I have a Lyman lube sizing die that measures .401". I need to have it opened to .403".
I read somewhere that a poster on this site named Buckshot does that. Any suggestions?
I have a Lyman lube sizing die that measures .401". I need to have it opened to .403".
I read somewhere that a poster on this site named Buckshot does that. Any suggestions?
I don't know about member named Buckshot, haven't heard of him as far as dies go. Lathesmith makes dies and punches for the Lyman I think, you might contact him and find out you'd be better off getting a .403" die and punch made. It isn't expensive and those things are a BEAR to try and hone, as they are pretty hard afaik, and difficult to keep one round while enlarging it. I use a Sunnen precision automotive hone in doing cylinders, and it's a slow process even with the right stones, timewise I couldn't hone a Lyman style sizing die for the price of having a new one made. A difference of .002" doesn't sound like much on paper but turning one out nice and parallel and round is a different animal.
My parkinsonism that controls walking and balance has made me unable to work in the shop. VOTE RED * PRAY OFTEN You are welcome to message me here or send email to xlordsguitars@gmail.com.
Thanks. That's what I have been thinking.
Plus, I forgot to mention that I don't know what Lyman and RCBS specify as the ID of their sizers, but if it's anything like Lee, they run about half a thou under to compensate for springback. You would need a Z minus .4025" pin as a go gauge so that once honed, it would drop boolits at .403" considering springback will grow them just a tad.
My parkinsonism that controls walking and balance has made me unable to work in the shop. VOTE RED * PRAY OFTEN You are welcome to message me here or send email to xlordsguitars@gmail.com.
Buckshot has retired, but Lathesmith makes some fantastic dies.
And he gets them done fast, very reasonably priced.
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Perhaps check with Lyman. I had an issue with a Lee die, sent it to them and they opened it up for no charge.
Buckshot has retired. Wonderful machinist, he was. But only 2 thou? Do it yourself. Easy peazy. Done it dozens of times.
How to hone a size die
by Buckshot
Oft times we find ourselves needing a bit more girth in a bullet to please a particular firearm. And, as
sometimes happens the size we need isn't available or we don't want to pay for the custom manufacture of
one. You can do this yourself and accomplish very accurate results for just a few cents worth of materials
(not counting the size die) and a bit of time.
What you will need:
1) A size die that is as close as possible to what you want
2) A length of steel rod that is close to 3/4 of the diameter of the existing die, and long enough to
protrude at least 2" beyond both ends of the die.
3) Wet or dry emery paper of 320, 400, and 600 grit. If you do need to remove more than a couple of
thousandths you should also include 220 grit. Actually the 400 will finish the inside well enough, but
hitting it with a bit of 600 sure slicks it up.
4) Oil. Most any oil will do.
What you do:
The paper should be cut long enough to extend out either end of the die, almost as long as the steel rod.
Wrap your starting coarsest grit paper around the steel rod a couple times and apply some oil to the paper.
Insert the covered rod through the size die. With just your thumb and a couple fingers on each end of the
rod, roll it up and down your thigh (while sitting) applying only mild pressure. The reason for using a rod
as large as possible, is to keep from tapering the inside of the die, by having a slender rod bend under
pressure.
This will get your pants leg fairly well oiled up, so use old pants. Or you can staple a bit of cloth to a
length of wood. Most any surface that the die can turn on is fine. I use a piece of mud flap screwed to a bit
of 2x4, and clamp it in the vise, and it's a good working height.
Roll the steel rod occasionally as only a small portion of the paper is in contact with the interior of the
die. You should also swap the die end for end every now and then to make sure the metal removal is as
even as possible. Remember the throat of the die is tapered to admit the bullet and we're only wanting to
open up the actual sizing portion of the die.
When you check your work you don't need to put the die back in the press. Just drill a hole in a board
bigger than the bullet and place the die over it. Place a bullet in the die and tap it through. Remember to
leave a bit of metal to remove for your polishing down to final size with the finer grit paper. The first
time I did this I just took it down to where I wanted it without thinking of the finish. It works, but you do
need a bit more effort to get the bullet in and out, and it just isn't the right way to do it!
Your existing plunger will still be fine in the honed out size die, unless you opened it up several
thousandths. Even then it may still work fine, but you'll need to pay more attention to the lube consistency
and the amount of pressure you exert on the lube reservoir.
KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.
I have enlarged one before, not too hard to do. The issue is with the push rod. It will be undersized after you hone the inside of the cylinder. When I did this, lube leaked past the rod. I would either find another section of rod at the hardware store that was a more appropriate size or have Lathesmith make you an a die. I do have Star dies from him and they are top notch.
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