Hello there, got a couple quick questions about getting into lubrasizing. I have an RCBS Lube-a-matic 2, I have picked out my sizing dies based on the bores of my guns and now the last thing I can't seem to figure out is what top punches I need. I'm going to be lubing and sizing some .44 mag round nose flat point and some .45 acp round nose and I can't seem to figure out which top punches I need for these calibers. I was planning to order from Midway USA, their prices seem competitive even with the exchange rate, unless you folks know of a place in Canada to get them? Thanks much, Skokie.
Getting Started at Lube-Sizing
- Thread starter skokie
- Start date
Unfortunately they don't ship here.
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
Try looking for products on the natchez site as midway won't ship here
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- High River, Alberta
I think the cast boolits site has charts for all sorts of molds and the top punch that works with them.
If they aren't too soft or being sized too heavily there's some leeway in which punches will work.
If they aren't too soft or being sized too heavily there's some leeway in which punches will work.
Here is a mold / top punch cross reference
http://www.castpics.net/subsite/TopPunches/default.html
http://www.castpics.net/subsite/TopPunches/default.html
And if you really get stuck, you can fake up a top punch with one of your bullets, and some assorted hardware and epoxy or repair putty.
The forces are not high, and the idea is simply to push the bullet in to the die without distorting it.
For a wide flat nose, you could likely get away with a flat ended punch. Just need to take care with aligning the bullet for the initial entry in the die.
While I was dicking about with some cast .22 cal stuff, I pushed a bunch of 225415 bullets through with a punch meant for a 225438. The former has a flat nose, the latter looks more like a rimfire round nose bullet. The nose punch put a very nice looking radius on the nose of the flat nose bullets, but otherwise worked very well. Don't be afraid to try what you have, even if it isn't 'right'. Like as not, you will be able to use the results anyway.
Cheers
Trev
The forces are not high, and the idea is simply to push the bullet in to the die without distorting it.
For a wide flat nose, you could likely get away with a flat ended punch. Just need to take care with aligning the bullet for the initial entry in the die.
While I was dicking about with some cast .22 cal stuff, I pushed a bunch of 225415 bullets through with a punch meant for a 225438. The former has a flat nose, the latter looks more like a rimfire round nose bullet. The nose punch put a very nice looking radius on the nose of the flat nose bullets, but otherwise worked very well. Don't be afraid to try what you have, even if it isn't 'right'. Like as not, you will be able to use the results anyway.
Cheers
Trev
RN bullets do require a fairly good fit even with harder bullets, or you get a ring/groove on the body or squishing on the nose.
