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deth502
12-05-2013, 11:08 PM
i have a few hundred lead pistol bullets i was given. some are sized/lubed, and some arent.

do i really need to worry about sizing/lubing? there are no gas checks on any of them. can i just stuff them right in dry and use them? or do i really have to worry about sizing?

Schuetzenman
12-06-2013, 06:48 AM
Lube definitely, sizing ... depends on how they cast and what size they are. What caliber are they? I genereally use bullets .001 to .002" bigger than spec. It helps prevent leading. A small bullet will lead heavily.

Because cast bullets are not usually as hard as jacketed bullets they won't develop as much pressure. Still, if they are too oversized they could bump pressures up a lot. If you're using starting powder charges you should be OK more than likely. Go buy some liquid Alox by Lee and you can tumble the un sized bullets to put a film on them. Follow the instructions on the packaging.

Helen Keller
12-06-2013, 06:59 AM
yea, biggest thing is .. what caliber?

deth502
12-06-2013, 11:12 AM
ok, a bit of a moot point now.

nothing to do at work today, so i was just internetting. i was under teh impression that id have to get a whole set up like this:

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/4500-lube-sizer.php

but now i see there are simple sizing dies that i can use with my existing reloading press for $20 ea. for that, its not a big deal. also, if that liquid lue can just be coated on them and work, and not have to worry about those wax based shit that has to be heated and whatnot, again, that is definitely simple (and cheap) enough for me to handle.

am i on teh right track here? would that be sufficient?

i inherited a few hundred, mostly .45, a few .44, bunch of .38/357, and a box of .380.

i do some casting, but only round ballls and maxi balls for the flintlock (and some fishing lures), ive never done any lead in cased ammo.

Helen Keller
12-06-2013, 11:55 AM
would that be sufficient?

yep It's what i use for about everything, mostly all my various .30 cal bullets I toss a gas check on when sizing too.


http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/4500-lube-sizer.php

I have one of these set up for my .451 bullets , Way more cleaner than alox and a whole lot less smoke.



I'd be broke if I didnt cast, Im making about 30 lbs of ignots today to add to my "i dont know how heavy" pile of ignots

Helen Keller
12-06-2013, 08:15 PM
did these tonight between working on my bren and another project or 3.


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i202/capbustinjon/DSC00800_zps0e87e238.jpg (http://s73.photobucket.com/user/capbustinjon/media/DSC00800_zps0e87e238.jpg.html)

Schuetzenman
12-06-2013, 08:36 PM
Yep I have the Lyman 450 luber sizer since I was 17. The best thing about them is that you can seat a gas check and crimp it on while sizing and lubing the bullet. For non gaschecked bullets the Saeco Luber Sizer might be a bit better because you should be able to simply drive the bullets in and not have them come back up like he Lyman system. Put a cloth chute into a box and you can just punch it in, put on the lube then pull up put in another bullet and punch it down, lube it. Thus they all come out the bottom, so a bit faster than the Lyman. http://www.redding-reloading.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80:saeco-lubri-sizer

Ah the Lyman ingot mold, I think I have at least two of those.

deth502
12-06-2013, 08:49 PM
so, something like this on my rcbs rock chucker would work or not?

http://www.brownells.com/reloading/bullet-casting/lube-amp-sizer-dies/lee-bullet-lube-size-kit-452-diameter-sku100010171-54179-103507.aspx?cm_mmc=cse-_-Itwine-_-shopping-_-Lee%20Cast%20Bullet%20Lube%20&%20Size%20Kits&gdftrk=gdfV21820_a_7c187_a_7c1021_a_7c100010171_d_ 100010171_d_21344

i plan on keeping casting for black powder, but that much lead would last me half a lifetime. maybe after i use these up i might get into the whole lead bullet thing more. prob have around 2k-2500 all together, so it will take a while to use these up.

Helen Keller
12-06-2013, 08:55 PM
those are fine. I have multiple Lee sizers and have no issues.





I only bought the lubrisizer cause .45 is my primary caliber. I might get the .309 and .312 setup next but shit pricey for those little parts.

Schuetzenman
12-07-2013, 09:38 AM
so, something like this on my rcbs rock chucker would work or not?

http://www.brownells.com/reloading/bullet-casting/lube-amp-sizer-dies/lee-bullet-lube-size-kit-452-diameter-sku100010171-54179-103507.aspx?cm_mmc=cse-_-Itwine-_-shopping-_-Lee%20Cast%20Bullet%20Lube%20&%20Size%20Kits&gdftrk=gdfV21820_a_7c187_a_7c1021_a_7c100010171_d_ 100010171_d_21344

i plan on keeping casting for black powder, but that much lead would last me half a lifetime. maybe after i use these up i might get into the whole lead bullet thing more. prob have around 2k-2500 all together, so it will take a while to use these up.

Sure that will work just fine. It's a different approach but there are more ways than one to skin a cat or in this case size a bullet. I have a similar system I made up to size 58 caliber Mini balls for my musket, it works the same way. Use the ram on the press to shove the bullet up thorough the die nose first.