Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 Send TopicPrint
Normal Topic Re-sizing lead bullets (Read 3587 times)
broken_arrow
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 202
Location: Lancaster County
Joined: Aug 12th, 2008
Re-sizing lead bullets
Dec 11th, 2013 at 2:43pm
Print Post  
Hi all,
I have been given a lot of .277 diameter/110 grain  lead bullets but have nothing that takes that size.
Can I re-size them to .258?
Because, that is a size that I can use.
I can make a die to do it if you think it will work.
Worth it or not?
Thanks,
Dave
  

ASSRA #10186 (10-25-2021)
Every Mighty Oak Was Once A Little Nut That Held Its Ground
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
SSShooter
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2917
Location: Southern NJ
Joined: Aug 1st, 2010
Re: Re-sizing lead bullets
Reply #1 - Dec 11th, 2013 at 2:50pm
Print Post  
Perhaps you could swage them. I've not been able to get 0.382" bullets to size down to 0.377" in my sizing die (either doesn't work or I'm not strong enough - at 200#+, I think it just doesn't work) so sold the 'too big' mould. In addition, everything I've read says the less sizing the better. If you can cast the size you want and not need any sizing, all the better.
  

Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
Back to top
GTalk  
IP Logged
 
frnkeore
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 7268
Location: Central Point, OR 97502
Joined: Jun 16th, 2010
Re: Re-sizing lead bullets
Reply #2 - Dec 11th, 2013 at 2:59pm
Print Post  
In a word, I say, no. They will distort and elongate quite a bit in doing so.

That said, if you make a die that has a .277 x band lenght starting area and then a 1 deg taper down to .2575 (for spring back) and lube all the grooves before sizing, I might posibly be shootable but, only maybe. The bullet will probably extrude around the punch and leave a part of the bullet in the taper. I've sized .006 that way and it turned out fine but, .020? I don't think so.

Frank
  

ASSRA Member #696, ISSA Member #339
Back to top
YIMAIM  
IP Logged
 
Schuetzendave
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline


Retired Ex-Shooter

Posts: 4041
Location: St. Albert, Alberta
Joined: Jan 28th, 2005
Re: Re-sizing lead bullets
Reply #3 - Dec 11th, 2013 at 3:35pm
Print Post  
Best to melt the larger lead bullets down and then recast them with the proper size molud.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
bisaacson
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 170
Location: Kailua
Joined: Sep 1st, 2009
Re: Re-sizing lead bullets
Reply #4 - Dec 11th, 2013 at 4:37pm
Print Post  
Before I got a 140gn. .308 mould for my Wurfflein, I swaged a 155 gn. .321 bullet down to .308 in a couple of stages with push-through dies like a LEE sizer die. I shoot some odd stuff and made up a couple of dies between .321 and .308. It shot great, a little over an inch at 100yds, much better than I was able to do with the 140gn. bullet, which I'm still working on. Go figure.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
ledball
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1010
Location: syracuse, ohio
Joined: Nov 20th, 2009
Re: Re-sizing lead bullets
Reply #5 - Dec 11th, 2013 at 5:31pm
Print Post  
Sizing a bullet down that much will eliminate the grease grooves and also produce a fin on the base of the bullet.   ledball
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Lefty38-55
Senior Forum Member
****
Offline



Posts: 366
Location: New England
Joined: Sep 11th, 2013
Re: Re-sizing lead bullets
Reply #6 - Dec 11th, 2013 at 5:42pm
Print Post  
bisaacson wrote on Dec 11th, 2013 at 4:37pm:
... swaged a 155 gn. .321 bullet down to .308 in a couple of stages with push-through dies like a LEE sizer die.

FYI, Lee does make their push-thru dies on 'special order' to whatever size you want, but there is a notice on their website that such custom orders were suspended during this recent rush/frenzy on ammunition and reloading components and tools. They say it may begin again in JAN 2014, let's hope! I need a new one too Wink !
  

All of my single shots shoot one tiny ragged hole with cast bullets ... it's just the following shots that tend to open up my groups Wink ...
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
marlinguy
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline


Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

Posts: 16091
Location: Oregon
Joined: Feb 2nd, 2009
Re: Re-sizing lead bullets
Reply #7 - Dec 11th, 2013 at 7:07pm
Print Post  
Might try and trade them to someone who has some bullets in a size you need, or sell them as cast if they're a good design.
  

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
broken_arrow
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 202
Location: Lancaster County
Joined: Aug 12th, 2008
Re: Re-sizing lead bullets
Reply #8 - Dec 12th, 2013 at 8:16am
Print Post  
I'll put this on the back burner until I have some time to make a re-sizing die.
It won't hurt to try.
  

ASSRA #10186 (10-25-2021)
Every Mighty Oak Was Once A Little Nut That Held Its Ground
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send TopicPrint