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Lapping .0002 out of a Carbide Bullet Die

jackieschmidt

jackieschmidt

Gold $$ Contributor
A while back I acquired a set of high end bullet dies to make 66/68 grn Flat Base Bullet. Everything is fine except the bullet shank always comes out .2429.

I have tried all of the tricks, (lube), and have come to the conclusion that it needs .0002 lapped out, possibly .0003.

I know diamond lapping compound is involved. What color. And what is the best thing to make the lap from, hard wood, cast iron, brass…..?
 
To lap it out you would need a bullet shaped lap that is bigger than the die currently ???

Wouldnt spinning the die in a lathe a some diamond on a hardwood pointed tool and work the diamond on the area that needs opened up and blend into the ogive work?
 
Bulletman said:
To lap it out you would need a bullet shaped lap that is bigger than the die currently ???

Wouldnt spinning the die in a lathe a some diamond on a hardwood pointed tool and work the diamond on the area that needs opened up and blend into the ogive work?
Click to expand...
If I follow correctly, the only issue is the finished bullet body diameter. Sounds like the rest of the profile is fine.
 
Jackie
You need to make a lap that is expandable in order to control your removal rate.
Start with some #6 to condition the lap to the form your working.
I think a bullet with the front end chopped 3/16 to allow a countersink for a screw head to draw a wedge from the bottom would be my first attempt.
Maybe incorporate a long enough amount of thead protruding out the bottom to attach a handle/ drive shaft.
Have fun
Alan
Use a double nut lock on the drive end to assure it won't move when torque is applied when engaged.
 
I have used 30 micron (600 grit) diamond abrasive compound and an acro lap to hone the necks of dies. You can also get the lap in a blind hole model.

I do believe that diamond abrasive will hone tungsten carbide.
 
jackieschmidt said:
A while back I acquired a set of high end bullet dies to make 66/68 grn Flat Base Bullet. Everything is fine except the bullet shank always comes out .2429.

I have tried all of the tricks, (lube), and have come to the conclusion that it needs .0002 lapped out, possibly .0003.

I know diamond lapping compound is involved. What color. And what is the best thing to make the lap from, hard wood, cast iron, brass…..?
Click to expand...
White is #3. Yellow is 6. Green is 9. Blue is 15. I recommend 80% concentration oil base.
Make a few laps. One for each grit. You can charge one with a coarser grit, but not the other way. Be careful and measure often.
 
jackieschmidt said:
A while back I acquired a set of high end bullet dies to make 66/68 grn Flat Base Bullet. Everything is fine except the bullet shank always comes out .2429.

I have tried all of the tricks, (lube), and have come to the conclusion that it needs .0002 lapped out, possibly .0003.

I know diamond lapping compound is involved. What color. And what is the best thing to make the lap from, hard wood, cast iron, brass…..?
Click to expand...
Jackie, Send it to me I'll open it up to what you want....If you need my address send me a p.m.
 
STS said:
Paging George........ Paging George U.
Click to expand...

jackieschmidt said:
This is a Rorschach die. It has the exact same ogive profile as some old Fowler bullets I had, it is just a few tenths smaller.
The Fowlers measure .2432 to .2433 on the shank.

The groove diameter is still .2430.
Click to expand...
Jackie
Jef's dies were well worn by that time. Don's were always spot on dimensionally. At one time I had the only "oversize" set he made. .2433" It took 3-4 years of waiting for him to make a mistake.
 
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