customized bullet sizer die?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Col. Harrumph

Col. Harrumph

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2015
Messages
1,278
Location
New Hampshire
Hi all, I'm setting up to load cast bullets for my S&W Model 58. I've mic'd the chamber mouths and they vary from .4103 to .41055 inch. The bullets (RCBS 41-210-swc) drop from .4137 to .4142. (And average 218 gr.)

Of course I'll try shooting as cast, but I'd like to use the lubrisizer for convenience's sake... makes applying lube much less messy than the "Kake Kutter" method. Trouble is, the closest die I've found is .410. I'd like to find one that's .411 inch. Is it possible (and easy) to open a stock die up without buggering it oval?
 
Using a split dowel and emery cloth in a hand drill, .001" is easy to remove from the ID of a die. Just oil the emery cloth, keep the dowel as straight as possible, and keep the dowel moving in and out, and check often. I've done a few Lee sizing dies and as a machinist/mechanic have used this method, accurately, many times...
 
You can also just order a custom size die from Lee... I got one for my .348 bullets. $35 or thereabouts, I had it in 2 or 3 weeks.
 
I make my own sizing dies from scratch using old 7/8” fine thread bolts, drill to closest underside drill size, and then finish hone as mdi stated above.
These you can screw in your press, install a pusher punch in the press ram , put the Lee red plastic catcher cup on top, hand or pan lube boolits and size them.
This method works well if you like doing it all in house on many special one off quest determining actual boolit diameter. Once done you can start investing in 25 to 50 dollar dies.
I can send pic of actual die if you wish.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top