how low can you go?...boolit sizing ques

[Chapped Lips]

tried the "search" forum but not wording the words correctly to get a match.....when sizing boolits (such as the Lee method),how much can you squeeze'm down?..... .002? or .003? or .00?......am i incorrect in thinking that pistol boolit grooves are shallower than a rifle boolit's?

[Doby45]

My understanding is you want to stair step a bullet down in size if it is more than .002 Also if you lube the boolit and THEN size it the lube grooves will not be compressed due to the lube holding the groove.

[Chapped Lips]

okay,as an example.....and i'm using "recluse's" formula & method.....we want to go down .0035....first time thru with a lubed boolit we use a die that knocks it down .002 .....we then relube boolit and run it thru the final sizeing die to get that final .0015....the lube prevents the compression of the grooves - does that enhance the boolit's travel down the barrel with those now wider bands?

[thx997303]

I don't believe tumble lube will keep the grooves unless it completely fills the grooves, which may be the case if you dip lube in Recluse's formula.

[chris in va]

I size from .362 to .358 for my 9mm, no real issues.

[Doby45]

Jermee is right, you would need a completely full lube groove in order to maintain it's size..