Dropping 9mm at .36"plus

[duhbob]

When I size (to.365) with my LEE 9mm sizing die, the large .359-.361 pills take large arm-strength. WHY are my latest batch so fat? The alloy mix includes equal parts range lead, cww, older casted/stored 41magnum re-melted, (and a few 2 ounce squares of linotype). The pot is a 40# reservoir POLICLIPS machine. The die is 6 cavity bronze. 136 gr rn.
The only deviation from normal was the adding of the few pounds of 41mag bullets re-melted . Can ALLOY change the final diameter of a cast boolet?

[Maven]

Yes it can, duh bob. Generally, the harder the alloy, the greater the increase in boolit diameter. Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook, 3rd. Edition has a chart showing how a given alloy affects the "as cast" diameter v. the diameter of the same bullet cast of pure lead.

[duhbob]

Thank you Maven the added magnums were possibly much harder than my cww and range lead mix.I hate using the LEE bh gage but that is next.

[rockshooter]

do you mean .356? For PC sizing, I've found that a spritz of Hornady one shot makes life much easier
Loren

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

Agreed about the spritz of Hornady one shot. Literally a spritz is all that’s needed.

[duhbob]

I can't lube the boolits or the sizer. The pills are getting powder coated next.

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

Powdercoat first, then size

[jsizemore]

And size right after you've finished the bake. Wait a day and the arm strength necessary increases considerably.

[rintinglen]

^What he said. Size ASAP to limit hardening effects of antimonial alloys.

[reddog81]

Check the face of the mold. A little spec of lead or tin or other debris can prevent the mold from closing completely. Use a tooth pick or pencil to clear the vent lines of the mold. A razor can also be used to clean the vent lines or face of the mold, but used incorrectly can cause more problems than it fixes.

[gwpercle]

And size right after you've finished the bake. Wait a day and the arm strength necessary increases considerably.

Right ... they Age Harden ! And the same thing applies to simply casting and air hardening boolits ...
Sizing the same or next day is much easier than waiting 5 - 7 days ...they age harden and become a bear to get sized .
Gary

[DougGuy]

And size right after you've finished the bake. Wait a day and the arm strength necessary increases considerably.

Wait a month or two and your ammo may fail to chamber b/c they have grown as they age harden.

[duhbob]

Thanks all for the help! WE unraveled a confusing little mystery.
Yes: the alloy was hard...
Yes: I had to leave the boolets for a few days...and, THEY HARDENED
And Maybe casting 1,200 in one session is jus' too many to manage:-(

[rockshooter]

spinach, you need spinach
Loren