AJC1
Member
It seems in the cast bullet world there is a top punch made by the mold maker to perfectly fit every cast bullet. Is it way beyond reasonable to make a seating die that can use top punches.
Ever consider making a seating die designed for top punches.
- Thread starter AJC1
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Ohen Cepel
Member
Guess it could be done. One can order custom seating stems for select bullets if needed. I know my Star dealer always ask what bullet I'll be seating when I buy dies from him.
Or, in some cases one can mod their existing seating stem to better suit their use.
Or, in some cases one can mod their existing seating stem to better suit their use.
Bearded Phil
Member
It's a pretty good idea. I wonder if Al at NOE ever considered offering a bushing for say, Hornady seaters, which already have easily interchangeable stems to go along with each top punch.
Just pop out the stock alignment sleeve and seater stem and and add the NOE sleeve and top punch. The sleeves could even be machined to have a nearly seamless transition between the sleeve and the top punch.
Just pop out the stock alignment sleeve and seater stem and and add the NOE sleeve and top punch. The sleeves could even be machined to have a nearly seamless transition between the sleeve and the top punch.
OP
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AJC1
Member
It's not a great solution unless you load a lot of cast in a bunch of different calibers. If you have the punches already for a lubrasizer it's a great plan.
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AJC1
Member
I had considered pitching it to noe depending on opinions I received. If you do and he likes it great. He can have the idea just send me a die and we're good.
.38 Special
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I've wondered about that. Especially those companies which make both lubrisizers and loading dies...
Bearded Phil
Member
I haven't really participated over on the NOE forum but if you pitch it over there give me a link and I'll be sure to go show support.
I know he's really backed up but wouldn't hurt to throw it out there.
I've considered pitching the idea of idea of drilling and threading the expander plugs for Lyman M die expander stems rather than a pop-in for the Lee Universal expander. I've used them as they are in the Lee for pistol and rifle and I don't care for them in rifle. I think the Lee tolerances are too wide and I haven't found a way to keep the expander fixed with the extra plugs so it slides around and is hard to use in my opinion. I think they'd be much better threaded in a stem and then adjust the stem rather than the die body. Never got around to it though. Probably won't, haha.
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AJC1
Member
I like the noe expanders and I considered turning some bushings to hold the expander at the top or bottom. I currently only use rifle so holding it on the top would be my first goal.
Bearded Phil
Member
That would be where I'd want them too. If you ever do I'd buy a couple off ya. I'm not set up for such creation.
Bcwitt
Member
Thats a great idea. Not sure what it would cost. You could turn one out in a lathe & see.
BrotherMaynard
Member
Looks like $4.95:
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/gun-parts/tools/top-punch-adapter-for-lee-universal-exp-die/
I stumbled on it when looking for something else and remembered this thread. It turns a Lee universal expander into a seater that uses Top Punches. I have one ordered but it will be a week or so before I can test it out.
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/gun-parts/tools/top-punch-adapter-for-lee-universal-exp-die/
I stumbled on it when looking for something else and remembered this thread. It turns a Lee universal expander into a seater that uses Top Punches. I have one ordered but it will be a week or so before I can test it out.
GeoDudeFlorida
Member
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The Lee dies all use the same seating stem arrangement and it's not hard to turn down a top punch so it fits the Lee seating/crimp dies. The only downside is the channel cut in the Lee dies is a little narrow for some bullet profiles.
Good time to learn how to use a lathe.
Good time to learn how to use a lathe.
Bearded Phil
Member
Please let us know how it goes. I've used the expanding plugs in the Lee Universal body as mentioned above to varying degrees of success so I'm curious how well seating works with them.
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AJC1
Member
With as much time as I spend on that site you would have though I would have seen this.
BrotherMaynard
Member
I hear you. I would never have known it existed had I not been researching their top punch adapter for sizing base first. I found it completely by accident.
BrotherMaynard
Member
Will do. I am cautiously optimistic.
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AJC1
Member
I'm curious of it works with noe top punches. I use their molds and I will grab the one I need.
BrotherMaynard
Member
It took a bit of fiddling but it works as advertised using a Lyman top punch. I also snagged some NOE stepped expanders but I only have one Lee universal so it had to pull double duty.
I also tried swapping out the punch in my Lee 38/357 seating die. It fit but required adjustment of the entire die body instead of just the seater stem. I plan to futz with it some more as I have a lot more seater dies than universal expanders (for now).
I also tried swapping out the punch in my Lee 38/357 seating die. It fit but required adjustment of the entire die body instead of just the seater stem. I plan to futz with it some more as I have a lot more seater dies than universal expanders (for now).
DM~
Member
RCBS has lots of choices,
DM
DM
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