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Thread: Cast Bullets Power coated & Sized .4005-.400

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    Cast Bullets Power coated & Sized .4005-.400

    I bought a Lee six cavity mold that right off starting dropping beautiful bullets. I foolishly grabbed only two and they measered .402 so I casted a couple of hundred moore. Powder coated and sized and to my horror most were .4005 some .400.
    My question is are they to small to shoot at under 1,000 fps or should I (No pun intended) bite the bullet and remelt?
    I bought the mold from Midway and they made a very fast exchange for a mold that drops lots of great bullets very quickly.
    Thanks For Looking,
    TacoFrank

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
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    You can always give them a try. If you are using soft lead, they may shoot ok. Otherwise, remelting them may be in order. Being able to easily do so is a benefit of casting your own.

  3. #3
    Boolit Man d4xycrq's Avatar
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    I would consider powder coating them again.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    Mal Paso's Avatar
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    Try them then maybe a larger sizer? They are still bigger than the bore when you consider the lead displaced by the lands.
    Mal

    Mal Paso means Bad Pass, just so you know.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master

    Hickok's Avatar
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    Give a 2 or 3 of them them another powder coat and check and see if it brings them up to spec.

    I have pc'ed boolits again after sizing and it works.

    If you have any of Smoke's clear PC, use it for the second coat. It really makes beautiful boolits as a second coat.
    Maker of Silver Boolits for Werewolf hunting

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

    mdi's Avatar
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    What diameter are you "shooting for"?
    My Anchor is holding fast!

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    Thanks Hickok,
    Don't have Smoke's clear but will give some any coat.
    Thanks for your reply.
    TF

  8. #8
    Boolit Man
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    This sounds like a sizer issue as opposed to a casting/coating issue. If they're for a .40 handgun, I've found .402+.0005 to be the "right" size for most samples I've tested. I've re-coated and opened up a sizing die to achieve that previously.
    Last edited by NikA; 10-16-2022 at 05:28 PM.

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master popper's Avatar
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    Powder coated and sized get a proper sizer or hone out the one you have. Recoating won't help. 401 is proper finish size.
    Whatever!

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
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    I will probably have to open the die a little. I bought a Lyman die that was marked .358 and it sized to .356 and I opened it to .3585. It was probably mis marked?

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
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    Sorry I think Ireplied but don't see it. .401 to .4015

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    Did it again! Damn! .401-.4015

  13. #13
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by tacofrank View Post
    I bought a Lyman die that was marked .358 and it sized to .356 and I opened it to .3585. It was probably mis marked?
    Or cut towards the end of the tooling life, without QC catching the out of spec product. IME sizing dies are relatively soft and easily adjusted to your spec.

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy
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    I have couple of their molds that are under sized too. Happens Iguess. I have several molds and sizing dies that are spot one.
    TF

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy

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    I have a Lee 40 cal 175 grain six cavity that casts small.
    I tried to enlarge the cavities with lapping compound. It didn't help, I didn't have the patience working with a hand electric drill inside my apartment.
    A couple of small strips of aluminum tape on on the mould faces fixed it. Now they are coming out .402" .
    Last edited by Valley-Shooter; 10-16-2022 at 07:12 PM. Reason: Added a detail.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
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    Thanks Valley Shooter,
    I sent my new mold back the Midway and they sent me a new one the casts .402-.403.took four days for the exchange.
    I put a second PC on my original 240 bullets and it bumped their size up and resized to .4015.
    I really appreciate all the help I've received. This site is awesome!
    TF

    PS Where you you get the tape? I have a couple of molds that I bought use and cast under sized pills.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check