Push thru sizers...

[CWLONGSHOT]

I ran into some problems...

IFirst off, for sizing PC Bullets they are a god send!! BUT for a GC they SUK!! OK no big deal, I have a Lyman 450 or three... I just set one up exclusively for installing a GC. Then run the bullet thru the push thru.

I use both LEE and NOE as well as a die I made up using a std Lyman 450 die as a push thru.

Most of my cast are flat nose. So with a GC I run them thru upside down cause in my mind, it makes more sense to me.

My buddy is telling me it’s wrong. Don’t mess with GC application it has to be done as it’s done in a Lyman 450. RIGHT SIDE UP ONLY.

Now I don’t find any problems my bullets are accurate and I am happy...

Yesterday I tried a brand new NOE 454 die. I seated a GCs in the Lyman 450 on ten bullets. Then Upside down, I run them thru the NOE and loaded them.
On the range... they will not chamber. Huh... not one of them will chamber.

Back home today I grab the three bullets on the bench and WOW... they measure 455.5... I measure the die and it’s 4566.5-.454. It’s tapered. I measure a few more different dues and all are tapered. So I guess they are supposed to me. Kinda makes sense. But why are my bullets fat??

Looking at the 450, I had been seating gc’s on 45/70 bullets with a .459 die. I did. It change it to 454. So although the gc’s where seating fully they where not at all crimped. All crimping was done in the NOE and I guess it ain’t good at it! OR it’s because I did them upside down...

There in is my question. Any one do like I do or have experience or simply flat out speculation they might add here?

Thanks guy all comments appreciated

I’m gonna set some more with the proper die in the 450 and try again and see what I find

CW

 

[Brad]

All push thru does are, or should be, tapered.
Did you seat check base first by pushing all the way thru?
If the checks fit properly it shouldn’t matter.

 

[uncle jimbo]

I use Lee push through sizers and I put my gc on by pushing them through base first. I have no problems with them. They don't come off and I have found them at times in the berm when I am mining it for the lead. I would not worry about it.

 

[Fiddler]

I have found some spring back after sizing quenched bullets, other than that I haven't seen a problem.

 

[popper]

You use the nose to push them up, nose collapses a bit and wala, fat bullets. I use a slightly larger sizer to install GC, just enough larger to insure the bullet is going straight before the GC gets crimped and there is pressure on it to cause the GC to straighten. Too large and it is crooked from the start.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

THANKS GUYS!!

I seat the checks with correct sized sizeer, but NO I DO NOT push them thru. I use the Lyman gas check seater block that stops the ability to push thru. So the check goes into the Lyman die enough to crimp it but not size the bullet.

Something else my friend mentioned is it’s adjustable. Now I know the Lyman 450 is adjustable so you can adjust where ya apply the grease. But thought that these GC Blocks did not allow adjustment. I’m not home so cannot go down and look. But I know the threaded stem is there to adjust when greasing.

CW

 

[Rick H]

I put gas checks on the bullets and by hand/seat and size them with Lee push throughs base first. My bullets are all flat nosed and Ihave experienced no problems with GC's for 45/70, 44magnum, or 7x30 Waters.
If they are tight I will seat them by holding a metal bar across the underside of the die, raise the bullet with gas check setting on it and press it on against the bar. I then remove the bar and size/crimp the check in one motion.

 

[Ian]

The gas check installer block for the 450 isn't really adjustable, you stickbit in place and snug the adjutment screw up against it and that's that. Usually that setting is sufficient to seat the check and start the crimp, but if using Hornady checks there is still a lot of sizing to do to get the check down to nominal caliber size.

For almost all bullets I shoot anymore, I seat the checks and then push the bullets through a Lee sizing die nose first and then either powder coat them and size again or run them through the same size H&I die to lube without sizing further.

Two things I've found distort bullets terribly: Base-first sizing, and trying to seat and crimp a check at the same time in a push-through die....either base or nose first can cause problems if the check isn't already fully seated and partially crimped in place.

As to why your. 454" NOE die is making bullets .4555", it could be your alloy, or you could just need a smaller die.