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Re-sizing lead bullets (Read 3590 times)

broken_arrow Full Member Offline Posts: 202 Location: Lancaster County Joined: Aug 12^th, 2008	Re-sizing lead bullets Dec 11^th, 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
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SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2917 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Re-sizing lead bullets Reply #1 - Dec 11^th, 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
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frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7268 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: Re-sizing lead bullets Reply #2 - Dec 11^th, 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
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Schuetzendave Frequent Elocutionist Offline Retired Ex-Shooter Posts: 4041 Location: St. Albert, Alberta Joined: Jan 28^th, 2005	Re: Re-sizing lead bullets Reply #3 - Dec 11^th, 2013 at 3:35pm	Print Post
	Best to melt the larger lead bullets down and then recast them with the proper size molud.


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bisaacson Full Member Offline Posts: 170 Location: Kailua Joined: Sep 1^st, 2009	Re: Re-sizing lead bullets Reply #4 - Dec 11^th, 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.


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ledball Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1010 Location: syracuse, ohio Joined: Nov 20^th, 2009	Re: Re-sizing lead bullets Reply #5 - Dec 11^th, 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


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Lefty38-55 Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 366 Location: New England Joined: Sep 11^th, 2013	Re: Re-sizing lead bullets Reply #6 - Dec 11^th, 2013 at 5:42pm	Print Post
	bisaacson wrote on Dec 11^th, 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 !

	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 ...
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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16091 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Re-sizing lead bullets Reply #7 - Dec 11^th, 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.

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broken_arrow Full Member Offline Posts: 202 Location: Lancaster County Joined: Aug 12^th, 2008	Re: Re-sizing lead bullets Reply #8 - Dec 12^th, 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
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