"Crooked" cast bullets?

[LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1]

I finally got a die to size all the .303 lead bullets we have had lying around for literally over ten years.

Anyways, the top punch for the sizer i ordered was out of stock, so I just had it removed form the order so not to hold up the rest of the stuff.

My sizer has a top punch used for flat point pistol bullets, and i figured the amount of tip deformation was negligible since these would be simple plinking loads. and the deformation was quite minor on some test bullets.

Anyways, I noticed that the top punch was not centering the bullet in the die all the way due to the insides being flat, and most seemed to be going through the die on a slight angle. It is very slight and if you not looking for it you probably won't notice. However some a have mark on the top half of the bullet, these "extreme" ones I discarded.

Now my dad says that apart form some accuracy issues, it will be fine. But The nagging thought that it could be a bad thing has lead me to ask on here.

So, apart form some accuracy issues, could a slightly "crooked" bullet cause any major effects?

I will be trying to track down a more sutible top punch when I can, I just figured the slight amount of deformation would not really be noticeable at the ranges we would be shooting at (sub 150 yards) and it would be plinking"

I already have 70 rounds of various powder charges ready to test, and want to make sure They are a good to go.

 

[ben hunchak]

Even with the correct top punch, you can have problems with this because of misalignment, when the top punch is tightened in with the set screw, the alignment can be off a thou. or more, this has caused many to "float the top punch" allowing it to centre itself. I try to size nose first if it is a problem, then normal sizing with lube......and is why I prefer using the Star sizer as it lubes while you size nose first. In some instances, a very hard bullet will center itself, where a softer one will not. I can provide more info on centering top punches, or other workarounds especially if sizing for benchrest accuracy.

 

[LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1]

So would this be a potential safety problem or just an accuracy thing?

 

[Al-Sway]

This is an accuracy issue, not a safety issue. In my experience it is not a good idea to try to use a flat punch with a long nosed pointed bullet.
I have done it with several different cast bullets, from short round nose to long ones. Accuracy is not improved.
If possible, lube without sizing. If you need to size, then there are work arounds, as Ben has offered.

 

[mwjones]

If you have an "extra" top punch around, you can modify it with some hot glue, epoxy, jb weld, wadded up paper towel, etc, etc.... hot glue would probably be easiest.

Clean the top punch really well to make sure there's no lube or oil on it. Put it into the sizer. Put a small spooge of hot glue into the top punch.

Next, take a bullet that's been drenched in some kind of light oil (silicone spray works good) as a release agent. Set it into the sizing die and lower the press handle until the bullet lightly contacts the top punch, displacing the glue a little bit. DON'T LIFT IT BACK UP TO LOOK.

Let gravity hold the bullet and glue together until the glue dries. It might take 15 minutes or so. Once it's dry and hard, you can lift the punch off of the bullet. It should come right off, but if it doesn't, very carefully try to pull it out of the glue while leaving the glue stuck to the top punch.

It's not a perfect solution, but it will work temporarily.

 

[ted_dent]

Since you already have the sizer/luber this suggestion may be like closing the barn door after the horse is gone but anyway here goes...
the Lee bullet sizing die system works very well and does not even require top punches. You simply screw the appropriate diameter sizing die into a single stage press, a ram is inserted in the shell holder slot and the bullets are pushed through the sizing die from bottom to top where they are captured in a container. Lee suggests lubing the bullets with Lee Alox Liquid Bullet Lube before and after sizing. This is done by simple throwing the bullets in a bowl, squirting a little liquid lube on them, swishing them around and then dumping them on wax paper to dry. After sizing them, repeat the lube process. In some of the reviews on the Midway site (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/466811/lee-alox-bullet-lube-4-oz-liquid) guys are claiming up to 2000 fps with no leading with gas checked bullets.

I have been using this system for a couple of years now and see no difference in accuracy between these bullets and those sized & lubed in my Lyman lubrisizer.

Aside from being a lot faster than a conventional lubrisizer the Lee system is cheap. You can get a complete size set (die, ram & lube) for less than $25.

Some people who don't like the Lee lube because it is a little gummy have gone to Rooster Jacket Waterproof Bullet Film Lube (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/746916/rooster-jacket-waterproof-bullet-film-lube-and-paper-patch-lube-16-oz) which works the same as the Lee lube but dries to a hard finish. I have used both and have no complaints. Even though this sytem was designed more for the Lee tumble lube style bullets I have used it on conventional style bullets with no difference in performance.

 

[ben hunchak]

MWJONES offers one good way around the problem, When doing this I find it best to have the bullet already down in the die and centered, if the bullet is just sitting in the "up" position, you may still not have it centered. It's easy to tell as the grooves around the bullet should be of equal depth after sizing.

 

[LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1]

Well its good to know its not dangerous. Ill keep going until I can find the proper parts I suppose. Its not like lead bullets are expensive so as long as no harm done.

One a side not, I ran some of my new cast 9mm using the same punch and their is a little crookedness, but nothing really major. I thought I could get away with useing it for the 9mm as both the .357 bullets and the 9mm are tapered flat nose, but their is a little bit of wiggle, not as bad as the .303 bullets but enough to feel, and after the bullets are sized you can see that one side of the bullet has been sized a little higher then the other side.
I will try an track down the proper parts.

Geez I hope people don't think Im a jack a** for this lol.