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Thread: sizing cast bullets

  1. 09-26-2009, 05:14 PM #1
    wap41
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    sizing cast bullets

    How much smaller can I size a soft lead bullet than it comes out of the mould?I need to get it about .005 smaller
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  2. 09-26-2009, 05:41 PM #2
    RayinNH
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    A soft lead boolit will size that much in one pass. Shallow lube groves are a problem though, they tend to dissappear...Ray
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  3. 09-26-2009, 07:01 PM #3
    Larry Gibson
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    As noted it depends on the depthof the lube grooves. Prelubing the bullet prior to sizing helps a lot. I regularly size .315 bullets to 3.14 and lube them. Then I size them down in push through sizers to .309. They shoot fine.

    Larry Gibson
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  4. 09-26-2009, 07:05 PM #4
    Leftoverdj
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    An .005 reduction in one pass is not too much with conventional lube grooves is not too much, but it would be rare. Just what are you trying to do?
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  5. 09-26-2009, 07:36 PM #5
    wap41
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    I'm casting paper patch bullet so no grease grooves but a nice long bullet that I'm going to use in a sabot with my muzzel loader
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  6. 09-26-2009, 09:21 PM #6
    largom
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    Be carefull sizing LONG soft boolits too much in one pass as they may bend at the nose. You stated it was for a ML so that may not happen but check for it. Crooked boolits don't fly straight.

    Larry
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  7. 09-26-2009, 10:40 PM #7
    wap41
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    Thanks for all the info.I'll give it a try,watching for what Larry mentioned.Wayne
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  8. 09-27-2009, 01:11 AM #8
    Dale53
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    If I were sizing a long, soft bullet a lot (.005" as a for instance) I would get a Lee Sizing push through sizing die. This will minimize sizing damage (should really eliminate it). Lee will make you a custom die if they don't have what you require as a standard.

    FWIW
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  9. 09-27-2009, 01:45 AM #9
    snaggdit
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dale53 View Post
    If I were sizing a long, soft bullet a lot (.005" as a for instance) I would get a Lee Sizing push through sizing die. This will minimize sizing damage (should really eliminate it). Lee will make you a custom die if they don't have what you require as a standard.

    FWIW
    Dale53
    +1, and I would add the reason, if you don't use the Lee sizers, is they are nose first sizers. The piston pushes the boolit into the sizer from the base and the nose enters the sizer first.
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  10. 09-27-2009, 11:17 AM #10
    wap41
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    Thanks again I'll order one from lee,I've got a couple of them now and no problems but I've not tried to size any this much before.
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Abbreviations used in Reloading

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