Sizing jacketted bullets can be done!

[John Y Cannuck]

Just a note for those of you that may be having some problems with certain cals.
In my case, I've had some difficulty finding a jacketted load that would shot in my 44-40 '92 Winchester.
I have a dozen or so different cast bullet moulds, and a set of .427 sizing dies.
The cast bullets wouldn't shoopt either, and it was driving me nuts, trying to get ANYTHING to shoot in this particular gun.
Jacketted bullets, with a few exceptions are sized .430, for the44mag, and they would not chamber in my rifle.
So, out of desperation, I put a little lee sizing lube on a .430 200 grain bullet, and set it on the Lee cast bullet sizing die ram. It slid through easier than some cast bullets do! Presto, a .427 jacketted bullet (actual .4275).
The best part, is that it shoots!
Best group with anything else has been 4" 50 yard groups. These bullets do that at 100! Off a picnic table with no rest.
44-40 1200 fps loads are fun. Bang, pop bang pop. You can hear the bullet hit the target after you fire.

 

[Silverback]

I knew of a guy that sized down 9.3 mm (0.366") Speer 270 grain Semi Spitzer bullets to 0.358" for use in 35 Whelen and other 35 caliber cartridges. Supposidly they were still very accurate after the big squeeze.

 

[SuperCub]

I knew of a guy that sized down 9.3 mm (0.366") Speer 270 grain Semi Spitzer bullets to 0.358" for use in 35 Whelen and other 35 caliber cartridges. Supposidly they were still very accurate after the big squeeze.

How'd he do that!?

Those bullets would be the big medicine in the 7600

sc

 

[Silverback]

If I remember correctly he had a die or dies made for reducing the bullet diameter, he ran a 35 Whelen group/forum and I think he was from Alaska. He also sold the reduced diameter 270 grain bullets. I think I have some info I printed about 5 years ago stashed somewhere.

 

[OneBarfly]

Makes me wonder about sizing 7mm bullets (2.84") down to 6.5mm (2.64") ?

It's seems easier to get cheap 7mm bullets for pinking then 6.5. So this is a possible solution, no?

Would there be any increased risk of jacket separation of rifle velocities?

I would hate to have barrel obstruction just trying to save a few bucks

 

[AP]

Not sure what the likelihood is but if you deformed the base while resizing a jacketed bullet it would likely throw the accuracy out the window.

 

[p-17]

I've read that you shouldn't size down more than about .004. The problem is that the lead core stays shrunk but the jacket wants to spring back a bit. The more you size down, the more you exacerbate this problem.

I've sized .312 down to .309 with no problem. However, I'd love to size .323 (8mm) down to .314 (the actual diameter of most .303 rifles), but I've been told by people in the know that this is probably too much. It would be easy to do this, with a series of step-down sizers, but it's questionable how well the bullets would work.

Now, trying this with a bonded bullet or a solid copper bullet, might be another story...

 

[blindside]

I've read that you shouldn't size down more than about .004. The problem is that the lead core stays shrunk but the jacket wants to spring back a bit. The more you size down, the more you exacerbate this problem.

I've sized .312 down to .309 with no problem. However, I'd love to size .323 (8mm) down to .314 (the actual diameter of most .303 rifles), but I've been told by people in the know that this is probably too much. It would be easy to do this, with a series of step-down sizers, but it's questionable how well the bullets would work.

Now, trying this with a bonded bullet or a solid copper bullet, might be another story...

Its been done for years,but with dies meant ecspecially for it like the zhat ring die I have..Your right the max amount depends on the bond. Not so much because of diffculty to do,but rather jacket seperation...You can get an honest .010 with something like speer hotcors,where as standard hornadys will start to push out of the copper around .006-.007...Of course extreme pressure lube is used in these dies,not standard size lube. And yes they remain accurate,in some cases improve because few manufactured bullets are perfectly round,but if your die is of good enough quality you make each identically round

 

[Rick Teal]

The "standard" when reducing jacketed bullets in a draw (ring) die is about .006. Above that you tend to get jacket separation due to spring back as mentioned above (though this isn't that much of a problem with paper punching as compared to hunting bullets). Something that also tends to occur is that the bullet's ogive will deform and often twist having a major effect on accuracy. The effect of spring back can be partially mitigated if the bullet you use has a bonded core.

If you want a draw die, they can be had from C-H for around $60 US. Therir web site gives ordering instrictions.

As a lube you can use anhydrous lanolyn or a swage lube of anhydrous lanolyn and castor oil in a 50-50 mixture.

If someone is looking for .314 bullets, it might be advisable to contact Steve Redgewell on this site and see if he will make a few for you. He has the swaging equipment to make .313's and .314's. I can make .312's and draw them down to .311.