the bullet to .500.
Now this is where I am confused. I see no .500 push thru sizer being sold anywhere. Is my bullet the correct diameter at .500 or is my mold casting undersized bullet. Being the bullet slips right thru the .501 push thru die I also have no way to crimp the gas check in place. So what am I to do now? Do I have a defective mold that's casting too small? Do I need a mold that casts big enough to use my .501 push thru die? Like to hear options and your thoughts about what step I should take next
I recently obtained a 4" s&w 500 magnum. I know casting and reloading is a must for this firearm. I recently got all my casting and reloading gear for this firearm and i am having a few problems now.
I purchased the Lee 501-440 mold and the Lee push thru sizer. I went and cast up about 50 slugs with the mold and everything went great. I was using straight wheel weight alloy. Now here is where my problem started. Down to the loading bench to lube and size my new bullets. Tumble lubed them and slipped the gas check on the shank. Send them up thru the push thru die. No resistance at all and it isn't crimping the gas check on. Now I measure the cast bullet. Measures at .4995-.5000. The push thru die is a .501. Took the die out of the press and my unsized bullet falls right thru the push thru die.
Now I have read that you don't need to be a .001 over sized for his cartridge. I see bullets sold at both .500 and .501. . I have also read about pushing the bullet thru the chamber throat. I did infact do this and like I read the bullet pushed thru the chamber throat. It took some force pushing the bullet thru the chamber throat with a sharpie marker. I read another post on another forum that some tried a .501 bullet thru the cylinder throats and had to hammer it thru. He was suggested that he size the bullet to .500.
Now this is where I am confused. I see no .500 push thru sizer being sold anywhere. Is my bullet the correct diameter at .500 or is my mold casting undersized bullet. Being the bullet slips right thru the .501 push thru die I also have no way to crimp the gas check in place. So what am I to do now? Do I have a defective mold that's casting too small? Do I need a mold that casts big enough to use my .501 push thru die? Like to hear options and your thoughts about what step I should take next