Sizing cast bullets
03-20-2017, 05:07 PM
#1
Boone & Crockett
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,745
Sizing cast bullets
I am going to be casting some bullets for my 45-70. These will be cast and sized to .457" diameter.
My question is, in order to shoot them out of my .45 caliber muzzleloader I would have to reduce them down to .451". Is this feasible with and alloyed bullet? I know .006" isn't much but can it be run through a die with busting a gut in the process?
My question is, in order to shoot them out of my .45 caliber muzzleloader I would have to reduce them down to .451". Is this feasible with and alloyed bullet? I know .006" isn't much but can it be run through a die with busting a gut in the process?
03-20-2017, 06:24 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 3,902
Lots of lube, and 3 sizing steps - knocking it down 2thou at a time. You'll get there, no sweat, and no busted gut. You can most likely get there in 2 steps, 3thou each, but I've tended to get better results by going 2thou.
I size jacketed bullets for my .357/44, lube them up and crank them through. Use a single stage O-press with plenty of leverage, they'll all run through fine.
I size jacketed bullets for my .357/44, lube them up and crank them through. Use a single stage O-press with plenty of leverage, they'll all run through fine.
03-21-2017, 09:45 AM
#3
Boone & Crockett
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Thanks for the info NoMercy. But I'd have to buy 2 more sizing dies to go .003" at a whack at about $25 apiece just for an experiment to see how well they would shoot.
Now if someone would could run some through their dies if I sent some that would be great.
Now if someone would could run some through their dies if I sent some that would be great.
03-21-2017, 11:34 AM
#5
Boone & Crockett
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the ones I will be casting for the muzzleloader would be pure lead (4.5 BHN). I guess I should have mentioned that in the initial post.
The ones for the Sharps replica will be in the 8-9 BHN range.
The ones for the Sharps replica will be in the 8-9 BHN range.
03-22-2017, 01:06 AM
#6
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: North East PA. but not home.
Posts: 743
Pure lead will cast smaller than a given alloy? Just how much? You shall have to cast a few to see.
.oo6" seems like very little until you try running it thru a sizer die !
It seems like a good project to try but it,IMHO,just isn't worth it!
.oo6" seems like very little until you try running it thru a sizer die !
It seems like a good project to try but it,IMHO,just isn't worth it!
03-22-2017, 04:25 AM
#7
Boone & Crockett
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I often wondered why manufacturers picked .458" as the diameter for a .45 cal centerfire rifle chamberings and .451"/.452" for 45 cal handguns and muzzleloaders. Why couldn't they make it all uniform? Marketing I guess.
03-22-2017, 10:56 AM
#8
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: North East PA. but not home.
Posts: 743
bronko22000,that would be a good thing for you to research and find out why and let us here know how come!
I would think the rifle bullet has to stand up to a lot more pressure for a longer time than a hand gun bullet so it has to be bigger?
I would think the rifle bullet has to stand up to a lot more pressure for a longer time than a hand gun bullet so it has to be bigger?
03-22-2017, 07:22 PM
#9
Boone & Crockett
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Location: Eastern PA
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If that were the case then why is there cast bullets as small as .22 cal?? I don't think that's the reason.