When to size and lube bullets?

[paulsnapp]

After I am done casting a few hundred bullets, how long should I wait before I size and lube them? Right away are they softer and size better? A wait period for them to harden for better sizing? Is there a wait period that is too long that they become too hardened for best sizing? Thanks for any advice!

 

[rcmodel]

Never mattered to me.

I usually cast in one session.

Then the next day, or a week or two later when I get time, size and lube what I cast the last time.

I never noticed any difference then if I did it all in one day.
Except I get tuckered out more when I do it all in one day.

rc

 

[wgaynor]

I may wait a couple weeks, just because it can tire you out if you do it in large quantities. Lead does harden as it ages, but it takes a while. Either way, it can still be sized and lubed anytime you wish. Just make sure it's dry if you water quench.

 

[[email protected]]

For pistol bullets (short an fat), I usually size them the next day or two or three, but usually no more than a week. For skinney bullets like 22 cal, I wait at least a week to let them harden some. If I size them too early they will bend or squish the nose riding section. I got in too big of a hurry once and sized them too soon. I ended up with some nice 22 cal wad cutters to run in my 223

 

[James2]

It never mattered a whole bunch to me. Size them when I get a minute. I never size as many at a time as I cast. Usually when I cast, I will do a lot. Takes more prep with the casting, so I give it a good push while the pot is hot.

 

[Duckdog]

You can do it whenever, but as far as sizing goes, if your not having trouble chambering the round, why size it? There are two trains of thought. One says size them, while the other says to let the barrel size them. Most of the time I refer to the second unless I am after a specific result or am having trouble chambering the round.

 

[rcmodel]

Many old bullet casters like myself, have to size them to lube them.
In a Lyman or RCBS Lubri-Sizer press.

If you are using Lee $ 19 dollar molds with the micro-grooves and liquid Alox sticky-lube?

You are way more advanced then me and my hundreds of dollars worth of bullet molds and sizing& lube dies, and top plugs to match all my bullet molds.

rc

 

[wgaynor]

I have a lubrisizer and the cheap push through mould. I despise the liquid alox and the lee sizer. The lubrisizer is the way to go.

 

[243winxb]

When & How to size Cast bullets.

Bullets that are hardended by this process will fully harden in 2 weeks. The alloy must contain 2% antimony. If the alloy contains 6% antimony, they harden much faster, about 1 hour. After they are sized, bullets will not grow in diameter. Lyman FAQ-

Q: Is there anything I can do to make the bullets harder?
A: Cast bullets can be heat treated to increase their hardness providing your alloy has some antimony present. To heat treat your bullets: Cast your bullets in the normal manner, saving several scrap bullets. Size your bullets but do not lubricate them. Place several scrap bullets on a pan in your oven at 450 degrees and increase the temperature until the bullets start to melt or slump. Be sure to use an accurate oven thermometer and a pan that will not be used again for food. Once the bullets start to melt or slump, back off the temperature about 5 to 10 degrees and slide in your first batch of good bullets. Leave these in the oven for a half hour. Remove the bullets from the oven and plunge them into cool water. Allow them to cool thoroughly. When you are ready to lubricate, install a sizing die .001" larger than the one used to initially size them. This will prevent the sides of the bullets from work-softening from contact with the sizing die. Next apply gas checks if required and lubricate. These are now ready for loading.

Cast bullets that are air cooled, using 2%-Tin, 6%-Antimony, and 92%-Lead or most other alloys, can be sized anytime. Bullets with high tin content will soften a little after many years.

 

[dragon813gt]

If you water drop them you will want to size them right away. They will get harder the longer they sit making them harder to size. I try to size them the next day so everything is ready to go. I hate having unloaded bullets laying around. I really hate having bullets that are unloadable laying around


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[Arkansas Paul]

I don't size most of mine. I'm fortunate to have some molds that drop right where I need them to be. My .40 mold does require sizing. I pan lube most of my stuff and tumble lube light .38 Spcl bullets.

I don't generally wait around very long to lube/size. The next day most of the time. I store mine ready to load.

 

[noylj]

I stopped sizing all my cast bullets in late '70s.
I found out in .45 Auto, 9x19, and .44 Mag that the as-cast bullets were always as accurate or more accurate than sized bullets. I purchased sizing dies that were 0.001" over the nominal as-cast bullet diameter for lubing.
Then I went to pan-lubing and now I tumble lube.
As far as I am concerned, sizing does nothing beneficial for the bullet and is to be avoided.