resizing

[HVACscott]

if i buy a .359 mold can i resize to .356 before PC and after PC to end up with a .356? or should is resize after casting to .357 then PC and final resize to .356?

[44Blam]

I find that it is easiest to cast then PC and then resize. I'll put a drop or so of bll in a few lbs of boolits when I go to resize to make it a little easier...

The problem with resizing before coating is that you will get some contaminates on the bollits (lube, etc) that will interfere with the PC coating. You can always clean between resizing and coating but then that is another step...

[HVACscott]

thanks
What is bll? i assume some kind of lubricant...going to internet now to look up

[44Blam]

Ben's Liquid Lube - it's a solvent with Alox + floor wax. Makes great lube.

[reddog81]

Sizing once is pretty standard even for .38 special molds when shooting in 9mm. I size my 9mm’s to .357 after PC’ing.

You can size twice but it takes twice the time to do it.

[Hutch556]

Resizing down after powder coat to .356 will be no problem, The use of a little spray lube will help if it is tough. Before you are set on sizing down To .356 you could slug your barrel and you may find your 9 mm prefers .357 or even .358 Of the two mold links I sent you, I prefer the one with the lube Grove as if you ever run out of powder coat you always have the option of traditional lube and also I believe when sizing down the lube groove gives a place for lead to move. With that said either will work great. Hope this helps.

[Tonto]

I've been sizing down already cast, lubed and sized .358 bullets to 356 for a 350 Legend. when first loaded at 358 they left a bump in the case and after sizing at 356 all was fine, they shoot well and no leading. tried powder coating too, cast, coat, size and same good results. sizing is the final step. that said, if the after powder coating slug is a diameter that will seat well and not distort the case and chamber I will try it first before sizing. i once coated the Lee 95-TC 380 bullet with three coats and shot unsized in a Makarov and it worked great too. Your chamber and calipers are your friends.

[cstrickland]

If your mold is a .359 you may actually be around .361 as casst depending on the alloy. I have 4 SW M&P's I cast for . My 356-120-TC mold drops raw bullets at .358 with ISO core or COWW. After I powder coat I am at 0.360". I then run everything through a lee 356 push die on a lee turret press. I have never needed lube. 99.9% of everything goes through really smooth. Once in a while I will have one that has some finning and it a noticeable difference in press, but still no where near needing lube .

I will also suggest the slugging of the barrel. All of the M&P's I have heard are tight .Usually slug to .3545 . I have rad and head many other 9's can go upto .359

[prs]

KISS. Buy a mould that can drop a bullet that fits your chamber's forcing cone. Powder coat with a nice tough thin coating and size. If the PC bullet fits without sizing, even better. No reason to make work out of fun.

prs

[charlie b]

^^this, especially for pistol bullets.

One of the reasons I like Lee molds in the old days was they rarely needed sizing for pistols. Just cast, lube, load and shoot.

If you go to Accurate or some other mold makers they will cut the mold to your spec. That's what I did for my rifle mold.

[HVACscott]

slugged both barrels with the help an guidance of "swamp" both are .357...so i will get the .359 molds and resize to .357 after PC and see what happens....

Thanks to all that helping me get things off and running
Scott

[Wheelguns 1961]

If your barrels slug at .357”, you should size your bullets at .358” or even .359”

[prs]

If your barrels slug at .357”, you should size your bullets at .358” or even .359”

Agree. Size one or two thou over after coating.

prs

[HVACscott]

If your barrels slug at .357”, you should size your bullets at .358” or even .359”

OK advise taken just ordered 358 die

[ioon44]

I size to .360" for my barrels that slug at .357", after pulling a loaded bullet they will measure .359". I always plunk test any ammo that I will shoot in a match.