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FrankenMauser · March 27, 2012, 02:17 PM

My .30-30 barrel slugs .304"/.308", so I size to .3095" (it's a .309" die, and the alloy has some spring-back).

My 7.62x54R slugs .301"/.315". Since the bullets drop at .315"-.316", I shoot them unsized.

My .380 Auto slugs .358"x.359" (don't remember what the bore was, but it doesn't matter). Right now, I have enough commercial bullets to hold me over for a while. If I were to cast for it, though, I would want a mold that dropped them at .360" or larger; and I would use a .359" sizing die. (A bullet at about .3595" is the largest I can chamber; otherwise I would go to .360".)

For my .44 Mag, I have two choices:
.429" sizer (for swaged jacketed bullets)
.430" sizer (for lead alloys)

For my .444 Marlin, I shoot certain lead bullets as-cast, and run certain swaged bullets through the .430" sizer (with spring-back, they come out at .4315"). Once my custom sizer comes in, I'll be running lead bullets through a .432" sizing die (for a .428"/.432" barrel).

Bottom line:
I try to size to .001" over bore or throat diameter. With certain alloys, I take spring-back into account (especially with larger diameter bullets, like in .44 caliber).

March 27, 2012, 02:17 PM	#5
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,421	My .30-30 barrel slugs .304"/.308", so I size to .3095" (it's a .309" die, and the alloy has some spring-back). My 7.62x54R slugs .301"/.315". Since the bullets drop at .315"-.316", I shoot them unsized. My .380 Auto slugs .358"x.359" (don't remember what the bore was, but it doesn't matter). Right now, I have enough commercial bullets to hold me over for a while. If I were to cast for it, though, I would want a mold that dropped them at .360" or larger; and I would use a .359" sizing die. (A bullet at about .3595" is the largest I can chamber; otherwise I would go to .360".) For my .44 Mag, I have two choices: .429" sizer (for swaged jacketed bullets) .430" sizer (for lead alloys) For my .444 Marlin, I shoot certain lead bullets as-cast, and run certain swaged bullets through the .430" sizer (with spring-back, they come out at .4315"). Once my custom sizer comes in, I'll be running lead bullets through a .432" sizing die (for a .428"/.432" barrel). Bottom line: I try to size to .001" over bore or throat diameter. With certain alloys, I take spring-back into account (especially with larger diameter bullets, like in .44 caliber). __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.