quicksylver
Well-Known Member
Much has been said about reaming out Lee push through dies but I thought I would add a couple of comments.
I an attempt to get my Loverin designed bullets to shoot I thought I would try Ben's approach and size them slightly smaller than my other bullets for a given rifle.
My normal sizing for most of my 03's is .311, two or four groove.
Following Ben's experience I wanted to try .310, but lee does not make one that I could find.
So again following Ben's lead I bought a .309 figuring I could lap it out to .310.
The die arrived several days ago, but I could not get to it until last nite.
After having purchased a 1/4" dowel and a sheet of 400 wet / dry I went for it.
The first thing I did was run a couple of bullets through it to see what it was actually sizing them at.
No surprise from Lee there , they came out .308, yes the die is marked .309.
S-o-o-o I had further to go than I anticipated.
I placed the first 1 1/4" x 1 1/2" piece of paper in the slot of my dowel and ran it through the die for
about 45 seconds using my cord less drill.
Checking again I got .3085, progress!
Another attempt with a new piece of paper .309 +
Third attempt , new paper and a little longer with the drill ,testing, .310 .
WOW ! that was fast !
My observations ; 1. the lee sizing dies are not necessarily what they are maked ( no surprise there),
2. Lee sizing dies are relatively soft , 3. boy when you ream them out like I did the bullets come out with
a finish on the driving bands like high end jewelry and 4. if they cut like this ,one can make just about any custom sizing die they need.
And the BUT, GO SLOWLY !, TEST OFTEN !
Dan S.
P.S. I will be testing tomorrow hopefully.
Wife's birthday today.
I an attempt to get my Loverin designed bullets to shoot I thought I would try Ben's approach and size them slightly smaller than my other bullets for a given rifle.
My normal sizing for most of my 03's is .311, two or four groove.
Following Ben's experience I wanted to try .310, but lee does not make one that I could find.
So again following Ben's lead I bought a .309 figuring I could lap it out to .310.
The die arrived several days ago, but I could not get to it until last nite.
After having purchased a 1/4" dowel and a sheet of 400 wet / dry I went for it.
The first thing I did was run a couple of bullets through it to see what it was actually sizing them at.
No surprise from Lee there , they came out .308, yes the die is marked .309.
S-o-o-o I had further to go than I anticipated.
I placed the first 1 1/4" x 1 1/2" piece of paper in the slot of my dowel and ran it through the die for
about 45 seconds using my cord less drill.
Checking again I got .3085, progress!
Another attempt with a new piece of paper .309 +
Third attempt , new paper and a little longer with the drill ,testing, .310 .
WOW ! that was fast !
My observations ; 1. the lee sizing dies are not necessarily what they are maked ( no surprise there),
2. Lee sizing dies are relatively soft , 3. boy when you ream them out like I did the bullets come out with
a finish on the driving bands like high end jewelry and 4. if they cut like this ,one can make just about any custom sizing die they need.
And the BUT, GO SLOWLY !, TEST OFTEN !
Dan S.
P.S. I will be testing tomorrow hopefully.
Wife's birthday today.
