Sizing plinking bullets from 00 Buckshot

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I have never done this - thought it might be something to try. I have a Lee push through sizer labelled at .311" - I presume I can push a lead 00 Buckshot through that - possibly for 30 caliber (.308" groove), or in 303 British or 7.65 Argentine (.311" / .312"), if necessary. There is also a .314" size one, which was intended for the later two. So, some questions for those who have done so.

1. Do you need lube on that re-formed slug to fire it? If so, how does it get applied? Likely would be a tumble lube, or a loose type "smeared on" lube, rather than baked on powder coat - I am not set up to do that.

2. I presume like sizing lead cast bullets - whatever size, has to fit and chamber - bullet might be too fat for the existing chamber neck - I presume?
 
Some buckshot is soft lead with no tin or antimony so it takes a beating from the rifling.

I've done what you're suggesting with a partridge adapter for my 30.06, where you swage a 00 Buck to spit out at 1200 fps more or less. A little bit of lube is good. You can look through the barrel if its a bolt action to look for shavings or shoot into a bucket of water to see if the slug is getting parts shaved off.
 
I’ve sized muzzle loading balls ( .490 —- .458 175gr) through a Lee push through sizer, seated & applied a LITTLE BIT of lube to the ball. Out of a 450 Marlin they shot very nice out at 25 yds., never tried beyond that. Didn’t notice any problems when I went back to shooting regular cast bullets and that’s all I’ve ever shot out of the Marlin……..cast…..several 1000.
 
Lee tumble lube would work well for lubrication as there won’t be a lube groove but depending on the hardness of the 00 lead you may have to load them down to 1000 fps or below to get accuracy and prevent leading in the bore.
 
MuthaFunk said:
Lee tumble lube would work well for lubrication as there won’t be a lube groove but depending on the hardness of the 00 lead you may have to load them down to 1000 fps or below to get accuracy and prevent leading in the bore.
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That speed is sort of what I had in mind - sort of like standard velocity 22 Long Rifle - circa 1,000 or 1,050 fps or so. Most of the 22 Long Rifle lead bullets here seem to have a waxy or greasy lube on them - made me think lube was a good idea - just was not sure how to apply it - was a thought for me that the ball would be mostly inside the case neck - therefore the tumble lube would get wiped off when seating it?
 
If there is no way for the bullet to hold on to any lube as it travels it won't do any good. The function of the lube is to create a proper seal against the gasses and prevent them from travelling past the bullet, vaporizing/depositing lead. PC will actually be useful.

I will say again it is the pressure, not velocity that you need to concern yourself with. Using PC drastically increases your operating window over lube and makes alloy composition much less important.
 
I do this stuff regularly with 00 buck ( .330 dia) sized down to .309 for my 30/30 and 30-06 . And I do the same withe 000 buck ( .35 dia) sized down to.339. I use a Lee sizer in each case. Very accurate at 25 yds in my 338-06 and 30-06 ; so-so in my 30/30 . The sizing creates a flat on the bottom and a flat ring around the diameter. I apply lube by melting it and - with tweezers - dip the flat end of each « bullet » in the lube up to the ring . Then I dip it in water to make the lube seize up right away. I load these in a vice and seat them deep enough to hide the ring. The final step is removing the flair by partially crimping.
 
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