I am new to casting bullets and I have purchased a Lee mold #C309-180-R. I would like to know what top punch to use with it. I have a Lyman 4500 press so either an RCBS top punch or Lyman top punch numbers would be appreciated.
What top punch to use for Lee bullet mold?
- Thread starter 132mile
- Start date
I am not sure that there is such an animal as a top punch for bullets cast in Lee molds. The Lee sizer pushes from the base of the bullet and the lube for Lee molds is usually liquid alox. The instructions come with all the Lee sizers and maybe with the molds, I can't remember for sure.
Nicks suggestion sounds like a good one or the Lee sizing dies are very reasonable to buy.
Nicks suggestion sounds like a good one or the Lee sizing dies are very reasonable to buy.
You'll have to make do with an existing top punch meant for some other bullet, hopefully you can match it up closely, the lesson here is to buy molds that you can get matching top punches. Most good quality mold/makers offer a top punch, some are cut with the same cherry used to cut the mold. You can fashion your own perfect fitting punch by using a large one and fill with 5 min. epoxy, just before it hardens, size a bullet, if done right, the bullet nose will form a perfect impression. Let epoxy completely harden and viola!!
A few ways to go about it.
1. RCBS #554 works well.
2. Quick and easy method is to find a punch that is fairly close to what you need. Take a bit of the bullet wax and put it on the face of the punch. Take a small piece of tin foil and make kind of a loose ball the same size as the punch and push it into the face of the punch. Now put the punch in the sizer and size a bullet. The tin foil will conform to the nose of the bullet, hold it there for a few seconds and give it a bit more force than normal and you will now have a perfectly sized nose punch. It will last for about 100 rounds or so, might have to get some more lube to help it stick but it will work until you get the correct punch.
3. Take a punch that you hardly use or don't want anymore. Use some JB Weld and fill the cavity in the punch and put it in your sizer. Put a bullet in the die and coat it with oil or grease on the nose and size the bullet as normal. Leave the handle down on the bullet overnight and in the morning you have a perfectly shaped punch.
1. RCBS #554 works well.
2. Quick and easy method is to find a punch that is fairly close to what you need. Take a bit of the bullet wax and put it on the face of the punch. Take a small piece of tin foil and make kind of a loose ball the same size as the punch and push it into the face of the punch. Now put the punch in the sizer and size a bullet. The tin foil will conform to the nose of the bullet, hold it there for a few seconds and give it a bit more force than normal and you will now have a perfectly sized nose punch. It will last for about 100 rounds or so, might have to get some more lube to help it stick but it will work until you get the correct punch.
3. Take a punch that you hardly use or don't want anymore. Use some JB Weld and fill the cavity in the punch and put it in your sizer. Put a bullet in the die and coat it with oil or grease on the nose and size the bullet as normal. Leave the handle down on the bullet overnight and in the morning you have a perfectly shaped punch.
