Plain Base Checks

[Minute Of Berm]

Good morning gentlemen,

I am embarking on the Plain Base check adventure and need some input from the knowledge base. My query has to do with the use of Lyman H&I sizing dies rather than the more popular push through system for this particular application. Do any of you use PBC's, and is the H&I system apt to work efficiently?

SWAG's are acceptable answers, if they are stated as being such, because I respect your opinions and experience.

My mould drops at .361 and I size to .360.

Thanks, MOB

 

[Ben]

I can't help as I've never used them.
Pat Marlin ( Pat Green ) that makes the plain base check maker dies can answer any of your questions.

 

[Minute Of Berm]

Thanks Ben, I'll get in touch with him.

 

[JonB]

I've found the Lyman lubesizer is better easier for installing plain base GCs than Push through sizer dies.
I've installed 44 cal as well as 41 cal...photo below is 41 cal on a NOE SWC.

 

[Minute Of Berm]

I was kinda hoping to hear that!!

Thanks

 

[JonB]

Also, and most importantly, PB GCs work best with softer bullet alloy, the one's in the photo are cast with a soft range scrap alloy, around 8.5 to 9.0 BHN.

 

[Minute Of Berm]

Thanks again, have you got a fairly close up view of the chamfer on the mouth of the sizing die? My plan is to sneak up on it rather than overdo it but a visual would be invaluable. I'll be using a NOE 360-180-WFN that is at Erik's getting HP'd as we speak, and pushing them pretty fast through a 24" barrel.

 

[JonB]

OK, this die is a little bit of a story.
I like the older style of Lyman H&I dies. with larger lube ports...this is one of those dies.
Most (if not all) of them have a wide initial chamfer angle, as this 412 die has.
Then a few of them have a sharp edge where the sizing begins about 3/8" down, please note, very few have this, I have encountered this sharp edge on 2 different dies, of the 25 of so used dies I've bought over the years...so not that many. Some people have posted that the edge is designed to shear the bullet to size. I call BS on that, the two I had may have cut a sliver off the bullet, but there is no where for the lead to go, so swaging of the bullet commences once the tiny bit of sheared lead filled that edge. I have no idea why Lyman would have done that? I can only speculate that it was a continued mistake made one one (or more) lyman machinists years ago.
ANYWAY,
On this die, I honed that edge as best I could with my redneck techniques, til the point I was afraid of altering the sizing portion of the die, as you can see it's still there, it did effect the PB GC before I chamfered it, Now there are no problems.

 

[Minute Of Berm]

Thank you indeed, my new .360 die has almost zero chamfer and this is much as I envisioned what I would need, I will now proceed cautiously and make it work.

I really do appreciate your extra effort!

MOB

 

[freebullet]

I've put a dab of powder coat in 357 plain based checks then set the bullet on & heat treated. They don't pop off after that, even with a push through.