AJC1
Member
Obviously undersized bullets cause a bunch of issues from terrible accuracy to leading. What is the upper limit and what do those indicators look like.
As the title says upper limit of oversized. Undersized is well known and discussed ad nauseumUpper limit of being undersized? I don't understand the question.
Much depends on the ability of the bullet to seal inside the bore. Powder type, pressure and bullet size and hardness all effect the outcome.
I have found that as big a diameter bullet that will chamber is a good place to be.
Rifle is the primary quandary but if there are differences I'd like to know. I'm inclined to believe that limits are close to deformation limits used in swaging them to size but that is a mental exercise I'm playing with zero testing or evidence.Handgun? Rifle?
.311 in a 308 is giving me fits but I think they may be better in 30-30 due to a looser bore. I'm honestly not exactly sure what the problem is or if there are multiple issues. Different Bullets sized .310 were better and shot near moa. Lee sells .309 and .311 sizes so I may try traditional lube and size 310 at my dad's place.It depends on where it is too large. Generally if you get too big, you will run into chambering problems. With my bullets and loads I'm usually not pushing the pressure limits of the cartridge so I've never ran into pressure spikes that I have noticed. I shoot .453 lead bullets in most my 1911's, .311 bullets in .300 blackout, .357 in 9mm, .358 or .359 in .38 Special etc. Generally all are my own homecast lead bullets. Sometimes a bullet can cause the brass to expand just enough to cause chambering problems but usually it's the front driving band that starts to hit the rifling that causes an issue. Bullets size easily enough that once the gunpowder kicks then in the rear they will shrink to whatever the bore and groove diameter are very quickly.
With certain rifle bullets you can run into problems with the bullet nose being too large and not chambering.
Those were out of stock for the last 2 years I've been looking to get them...I use .310 for lead bullets in .30-06. I have the NOE sizing die system. The initial purchase is kind of steep($46) but then each bushing is only $11.
Those were out of stock for the last 2 years I've been looking to get them...
I use the NOE system to seat and crimp gas checks.As I understand, the NOE sizing system will seat and crimp GCs if you size them bottom up with a top punch.
Basic pushrod (nose first)
Like I posted in the thread about .314” bullets, I buy .313” cast, gas-checked, Hi-Tek coated bullets for my Mosin-Nagant M38, M91/30, and SMLE rifles with bores ranging from .311”-.315”. The only similar rifle they don’t work in is a Finn M39 with a .310” groove and .304” bore. They don’t group well, do seem a bit spikey and it seems like they deform at the base so the gas-check ends up kinda wrinkled looking. I suspect there’s just no place for the extra material to go but back, over the check and that makes it spin off center some. I can typically hold a 8” pie plate with a SMLE or Mosin and with good .311” cast 180’s that M39 will do much better. Not with the oversized bullets though..311 in a 308 is giving me fits but I think they may be better in 30-30 due to a looser bore. I'm honestly not exactly sure what the problem is or if there are multiple issues. Different Bullets sized .310 were better and shot near moa. Lee sells .309 and .311 sizes so I may try traditional lube and size 310 at my dad's place.
40 some odd in stock now. Just need to grab this and whatever size bushings you want. It says "die body" but it's everything you need less the sizing bushings.
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/sho...ough-size-die/001-push-through-size-die-body/
Use code FLT001 for 10% off.
I use the NOE system to seat and crimp gas checks.
Nose first through the die; the standard pushrod holds the check in position.
Works like a champ.
It's been a while, but I had a couple of Ruger .45 Colt revolvers that had slightly undersized cylinder throats. So, when I shot cast bullets that were .001" over my barrel (groove to groove) diameter, the bullets got swagged down before they entered the barrel anyway.Rifle is the primary quandary but if there are differences I'd like to know.
At least you couldn’t blame the cylinders after thatIt's been a while, but I had a couple of Ruger .45 Colt revolvers that had slightly undersized cylinder throats. So, when I shot cast bullets that were .001" over my barrel (groove to groove) diameter, the bullets got swagged down before they entered the barrel anyway.
I've always been a bit OCD when it comes to handloading, so I had those cylinder throats reamed out a bit. I can't remember the details, but I do remember that having the cylinder throats reamed a little didn't improve my shooting much, if any.
So most likely it's not discussed because over has not produced bad results in most situations... the result is positive imo because I can eliminate that as a variable.IIRC; I read some Schutzen shooters used breech loading bullets up to .008"-.010" larger than groove diameter. For all of my cast bullet sizing I mostly limit bullet diameter to chamber size (some bullets are sized so the cartridge will just fit the chamber, rifle calibers). Lead bullet vs barrel dimensions is a largely discussed subject and more than bullet diameter comes into play and accuracy was not overly discussed in relation to bullet diameter vs barrel dimensions. I remember an experiment where a .17 caliber barrel was chambered for 22 lr. No pressure problems and exciting velocities and good accuracy resulted...
Would take some meticulous testing though. And I think the consensus here is "will it still chamber" is an obstacle. Also, it might require someone to permanently lap their mould a bit to be able to drop a bullet big enough.
.311 in a 308 is giving me fits but I think they may be better in 30-30 due to a looser bore. I'm honestly not exactly sure what the problem is or if there are multiple issues. Different Bullets sized .310 were better and shot near moa. Lee sells .309 and .311 sizes so I may try traditional lube and size 310 at my dad's place.
It would be interesting to see what would happen in both rifles if I went to .311"...