which order for cast bullets?

Auss1e · June 18, 2010, 07:43 AM

Ok so i cast but i need to lube prior to sizing in my LEE sizer, which then means they are covered in Alox so i cant oven harden. But if i heat treat in the oven and then size they say sizing will reduce hardness?? So which step comes when?

reloader28 · June 18, 2010, 09:35 AM

I am no expert and others will come with better opinions than mine, but I run mine thru the lube sizer dry, then heat treat, then run back thru and lube.

I've had no problems doing this, so its the way I do it IF I heat treat, which I seldom do. I dont see a problem dry sizing as the size die is much harder than the lead. If it starts screwing up the boolit, then try something else.

snuffy · June 18, 2010, 03:45 PM

Auss1e, some use a solution of dish soap and water, about 50-50% to lube while sizing. Then a rinse in plain water to remove the soap. Others use case lube on the bullet to ease it's passage through the sizer. Sizing bare is not a good idea. The sizer will lead up just like a gun barrel.

As far as surface softening of a heat treated bullet, I don't know if, or how much softening occurs.

chris in va · June 19, 2010, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Auss1e, some use a solution of dish soap and water, about 50-50% to lube while sizing

I'm gonna have to try that...right now I'm using liquid ALOX to size, but when I reapply afterward it ends up with too much on the boolit nose and gums up my feeding cycle.

noylj · July 17, 2010, 08:50 PM

Why size? A bullet 0.002" larger will shoot just fine. All I do is tumble them. Never saw a need to harden except for magnums.

GP100man · July 17, 2010, 09:39 PM

As long as a lead bullet will chamber , shoot it !

I have a bullet for 7.62 that`s 314 , I lube & size 314 then size it with a 310 ,it springs back to 312 & my Rem 700 loves it !!!!!

The Rem won`t chamber a 314 tried but too tite !!!

Rusty W · July 17, 2010, 10:57 PM

I water drop .30cal bullets straight out of the mold into a pan/bucket of water. Size within a couple hours of casting with a Lee sizer while they're still wet. Pistol bullets I use straight wheelweights, no treatment just air cooled. A couple Lee molds drop at .360 for a 38spl bullet I use. I load a few and make sure they'll chamber, if they do I load the batch and shoot. No problems so far using the same style bullet for 9mm & 38/357.

noylj · July 18, 2010, 03:49 AM

Don't know why the unlubricated bullet should lead up the Lee cast bullet sizing die? My Lubrisizer dies never leaded up. Also, I would think that lubing before sizing would be more likely to "squeeze" the lube into the bullet surface than wipe the lube off. Also, you need so little Alox that I can't see there being a need to add more.
As anyone experimented with NOT following the Lee instructions and see what happens? I figure Lee knows what they are doing, but maybe they are trying to sell more LLA?

I tumble lube some of my lead bullets (see my topic on results of liquid bullet lubricants on swaged and cast/lubed bullets) and need just a hint of yellow (or whatever color the LLA is--I'm color blind, sorry) on the bullets. I have never had too little on the bullet. What I would love is some way (like for fingerprinting) to have a very thin film of ALOX on glass and just roll the bullet over the surface. Maybe add a little mineral spirits as the LLA "dries" up. There really should be some way to apply LLA without wasting a bunch or having to apply it over the whole bullet.

June 18, 2010, 07:43 AM	#1
Auss1e Junior Member Join Date: June 7, 2010 Location: The Bush Posts: 3	which order for cast bullets? Ok so i cast but i need to lube prior to sizing in my LEE sizer, which then means they are covered in Alox so i cant oven harden. But if i heat treat in the oven and then size they say sizing will reduce hardness?? So which step comes when?

June 18, 2010, 03:45 PM	#3
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 2,544	Auss1e, some use a solution of dish soap and water, about 50-50% to lube while sizing. Then a rinse in plain water to remove the soap. Others use case lube on the bullet to ease it's passage through the sizer. Sizing bare is not a good idea. The sizer will lead up just like a gun barrel. As far as surface softening of a heat treated bullet, I don't know if, or how much softening occurs. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

July 17, 2010, 08:50 PM	#5
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 396	Sizing Why size? A bullet 0.002" larger will shoot just fine. All I do is tumble them. Never saw a need to harden except for magnums.

July 17, 2010, 09:39 PM	#6
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,792	As long as a lead bullet will chamber , shoot it ! I have a bullet for 7.62 that`s 314 , I lube & size 314 then size it with a 310 ,it springs back to 312 & my Rem 700 loves it !!!!! The Rem won`t chamber a 314 tried but too tite !!! __________________ GP100man

July 18, 2010, 03:49 AM	#8
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 396	Lee Bullet Lube Kit Don't know why the unlubricated bullet should lead up the Lee cast bullet sizing die? My Lubrisizer dies never leaded up. Also, I would think that lubing before sizing would be more likely to "squeeze" the lube into the bullet surface than wipe the lube off. Also, you need so little Alox that I can't see there being a need to add more. As anyone experimented with NOT following the Lee instructions and see what happens? I figure Lee knows what they are doing, but maybe they are trying to sell more LLA? I tumble lube some of my lead bullets (see my topic on results of liquid bullet lubricants on swaged and cast/lubed bullets) and need just a hint of yellow (or whatever color the LLA is--I'm color blind, sorry) on the bullets. I have never had too little on the bullet. What I would love is some way (like for fingerprinting) to have a very thin film of ALOX on glass and just roll the bullet over the surface. Maybe add a little mineral spirits as the LLA "dries" up. There really should be some way to apply LLA without wasting a bunch or having to apply it over the whole bullet.

June 18, 2010, 09:35 AM	#2
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 849	I am no expert and others will come with better opinions than mine, but I run mine thru the lube sizer dry, then heat treat, then run back thru and lube. I've had no problems doing this, so its the way I do it IF I heat treat, which I seldom do. I dont see a problem dry sizing as the size die is much harder than the lead. If it starts screwing up the boolit, then try something else.

July 17, 2010, 10:57 PM	#7
Rusty W Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 81	I water drop .30cal bullets straight out of the mold into a pan/bucket of water. Size within a couple hours of casting with a Lee sizer while they're still wet. Pistol bullets I use straight wheelweights, no treatment just air cooled. A couple Lee molds drop at .360 for a 38spl bullet I use. I load a few and make sure they'll chamber, if they do I load the batch and shoot. No problems so far using the same style bullet for 9mm & 38/357.