Pulled an "Alloy and PC" skirt on some 311291 Bullets

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Digging back In my stash of 30 caliber bullets I did a few years ago...I decided to PC some already oversized 311291 plain base bullets that I used to pan lube and shoot that size....however Since now I pc'ed them unsized.... When I started to bring them down to .311 I started to see a nice "Alloy and PC" skirt form on the base! If it were only an alloy skirt.... I have in the past pulled them over some fine emery paper! But If I do that to these I take off the pc coating around the base also. Now I know I'm only going to be shooting these in "low node" loads as usually for me so it may not pose a problem....Figure I would throw it out to the forum for any ideas
Thanks
Jim
 

Bill

Active Member
Jim, I have a 185 lee that I plain based a little too big, I just file off the (skirt) then pc, but I've never tried it the other way around, I suspect that if it didn't effect the sides, it might be ok

Bill
 
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Ian

Notorious member
I'd probably just re-cast them. However, PC on the base doesn't really do anything for us. If you file the skirt off (cordless drill or drill press and a flat piece of coarse sandpaper also works) just shoot them like normal.
 
F

freebullet

Guest
See what you can get away with. Have some old pc, leaves a blotchy speckled finish. Light shot of bll, no issues @1600.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Well Since I'm anal when it comes to my cast bullets ..... I just sanded off the skirts and resized again base first. Problem solved. Probably not worth the trouble for "Sub Sonic" launch!

Today I wanted to powder coat more of these but first I ran them Base first in the .311 sizer then again base first in the .310 sizer die.
Then I pc'd them and ran them base first again in the .310" die!

I know- I know a lot of work!
Well I just don't want any excuses when I shoot them badly ( besides me)
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
OK fiver.... I pulled 15 weighed bullets that Did not get "De-skirted" ( hope I can say that here :) )
Anyway you were right...why bother cleaning them up! I guess I wasted my time cleaning the others since I did not see any difference.
As a mater of fact the skirted ones shot the the same as the sanded ones!
This is from this morning ...windless crisp morning at the range with my 340 Savage 30WCF @ 50 Yds Lyman 311291 Plain Base Clear PC
15 shots I can't complain Put a better but lower power scope on it after I took off the piece of crap I had on it last week.

Skirted 311291PB.jpg
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Very nice, Jim!
It always makes me happy when I discover I can cut some corners, and simplify my reloading methods.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
sometimes you can get away with stuff if your doing the other things right.

when I make my 22 cal bullets I pour an extra small sprue let it cool then pour a large one over the top,, just so I get rounded edges on the gas check shank.
right.... wrong thing to do, all the corners need to be square and sharp.
well I need the gas checks I have on square and all the way too.
so which one is the wrong wrong or the right wrong? my weights come out good and they shoot just fine at around 2800 fps.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I Have a Major Observation ( if it matters to any one):
Since I have a lot of these oversized Lyman 311291's I decided to slowly run them through my .3125" sizer die then my 3115" sizer die ...then finally my .3105" sizer die ( I know , I know all my dies are over by .0005"!) before coating!

Anyway the skirt forms nicely and evenly around the plain base of this bullet. Now when I PC coat these and stand them on their bases; when the are cured the PC now fills in the base void eliminating the skirt! How simple is that!
Perfect flat bottom even running the pc'd bullets in the last .3105" die again for the last time before shooting!
I know lots of labor but recasting all of these seem to be the worst of two evils
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I don't know if I'd go through all that and I'm pretty okay with fiddly stuff if I get results.
think I'd just size/lube at 311 and shoot them.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Guess maybe it’s different with alloys. But I don’t get that and I PC most everything mans most are pretty big. I have broken presses sizing too big a bullet couple times. My bullet just gets a touch longer. I have noticed they “rivet” a couple times too. When I see that I do like you and dive with a slightly larger die then size second time to desired diameter.

The PC gets glass smooth but stays on the bullet.

CW
 
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