Sizing to 0.515 ???

[PBSmith]

My Lee mold for a .50-70 bullet drops too large. I'd like to take them down to 0.515 for use in a, 1871 rolling block.

Other than that $53.95 number from North East Trade, is there a simple push-through die that will do the job?

Thanks.

.

[Green Frog]

I got mine (for my 50 cal Maynard) from Tom Crone. He makes both a push through die (to use with an arbor press) and screw in for use with a standard 7/8 X 14 press. I have both and they work flawlessly. As I recall they are about $35 or so. You can find him on the N-SSA forum as he makes dies for any CW weapon you can imagine.
Froggie

[BLAHUT]

Try Lee - they will make, if needed ?

[MUSTANG]

Also; one could buy a Lee CLASSIC BULLET SIZING KIT .510 - then polish out to .515 with sand paper and polishing compound. This is what I did for an AR-50 in 50BMG using Cast Boolits.

[PBSmith]

Three good ideas here. I'll check into them. Thanks all for your responses

Mustang, I would have guessed those Lee push-through dies are quite hard. Were you able to take off that much metal and still keep the opening round?

I don't understand why Lee doesn't make any die larger than 0,500.

[j4570]

This place makes them too. Buffalo arms also makes them.

https://www.ssfirearms.com/proddetail.asp?prod=SA450

I have an old Lyman 0.515. My father shoots them as cast from the LEE mold for 50-70

[MUSTANG]

Three good ideas here. I'll check into them. Thanks all for your responses

Mustang, I would have guessed those Lee push-through dies are quite hard. Were you able to take off that much metal and still keep the opening round?

I don't understand why Lee doesn't make any die larger than 0,500.

I did two of them and they set to perform well. Of course; that ~35 pound rifle, immense & long barrel can do a pretty good job of swaging a 750 to 850 grain cast boolit to "Round". There are some old posts on this site on how to polish sizers to larger diameters.

[barnabus]

crones is the best and they are now 45 dollars

[Good Cheer]

Lee Precision has the 0.515" diameter for $16.
If you don't have a set up that you could use the Lee die with then you could rig up something to use it as a push-thru.
https://leeprecision.com/bullet-szr-punch-.515

[bedbugbilly]

I size my cast for my Smith Carbine to .515. I bought my push thru sizer from Lodgewood Mfg. - David usually has them in stock. Anyway you cut it, I doubt that you are going to find one that isn't going to be north of $40 - %50 unload someone has one they no longer need and willing to sell.

I don't remember what I paid for mine as it has been a while. K have no idea of what Lee gets for a custom push thru, but I'm sure they aren't cheap either. Maybe a "hobby machinist" would do one cheaper, but consider the cost of materials - or a die to alter - and the time involved to do the work, $45 - $55 for one is not out of line IMHO. The one I bought fits in my Rockchucker single stage makes quick work of the task.

[Rockindaddy]

Buy an old Lyman 450 luber sizer and order the largest size and lube die. Chuck the die up in a collet and ream it to .515 Make a new plug die about .513 Size and lube all you want. I made one about 30 years ago. Still working to size and lube all my 50-70 cast bullets. If you do not have a small lathe; find a machinist to turn one up for you. Lee sizers are messy !