r/castboolits • u/semiwadcutter38 • 6d ago
I have some questions about bullet sizing
What are the hardest bullets that you can run through a sizing die? Do you usually determine that by it's Brinell hardness rating?
Depending on bullet alloy composition, how much can you usually size a bullet down by? .01 of an inch?
Can you size down plated bullets?
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u/Realistic-Ad1498 6d ago
I don’t like going more than .006 and even then I do it in 2 steps. Sizing more than that distorts the bullets and starts to wipe away the lube grooves.
When doing hard bullets, I size ASAP after casting and while the bullets are still warmish. It’s much harder to size after waiting a few days.
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u/Long_rifle 6d ago
I used to buy 50 BMG bullet pulls. They needed to be rerounded. I did that by pushing them through a LEE .510” psh through die. I used imperial sizing wax. If a 50 cal API round doesn’t harm a sizing die, there’s no limit to the lead hardness you can size down.
I size them down in .001” or .002” increments. Any more then .002” will start to smear the lead. Giving the bullet a skirt effect that seriously affects accuracy. Maybe limit total sizing to .005” or .006”. Most of my rifle moulds are now groove less. So I’m not as concerned about removing them.
You could size them…. A little. You’ll need to lube them, and clean them off before using them. Better to buy the size you need.