top punch issue

[tking308]

I'm trying to size a Lee 429 214 swc. Cast pics chart shows I should use a 460 top punch. This top punch won't push the boolit deep enough to lube the top groove.
Unfortunately I broke the handle link trying to force it, before I figured out what was happening.
My top punch came to me with the the 4500 I purchased used.
Could this top punch have been modified so that it is useless with this boolit? It appears to be very deep .

Does anyone else use this boolit, if so, do you use the 460 top punch?

122119

[dh2]

just use a flat top punch

[tking308]

just use a flat top punch

I didn't know there was one. I've been lubesizing all of 1 month :)

[LenH]

Look this guy up in the vender section theperfessor he makes a top punch that can be customized with JB Weld or a hot glue.

[dh2]

Accurate mold has the one I use

[John Boy]

Fill the punch cavity with hot glue - spit on bullet ogive - rub in hot glue - cut off excess ... perfect bullets with no rings. Change bullet and need a new top punch? Back to the hot glue

I believe I have posted this trick at least 20 times!

[Wayne Smith]

Get a brass 1/4" bolt. Cut off the threads. Grind the top flat. Viola, a flat top punch!

[gwpercle]

Fill the top punch with any epoxy glue, epoxy putty, J-B weld or whatever. Let harden and file, sand to a flat smooth surface. Now it will push the boolit in far enough.
If you would rather fit the nose into the punch, use a ball of epoxy putty in the punch recess, set the boolit into the sizing die nice and square , grease the boolit nose so epoxy doesn't stick to it, place the punch in the press and lower the punch onto the boolit nose just enough to fit the epoxy to the boolit nose. Let harden, remove and trim any excess that might squish out.
I found out flat punches work better than anything with a flat SWC or WC boolit.
Wayne Smith's method works well too. As would hot glue!
Gary

[pworley1]

That top punch should push you bullet deep enough into your die to lube all the lube groves as long as the punch itself is entering the die. Does the top punch enter the die all the way?

[tking308]

It does not. Not sitting in front of me now but I measured the punch and it's larger than .429. I believe it's around .450.
I'm going to try hot glue first but thanks for all the options.

[seaboltm]

I didn't know there was one. I've been lubesizing all of 1 month :)

I seldom use anything other than a flat top punch. If you are using flat nose profile pistol bullets, that's all you will every really need. As mentioned you can make one out of a bolt or other 1/4" stock.

[acrijos]

I didn't know there was one. I've been lubesizing all of 1 month :)

You can also get a flat top punch frm NOE molds

[Guesser]

TP #344 is flat. I was using it yesterday to run 358344 boolits. I'm thinking I use TP #421 for the Lee 214.