Sizing already cast bullets

[redhog]

Morning. Im am new to forum, also not really tech savy. But I will try to post my question.
I have many cast .455 lead bullets-

Can I size them down to .452 with a Lee .452 bullet sizing die setup?

Don't really want to melt them down and start from scratch, always an
option I guess.
Thanks for yalls input.

 

[JSH]

You can, but it may wipe a lot of the lube groove off. Depends on design. I myself don’t like to see removal of a lot of my projectile.
If they are “painted” it will probably take all of that off.

We are fortunate to actually be in the heyday for molds. A custom mold to known dimensions with a specific alloy is at our fingertips, and bargain. I will never own another mold made for the masses! Just sooooo many variables to contend with. + or - send it back, “it is with in specs”………..

 

[rockhound78]

.003" shouldn't be too bad. Much more and I would lube them first so you don't wipe out the lube grooves depending on design.
What are you shooting them in? You might not have to size them. I used to shoot a .433 cast slug in a 44 special Colt SAA with a groove dia. of .428" as the cylinder throats were .433". Best to size to throat dia. or not more than .001" under if a revolver.

 

[dk17hmr]

Send them through a sizing die you'll be fine. I use lee push through sizers with a strong single stage and have gone from .475 down to .459 in one pass.

Sizing Powder coated bullets from my experience doesnt remove the coating.

I sized some .461s down to .452 the other day for testing paper patching. There was still lube grooves there.

 

[Fuj]

You could also slug your barrel to see where you really need
to be. It's not uncommon to have a .454 bore in which case,
your good to go, and no sizing needed.

 

[243winxb]

Ok to sized down .003" Do coat with Lee Liquid Alox first. Lube again after sizing.

 

[SSL]

Morning. Im am new to forum, also not really tech savy. But I will try to post my question.
I have many cast .455 lead bullets-

Don't really want to melt them down and start from scratch, always an
option I guess.
Thanks for yalls input.

Everyone is giving good advice...but it would really help to know what firearm these are for. Certain revolver brands tend to run larger bores than others. I have a Ruger .45 Colt (bore .4535") that wouldn't even hiccup running those .455" bullets. A tiny bit snug, but I would bet they would shoot great in it.

 

[redhog]

They are at least 35years old. 2 small grooves, Don't think .003 will wipe grooves out.
Scratches with finger nail, assuming, near 100% lead. Shavings, die wear and
starting into a .452 sizer are concerns. About 200 bullets, lots of shavings, probably
a tired arm too. I have sized .452 cast fresh out of molds. Molds were pretty true to
.452, minimal shavings. Thanks for feed back, just wanted to through it out there before
I screwed something up

 

[redhog]

They are at least 35years old. 2 small grooves, Don't think .003 will wipe grooves out.
Scratches with finger nail, assuming, near 100% lead. Shavings, die wear and
starting into a .452 sizer are concerns. About 200 bullets, lots of shavings, probably
a tired arm too. I have sized .452 cast fresh out of molds. Molds were pretty true to
.452, minimal shavings. Thanks for feed back, just wanted to through it out there before
I screwed something up

Just read some replies, after I posted, figures, Henry 20" barrel- Taurus 5.5 revolver-
circut judge 45-410- Loved the cartridge for many years, will add more as I run across
them.

 

[JSH]

Just read some replies, after I posted, figures, Henry 20" barrel- Taurus 5.5 revolver-
circut judge 45-410- Loved the cartridge for many years, will add more as I run across
them.

I would definitely slug all of them. Size needed could be all over the place.
After casting and shooting several tons of lead through several dozen rifles and pistols, I strongly advise to see what the need. Not what you want to feed them.
Size is king.
Good luck.

 

[redhog]

Thanks. Good advice from all.

 

[PhilC]

Word of caution, since they're soft enough to "mark" with your fingernail, they will be softer yet after sizing. Ideally, if you're going to size boolits (as the cast crowd calls them) you should do so within 24hrs so when the alloy fully cures or "hardens" they will be at the correct diameter for planned use.

CastBoolits is a great place for all things casting related.

 

[redhog]

Word of caution, since they're soft enough to "mark" with your fingernail, they will be softer yet after sizing. Ideally, if you're going to size boolits (as the cast crowd calls them) you should do so within 24hrs so when the alloy fully cures or "hardens" they will be at the correct diameter for planned use.

