sizing limits question

[mparks]

Would I be able to size a boolit from .410 though a .400 sizing die or is that too much? I'm using a Lyman 45.

[Refraktorius]

Would I be able to size a boolit from .410 though a .400 sizing die or is that too much? I'm using a Lyman 45.

I'd say you could, but if the boolit deforms from it, it may not shoot straight.

Hardness, lubrication and shape will allways be deciding parameters.



Nothing will give better answers than practical experiments!

[Lonestar22]

I have had success downsizing as much as your are wanting to accomplish, but I did so in steps.
I would run the .410" CB's through a .410" Lyman die. This trues up the bullet, and fills the lube groves.
Then I would run the lubed bullet through a .400" sizer die. Loading up the lube groves first, reduces deformation of the bullet.
Hope this is of some help.

[Pepe Ray]

Lonestar22 has the correct procedure (pre filling grooves w/lube) but with a M45 I would use several steps. The old M45 is too weak to take the needed strain. Use several intermediate dies or you'll break something.
Pepe Ray

[yondering]

Maybe get yourself a Lee push through size die for .401" or whatever your final diameter needs to be. Like the guys said above, lube in the Lyman with the .410 die, then run the lubed boolits through the Lee sizer. They should be pretty concentric after that, and there's no strength issues to worry about with the Lee dies in your reloading press. I've sized jacketed .40 cal bullets to .358" in one step with the Lee dies.

[TexRebel]

you can size a jacket bullet that far

[crowbeaner]

I size a .461 45/70 boolit down to .452 with no problem. I size and lube it with a .459, and then .454 and .452. Works great; they can be shot in a 460, 454, or 45 LC. I even use them in a ML with the high speed sabots. Lyman # 457122.

[yondering]

you can size a jacket bullet that far

Yep. They get longer too. I haven't shot any of them; I just did it to see if I could. Same for annealed 9mm brass, to see if I could make jacketed bullets from them.

[mparks]

I size a .461 45/70 boolit down to .452 with no problem. I size and lube it with a .459, and then .454 and .452. Works great; they can be shot in a 460, 454, or 45 LC. I even use them in a ML with the high speed sabots. Lyman # 457122.

The reason I ask this is to see if I can get a .411 230g Keith-type down to around .400 for use in a 50/40 sabot. The most accurate bullet in my Knight .50 is the 200gr SST that is .40 cal. Just try to see if I can approximate the performance on the cheap.

I also have some a 452454 mold and it would be a lot easier if I can just get decent accuracy out of that. Any tips to shooting cast bullets from sabots? I've heard some guys knurl them slightly with a file.

[Buckshot]

.................Sizing isn't the problem. As Refraktorius said:

"Hardness, lubrication and shape will allways be deciding parameters."

So Deforming the boolit IS the issue. I have a M1909 Argentine Cavalry Carbine with a barrel of .314" x .303" (or is it .304"?) anyway, none of my fat 30's would ride the lands so the accuracy was rather casual. A real disappointment as the barrel is in great condition. I did try bumping some in the size die with varied results. There was a tendancy for the nose to bend while being bumped.

Having the Lyman 323470 8mm mould on hand, I also had some cast up. I lube sized them .323" then ran them up through a Lee push through .314" die. The Lyman is a Loverin and carries pleanty of lube so the sizing was relatively effortless. Also, the lube in the grooves helps to support the boolit in the sizing process. Best of all the altered slugs shot great. So the hot ticket is to lube/size first and THEN run them up through push through die. Pushing nose first on the flat base has it all over trying to push one into a die base first, via a nose punch in the lube press.

...............Buckshot