I've been using this mold with a Savage Axis7mm-08 rifle. Very accurate but it is difficult to chamber some rounds as the nose on it measures .278~.279" and it makes "hard" contact with the lands and needs to be at .276~.2765" to chamber smoothly. I need to size just the nose down to that dimension so it will not be a problem chambering them. My plan is to make a bullet holder that grips the bullets by the base and twist into a homemade dies that will reduce the noise diameter down to .276". Can anyone offer a suggestion how I can make one--my first thought was to drill out hex nut to 1/4" then using a dowel and sandpaper open it up to .276" with a taper...perhaps someone has a better idea????
7mm RCBS 82150 145 SIL-GC makes bullets with noses too big
- Thread starter Wallyl
- Start date
Spindrift
Well-Known Member
I have the NOE bushing sizer, and use it a lot for general bullet sizing. I really appreciate this tool, with the very broad available range of bushings, at reasonable prices.
The nose sizer, though, have clear limitations. It is mostly a tool to clean up the nose, or remove high spots. I would say it has a limit of around 0,0005in down-sizing. If you try for more, it will cut the lead and leave a ring around the front band.
I have one application where the nose sizer is very helpful. But this is a tool to help you nudge minimal tolerances your way, but unsuitable for more demanding sizing operations.
The nose sizer, though, have clear limitations. It is mostly a tool to clean up the nose, or remove high spots. I would say it has a limit of around 0,0005in down-sizing. If you try for more, it will cut the lead and leave a ring around the front band.
I have one application where the nose sizer is very helpful. But this is a tool to help you nudge minimal tolerances your way, but unsuitable for more demanding sizing operations.
I checked out the RCBS 7mm 168 SP-GC mold, which I also have---it's nose measures .276" and fits nicely in the Savage Axis 7mm-08. I will use it instead and see about trading the RCBS 7mm 145 SIL-GC for a Lyman 287346 or 287405. Perhaps someone might want to do an exchange?
I decided on trying a slightly softer alloy; I made up 3 dummy rounds with it and all chambered in the Savage Axis very nicely. The nose still makes good contact with the lands, but they chambered more easily now. I will shoot a few test rounds later this week to make sure they are accurate. On the RCBS 145 Sil-GC/7mm cast bullet the bullet contact with the lands is a full 2cm; that's 0.78"!
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I think you're headed in the right direction Wally. Varying the alloy will likely get you to a workable fix. OTOH, you are one of the few who has had to deal with a relatively oversized nose! Most folks have just the opposite issue. At least you won't be worried about getting the nose aligned!
Just checked my notes, my RCBS 145 Sil also mic's .2785" on the nose for an average of 10 bullets checked using CWW +2% Sn. Never had an issue with it chambering though, nose barely engraves. Vast majority of the thousands I've shot were in a 10" 7TCU Contender. That is truly a fine bullet.
My RCBS 7mm 168 SP nose measures .277" on the nose with the same CWW +2% Sn.
My RCBS 7mm 168 SP nose measures .277" on the nose with the same CWW +2% Sn.
Bret4207...Yes, as it so happens I also have the RCBS .30 Cal 165 SIL-GC mold and in my Rem 700 .308 Win it's nose is several thousands too small. It is very inaccurate, but I Beagled it and that worked superbly. I really don't like Beagling, as it produces a bullet that are lopsided, but it works. I placed the strip of tape on the bottom of the mold perpendicular to the bullet length. This makes the nose bigger but doesn't change the body of the bullet. I have to use an "ideal" mold temperature---too cold and it won't fill out ; too hot and I getting finning. It takes some skill to keep it "ideal"...basically go a bit hot and when you see finning in the cast bullets, touch the mold base to a damp sponge that cools it off just a bit/enough. The "routine" is to cast two pours, touch the mold to the damp sponge and repeat. Or one can hold the mold over a fan for 15 seconds after each pour.
Rick...
This is what Al in Boligee, AL said about it in a review...
I purchased this mould to cast bullets for light loads in a 7-08 and 7mm BR - both with Krieger barrels. Unfortunately, the "bore riding" section cast to .280" with Lyman #2 and .279" with straight wheel weight alloys. These diameters were both much too large to chamber in either Krieger bore. The base of the bullet cast to .287" - which easily sized to .286" and would have been fine for the land diameter in either rifle if not for the oversized bore riding section.
The Savage Axis 7mm-08 rifle has rifling where the lands are at .276"...the mold casts bullets at .278~.279"--that is without any added tin from WW metal. I too have found that the nose on the 168 mold is a tad smaller than that on the 145 SIL.
This is what Al in Boligee, AL said about it in a review...
I purchased this mould to cast bullets for light loads in a 7-08 and 7mm BR - both with Krieger barrels. Unfortunately, the "bore riding" section cast to .280" with Lyman #2 and .279" with straight wheel weight alloys. These diameters were both much too large to chamber in either Krieger bore. The base of the bullet cast to .287" - which easily sized to .286" and would have been fine for the land diameter in either rifle if not for the oversized bore riding section.
The Savage Axis 7mm-08 rifle has rifling where the lands are at .276"...the mold casts bullets at .278~.279"--that is without any added tin from WW metal. I too have found that the nose on the 168 mold is a tad smaller than that on the 145 SIL.
Al in Boligee used Lyman #2, very high in Sb.
I agree with Bret, your on the right path using a softer, lower Sb alloy to shrink the nose.
Bullet alloy as-cast & final dia. sized (.308 sizing die) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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I agree with Bret, your on the right path using a softer, lower Sb alloy to shrink the nose.
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
I use the NOE push through sizing bushings, which are available in about any diameter you could want. Al also makes nose sizing bushings for the 7mm from .275 to .278 as Spindrift points out, but his experience is the same as mine. Shaving a small ring of lead. I’ve been thinking of putting a slight bevel or radius on the forward edge to see if that would help. Haven’t tried that yet though.
Ian
Notorious member
The trick to sizing up to .002" is to ream the die with a 1.5⁰ transition from nose size to body size. This creates a tapered shoulder which can be "bumped" back as far as necessary to allow the bullet to be seated where desired. Case sizing lube and an ejector bored to match the bullet ogive help keep the bullet form intact as it is ejected from the die.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
The measurements Wally is getting make me wonder if someone didn't design it around a semi eroded throat. Think 7mmRem Mag that's had some use. In the old days I'd have said a surplus 93 or 95 Mauser, but I doubt RCBS would lower itself to such things!
Ian
Notorious member
The trick when doing this much sizing is to support the whole bullet, otherwise it bend and rivet. Funnel to the entrance, parallel portion to make the body the desired size, the taper, and the nose portion made to size the parallel portion of the nose the desired size.
I make them by drilling and reaming a through hole, polishing to nose size, then making a D-reamer with a pilot tip which fits the nose size closely. Then I ream the body and taper to the desired depth, then taper the entrance with a hardware-store tapered hand reamer, then polish out the rest. After that, I make a close-fitting ejector and harden it. It's an order of magnitude more complicated than making an ordinary sizing die on size.
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SWISS SHOOTER
Banned
Why not just buy a mold that fits, that you can specify the band diameters ?
Like the Accurate 28-152M ?????
Need I say that Accurate and NOE molds are far superior to RCBS and Lyman ?
Like the Accurate 28-152M ?????
Need I say that Accurate and NOE molds are far superior to RCBS and Lyman ?