I'm new and need to know if there is a die chart to caliber for bullet/lube dies and top punch for each caliber so I'm not guessing on buying any help is appreciated.
I'm new and need to know if there is a die chart to caliber for bullet/lube dies and top punch for each caliber so I'm not guessing on buying any help is appreciated.
ideally you want to slug your bore to get a measurement of what size you want your cast bullets to be. I try to size cast bullets as big as I can as long as the loaded round will chamber in the gun. for 9mm bullets I lube size at .358 and it does well in the gun I have. in 45 colt for my rifle I lube size at .454.
there are lots of folks here that can tell you about 45acp and 223 that know a whole bunch more than I do.
if you look at Lyman web site it will have a top punch number for each bullet mold. or order a catalog from them for most recent printed version.
You realy ... realy ... realy need to invest in a copy of Lymans Cast Bullet Handbook 4th edition is in print and easily available .
It has more information in there than you you would believe .
There are answers to questions you haven't thought to ask .
The first 18 Chapters , 94 pages , are information you would be wise to read . The remainder of the book is cast boolit Load Data Rifle and Handgun ... 320 pages !
My advice ...Buy It and Read It !
The inter web and forums are nice but the Cast Bullet Handbook is a necessity for the boolit caster and loader .
Gary
Certified Cajun
Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
I use a flat top punch for almost all bullets. The flat punch lets the bullet center going into the sizer. It does put a slight flat point on round nosed bullets, but that does no harm. I don't shoot many pointed cast bullets. If you don't want to slug the bore, check fit in a fired case. A slightly snug fit usually works fine. I don't mess with gas checks in revolvers. They shoot just fine plain based. Size revolver bullets to a snug passage through the chamber exits.
Rules of thumb , size .001-2 over groove dia in anything that doesn't have a cylinder gap . Size for a friction fit in the cylinder for those with a cyl gap .
9mm, 38/357 are one caliber and it's not unusual to find a .357 dia 9mm and I've seen first hand a .356 barrel on a 357 mag . 380 so far seems to hold close to it's called out .355/6 .
223/556 tends to be .223/4 I haven't seen one enough under .223 or over .224 to worry about .
All of my 45 pistols have .452 grooves but cylinders run from .453-.4545 for both ACP and Colts . The single auto is a cheap carbine and digests .454 as well as anything else .
The Colts Carbine has a .450 groove but chambers , shoots , and feeds .454 without issue .
In the time of darkest defeat,our victory may be nearest. Wm. McKinley.
I was young and stupid then I'm older now. Me 1992 .
Richard Lee Hart 6/29/39-7/25/18
Without trial we cannot learn and grow . It is through our stuggles that we become stronger .
Brother I'm going to be Pythagerus , DiVinci , and Atlas all rolled into one soon .
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 |