I have been doing casting for many years, I started with casting 45 220 LRN for my 1911, and moved to doing 158 SWC for the 38/357 pistols. I owned one Colt Series 70 1911 Pistol in 45 ACP and a Colt Python in 357 Mag
Now I shoot a large variety of weapons and calibers. Cast various bullets for various pistols and rifles. For some caliber I have several molds, it just depends on the application.
I first sized bullets with another Lee luber pan and sizing tube. You put the bullets in a pan pour melt lube in it, let the lube harden and then use the tube by pushing it down over the bullet. Lube and sized, a little slow, but it worked.
The I bought an RCBS Lubamatic, it was great I could do lots of bullets in it, you need to own sizer dies for every caliber and some times you need different diameter for some calibers. For 45 pistol bullets, I used .451 .452 and .453. It just depended on which pistol these were going to be used in. The same for 308 rifle bullets, I have 308, 309, ,310 and 311. Again it depends on the rifle and which bullet.
A Good example is in my 30 caliber rifles, they all are marked 308, but my 700 BDL in 308 like 309 diameter, my FR8 like "as cast" and my Marlin 336 in 30-30 like 310 and 311 diameter. The 311 is for my Rand Dog (RD) Bullets, while the others are pretty standard with lube grooves and flat based or GC'd, while the RD bullets are Tumble Lubed.
About 15 or so years ago at a gun show I picked up a star size and then had to buy new sizer dies for many for my most used cast bullets. Many bullets have gone thru my star sizer.
The difference between the Lubamatic and the Star is like night and day. The lubamatic requires a down ward stroke and then an upward stroke, the Lyman and the SAECO are like this, The Star just pushed the bullet thru nose first and is easy to use. The Lubamatic needs different nose punches to match the shape of the nose of the bullet, while the start the bullets are pushed thru nose first, so a shaped punch is not needed. There are major price differences between these two.
Recently I started to cast and shoot Ranch Dog Bullets, they are a tumble lube type of bullet that is designed to be most efficient in the Marlin Lever action rifles, but I use them in my T/C Contenders and a few other rifles.
With the Lubamatic sizer, you need a hollow stick of lube, because the sizer uses a threaded shaft to compress the lube which then the lube flows, with some lubes you need to add some heat. I used to use a cheap hair dryer, it works but could not be self regulated. So I had to turn it on and off or change the distance between the sizer and the hair dryer.
The Star which is considered to be the Cadillac of the sizers, uses a solid stick of lube, but the same diameter and length as the the lube sticks as the lubamatic uses. I have a temperature controlled heater on my Star, there is even a nice drawer that some one built for my Star. The bullets drop into the box, when it is full, you just open the drawer to get the bullets.
The current Lee sizer is a combination of tumble lube and push thru the die type of sizing mechanism. You take the cast bullets, put them in a can or Tupperware bowl, squirt some Lee Liquid Alox on then and shake the container around to get the Alox to coat all of the bullets. Currently am changing over to a product called Xlox, it is pretty much the same thing. Then you put the Lee sizer die in to you single stage reloading press, and using the base you put a bullet on it and push it thru the sizer die. You can use the reservoir that comes with the sizer die set.
I have adopted a method the Michael of RD, tumble lube the bullets, then after they have dried, then dip them by the nose again in to Alox up to the last lube groove, let dry and then size. It really work better than what Lee recommeds. Michael also uses powdered Mica as to coat teh bullets so you get a greasey feel from them
For some bullets, I like the Star, I just set them into the die and push them thru, you can get a lot done is a short period of time, including gas checking them. I once in a while use the RCBS Sizer, a little more complex, but works for some bullets and I have dies for some sizes that I don't have for the Star. I am using the Lee method of lubing and sizing for all of my Ranch Dog bullets and all of the bullets I am making up for my 45-70. I am doing some comparions with my 45-70 between bullets, sizer methods and lube.
I hopr this gives people an idea of what the sizers are all about, these three methods all have their place in my shop.
Lube is a whole different story and should be it's own thread. I do make a lot of my own lubes. Some I buy, I found the Xlox to be cheaper than the Lee Alox and it is bascially the same thing.
if there are any questions, please ask, I don't always have the answer, but I will do some research to find out or I always welcome other peoples experience.
Hope this helps some one,
Jerry
Last edited on 5 July 2008 06:03 AM by miestro_jerry
____________________
A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot
NRA Patron Member
|
