Top punch advise

[snipecg21]

Gentlemen
I'm getting going on 44 magnum and am trying to figure out what top punch to get for a lyman 450 lube size.
The mold I'm using is an arsenal H&G 503 432-250.
Recommendations ??

[georgerkahn]

Gentlemen
I'm getting going on 44 magnum and am trying to figure out what top punch to get for a lyman 450 lube size.
The mold I'm using is an arsenal H&G 503 432-250.
Recommendations ??

I do not know if it is still available, but I use an old Redding Hunter/SAECO top punch for my H&G503: the FTP-264-S Flat SAECO .264 Top Punch. Pretty much any top punch which is flat, perhaps as a shallow lip about to keep it centered, and having a diameter bigger than 0.268" should work.

[porthos]

it is very easy to form the top punch to fit the bullet using epoxy

[Minerat]

Go to NOE. Look up a mould with the same nose profile for that caliber and order one.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/prod...2-255-swc-ay3/

[facetious]

Use a flat nose punch. It'll fit any flat nose boolit.

[Froogal]

Use a flat nose punch. It'll fit any flat nose boolit.

Yes. The top punch I am using for .358 diameter round nose, flat top was leaving marks on the bullet. It worked just fine on the round nosed bullets. I remedied the problem by filing the top punch until it was flat and then honed it smooth on a stone. Works great now.

[John Guedry]

Flat nose? I use a one quarter inch bolt. Works for me.

[Froogal]

Flat nose? I use a one quarter inch bolt. Works for me.

Believe it or not, that did cross my mind but I didn't want to go out to the cold, cold shop and hunt for just that right one.

[Wooserco]

And then grind the head markings off.

[Alstep]

Any top punch with a "V" shaped cup to center the bullet so it's square with the die. I make my own on my lathe.
A flat faced punch should be faced off in the lathe. An out of square face will force the bullet off to one side of the die.

[porthos]

i've always questioned the use of a flat top punch. my thoughts are that if the bullet is set into the top of the sizing die at a little bit of a angle; the flat top punch will start the bullet at a angle and not straight into the sizing die. maybe??

[20:1]

Lymans top punch number is 421, the same as 429421 and 429244. I usually just look for a punch that is flat and doesn't have any sort of lip on it and doesn't exceed the diameter of the main body of the bullet.

[ulav8r]

[QUOTE=porthos;5664459]i've always questioned the use of a flat top punch. my thoughts are that if the bullet is set into the top of the sizing die at a little bit of a angle; the flat top punch will start the bullet at a angle and not straight into the sizing die. maybe??[/QUOTE

If the bullet is not straight a flat punch will touch the highest point first, putting all pressure on that high point which will push that point down first. As the bullet is rotated the pressure will lower from maximum til it is even across the whole point. In the case where the bearing surface of the bullet shank is very short, there might not be enough movement to fully straighten the bullet.

[Alstep]

i've always questioned the use of a flat top punch. my thoughts are that if the bullet is set into the top of the sizing die at a little bit of a angle; the flat top punch will start the bullet at a angle and not straight into the sizing die. maybe??

My thoughts as well.

[Bazoo]

I can't help for the specific bullet. I use a Lyman 460 for my RCBS 44-250-K which has a .300 meplat.