Originally Posted by
MightyThor
I posted my initial results on the other thread but I will move to this thread for all of my subsequent results.
I made a test batch by using 25 federal cases. I annealed them using a propane torch. They measured .225 before and after annealing.
I then ran them through the De-rim die. 19 of the cases stuck on the punch and had to be removed with pliers. those that did not stick on the punch were not immediately ejected from the die, and only three of those in the die came out undamaged buy the push through process. I was left with 11 useable jackets. They measured .222
I had core blanks that weighed 45 grains. the Core die in this set does not allow you to adjust weight by the swaging process. There are no bleed holes so you can shape the core but not reduce the weight. The cores come out of my die at .200 These cores are a snug fit in the jackets and must be inserted by hand. I mention this because I have a vibratory jig that allows me to shake cores into jackets 100 at a time. that will not work with this die set, the fit is too tight.
After the cores were seated in the jacket the bullet blank weighed 55 grains and was .225
After pointing the bullets measured .229
After pushing them through the final size die the bullets were .223
By comparison, my other die sets produce components sized as follows:
Fired case. .225
De-rimmed .219
Core .191
seated .223
Pointed .224
There is no final re-size of the pointed bullet.
One thought that I had when using this set is that perhaps some time, material, and money might be saved by redesigning the two push through sizing dies so that the sizing function is done by an insert that fits inside a single, holder die. This would save on materials and you should be able to use the same holder for the 243 cal stuff thus making the savings even greater over the long term. I have a de-rim die that uses this system and it works very well.