cast a little to big

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
That assumes a nice tight fit and no gas cutting or other leakage. I agree it's a big can o'worms. Probably Jon gave the best recent advice - start low and work up. Don't just take a max load out of the book and throw caution to the wind and assume it'll be okay. Probably many of us here can tell war stories of the time we followed a "book load" (well, except we substituted a different bullet, primer and seating depth) and ended up pulling 48 rounds down after the first one seemed kinda loud and 2nd one locked up the action so tight a 2x4 was required to beat the bolt open!".

"A faster barrel". I can remember guys that claimed their gun "shot father" than their brothers/uncles/buddies identical gun. In those pre-chronograph days it was just accepted as an odd truth. A tighter bore might well have been the cause.
 
Last edited:

ChestnutLouie

Active Member
I always start at the bottom and work up. Since they are already cast, powder coated and sized I will load and shoot.

Lots of good info to make use of

Francis
 

Ian

Notorious member
Powder coat changes everything, fortunately in the safe direction all else being equal.
 

Walks

Well-Known Member
I agree with using Hornady One-Shot Lube for running thru your Lee sizing die.
It's what I use myself.

I put 75 44cal Bullets in a 1lb butter tub. A Quick squirt, shake hard for 10sec. Let dry 2min and size away. I usually use 2 tubs at a time.

Works for me.
 

RedHawk357Mag

New Member
I was planning to use 2400. Does any one have bullets cast from the Lyman #358665 mold? If yes then what is the distance between the crimp groove and the base of the bullet? FYI I will have .363" of the Lee TL bullet inside the case

Thanks
Francis
My 358665 is a few years old, four at the most. Casts just barely .359" with COWW and measures .672" and has a seating depth of .367"

Hope that helps.
 

ChestnutLouie

Active Member
“with COWW and measures .672" and has a seating depth of .367"

Sorry, what does COWW mean?

And “seating depth” is the amount of the projectile that is outside of the case?

thanks
Francis
 

RedHawk357Mag

New Member
Yes COWW is clip on wheel weights. .672" is bullet overall length. The .367" is depth of seating in cartridge. Case length plus bullet length minus loaded overall cartridge length when seated to crimp groove.

Hope that helps.
 

Walks

Well-Known Member
When I start any Session with a Lube sizer, I lube the very first bullet by hand. So there is no dry lead / steel sizer mash up. That will sometimes cause a few splinters of lead to be shaved into the lube holes into the Lube-Sizer die.
There is always a few "strings" of lube coming out of the bottom of the die, even after backing off the pressure after the last session. This is what I use.
 

Walks

Well-Known Member
I rub my finger across the surface of Imperial Sizing Lube, rub finger & thumb together. Then pick up a bullet roll between finger/thumb and stick into die. Do 6-7 bullets before I have to rub a bit more lube between my fingers.