CastBoolits is a great place for all things casting related.

Thank you Phil for the reply. These bullets are at least 30yrs old, maybe a tad older than that.
Already cured. So after shaving .003 off, the hardness of soft lead bullets shouldn't change. Also, I might melt them down and add wheel wts. or tin for hardness, if a cleaner barrel and better flying bullet resulted.
But I want to get it right the first time around. What say ye?

 

[redhog]

Just checked out castboolits. loaded with great feedback and info. It's great. Thanks

 

[243winxb]

Cast bullets are NOT shaved. They are swaged smaller. The Lyman & Lee sizer mouth is beveled, larger.

Sizing down .003" is fine. Normal for some of my moulds.

Note that alloys spring back after coming out of the die. Near pure lead, very little. Linotype larger than what die is marked.

 

[Webster]

Morning. Im am new to forum, also not really tech savy. But I will try to post my question.
I have many cast .455 lead bullets-

Don't really want to melt them down and start from scratch, always an
option I guess.
Thanks for yalls input.

That's what the sizer is made for. You cannot size them without making them smaller. You want them the proper diameter for your bore. Sizing also removes any casting surface imperfections like mold parting lines. What's the diameter of jacketed bullets you have already fired sucessfully in your gun? Compare diameter to cast bullets. If they are not over size compared to your bore so they won't blowup the rifle. I would shoot a few with a mild load and see if they shot ok. Phone Henry rifle and ask them for rifling and grove diameters and if they can suggest a sized cast bullet diameter. If the bullets have tiny groves on the bearing surface they probably shot without lube. A had 2 45-70 cartridges with blacl poweder in thm. They were probably made before 1900. They had zero lube on them. I think almost all revolvers in the old days were non jacketed non lubed. I like the idea of lube. I had plenty of lube on all of my cast rifle bullets. Always used gas checks.

 

[jonbearman]

Swage them down like 10 of them and try them out. What cartridge are you loading for?

 

[redhog]

Loading .45lc . Coming out of long barrel and short barrel. I like staying around 250gr or so
frn.




'

 

[JSH]

Harder is not better necessarily. The size may change after fully cured, the amount of time is up for discussion by many. I listen to a good friend of mine that is a Professor, and go with that.
I have left a lot of marks on bullets with a “thumb nail”. That falls into about the same are as primers for judging pressure, it’s just a guesstimate at best.

Barrel length has absolutely zero to do with bullet. Size is king period. If you want generic bullets, you get generic results. There is absolutely no sense in sizing the projectiles till you measure. 45 Colt don’t even get me started on size, I have seen and witnessed .450-.459 on cylinders. Darn near the same on barrels too.
FYI, if the cylinder slugs smaller than the barrel, it will never shoot well until that is addressed.
If the cast bullet does not look exactly like the inside of the mold it is a cull. Why accept sub standard when it is so easy to recycle.
I strive for the same accuracy as my jacketed. Do I get it, not all the time but usually very close.

I won’t point out, but there is still a lot of misinformation still out there on casting and using cast bullets. Even a lot of the old early holy grail books have been proved differently today.

 

[PhilC]

Harder is not better necessarily. The size may change after fully cured, the amount of time is up for discussion by many. I listen to a good friend of mine that is a Professor, and go with that.
I have left a lot of marks on bullets with a “thumb nail”. That falls into about the same are as primers for judging pressure, it’s just a guesstimate at best.

Barrel length has absolutely zero to do with bullet. Size is king period. If you want generic bullets, you get generic results. There is absolutely no sense in sizing the projectiles till you measure. 45 Colt don’t even get me started on size, I have seen and witnessed .450-.459 on cylinders. Darn near the same on barrels too.
FYI, if the cylinder slugs smaller than the barrel, it will never shoot well until that is addressed.
If the cast bullet does not look exactly like the inside of the mold it is a cull. Why accept sub standard when it is so easy to recycle.
I strive for the same accuracy as my jacketed. Do I get it, not all the time but usually very close.

I won’t point out, but there is still a lot of misinformation still out there on casting and using cast bullets. Even a lot of the old early holy grail books have been proved differently today.

Excellent post!