Scrap em or load em?

[Reefinmike]

Looking for some input before I melt down 3.5 hours of tedious work(1 hr casting, 2hr shake n bake powder coating, .5hr sizing).

Long story short, on my very first attempt at powdercoating some oversized 380 boolits, I had to hammer out a few bullets with great force using a hammer and screwdriver. I thought I was being careful by shoving some paper towel down the die to center up the screwdriver, but it appears I put a little nick on the top end of the .358 sizing die.

I ended up sizing 500 freshly PC'd boolits before I noticed the small flat side on the bullet. These are cast from 90% range lead, 10%ww and ended up dropping at 162.5-163.0gr(158gr lee tlswc mold). after sizing, most of the bullet measures in at .358, but there is a small flat side measuring about .075" across and .355.5-.356 in diameter. You guys think that this soft alloy will just obiturate the bore and act as normal under a warmer(3.7-3.9gr) charge of bullseye?

A new sizing die is on the way regardless but im a little weary on loading these up.

 

[myFRAGisFUBAR]

honestly if they are sized to what you need and they are totally coated, I wouldnt have a problem shooting them. Some of my bullets get a little dinged in the process and are just fine.

 

[FROGO207]

If you are worried then just load up a few and try them. That will tell you immediately. I think that you will be OK anyway but this is what I would do rather than ask here FWIW. The powder coating should stop leading but decent accuracy would be the big concern.

 

[JimKirk]

You created a small burr in the die with the screw driver ... it is cutting off the flat area of the bullet ... could be as simple as polishing out the burr with a rotary tool or some fine emory paper.... I would shoot the ones you have ... they will look worse than than after they travel down the barrel....

 

[plmitch]

Just use them up.

 

[TooManyToys]

Probably nothing unsafe there so just load up a few and see how they work.

 

[rcmodel]

Might want to use a round brass punch next time.
Or at least something besides a screwdriver!

rc

 

[blarby]

I agree that you put a flat burr in the die.

Good thing is, a decent machine shop could take it out in about 10 mins of work- albeit with a bit of ribbing

I'd say do it yourself, but......... Well, take it to a machine shop.

Good thing is, with the PC being intact, you should have nothing to worry about.

as RC would say, " Choot 'em " !

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, take the mold to a machine shop and have it fixed.

I agree those bullets don't looks so bad.

I agree you should shoot them.

I suggest not forcing anything in the future. Screwdrivers have no place being struck against anything. If you must use a softer metal like brass in the future...

Don't forget the range report although I have a feeling those bullets will shoot just fine.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Load em and shoot em.

And don't use screwdrivers to punch things out of dies anymore.
I'm sure you've already thought of that though.