Junior1942
11-24-2007, 09:28 AM
My M38 Mosin-Nagant has an oversize bore, so, using Lee push through dies, I swage down cheap Rem 185 gr jacketed .323" bullets to .3155". I tried other jacketed bullets but the jackets split. I swage them in two steps: first, through a .319" die Lee made me ($26); second, through a .3155" Lee die I reamed out from a .314" die using emery cloth.
I use Lee case lube on the bullets and inside the die. Several other lubes I tried didn't work well at all. My press was an ancient RCBS Jr, and it was stressful on the press and my arm to swage down the bullets. On hopes that it had more leverage, I bought a Lee Classic Cast press and installed it on my bench.
It works MUCH better and easier than the old RCBS Jr. I estimate the "After" force needed as 1/4 of the "Before" force needed. Before, I stood beside the RCBS press and pushed down the lever with both arms and my upper body. After, I sit in a chair beside the Lee Classic Cast press and push down the lever with only my right arm.
I use Lee case lube on the bullets and inside the die. Several other lubes I tried didn't work well at all. My press was an ancient RCBS Jr, and it was stressful on the press and my arm to swage down the bullets. On hopes that it had more leverage, I bought a Lee Classic Cast press and installed it on my bench.
It works MUCH better and easier than the old RCBS Jr. I estimate the "After" force needed as 1/4 of the "Before" force needed. Before, I stood beside the RCBS press and pushed down the lever with both arms and my upper body. After, I sit in a chair beside the Lee Classic Cast press and push down the lever with only my right arm.